John Pankhurst a key member of the Pirates Rugby Club from 1959 as a schoolboy........

John Pankhurst

John Pankhurst a lock forward had been part of the Pirates Rugby Club since his schoolboy debut in 1959.  John attended James Hargest High School and first made the senior team in 1972 having been away from rugby the previous three seasons.
He had always played at lock and his strength, experience and knowledge of the game was an asset to Pirates.
John also played softball where he represented Southland as an outfielder.
He came from a well known sporting family and his three brothers, Brian, Garry and Rex all played for Pirates.

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