Dave Loveridge, All Black

David Steven “Trapper” Loveridge was an All Black great of the late 1970s and early 1980s, known in his time as the greatest halfback in the world.[1] He was born on April 22, 1952, in Stratford, New Zealand, to Horace and Margaret Loveridge. Loveridge grew up during the golden age of Taranaki rugby, with the provincial side holding the Ranfurly Shield for two tenures in 1957-1959, and 1963-1965. Loveridge played age-grade representative rugby for Taranaki at the age of 12. The All Blacks are the national rugby union representative team of New Zealand. ... A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. ... Stratfords view of Mount Taranaki (facing west). ... View of Mount Taranaki or Mount Egmont from Stratford, facing west. ... Rugby football, often just referred to as rugby, refers to sports descended from a common form of football developed at Rugby School in England. ... The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log of Wood, is perhaps the most prestigious trophy in New Zealands domestic rugby union competition. ...

The Loveridge family owned a pig farm in Tariki south of Inglewood, and Loveridge attended Inglewood High School for his secondary education. He worked for a bank after leaving school, and in 1972 the bank transferred him to Auckland. While in Auckland Loveridge was selected for the Auckland University club team, and soon caught the eye of the provincial selectors. He played two games for Auckland, but after a 34-3 loss to North Auckland, in which he was marking All Black veteran Sid Going, Loveridge was discarded from the team. ¡FLOATING PIGZ! ... A view of Inglewood from Lincoln Road, entering the town. ... The First Provincial Bank of Taiwan in Taipei, Republic of China was formerly the central bank of the Republic of China and issued the New Taiwan dollar. ... The Auckland Metropolitan Area, or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ... The University of Auckland is New Zealands largest research-based university by student numbers. ... North Shore City (orange). ... Sid Going, the great All Black half back was born on August 19, 1943 in Kawakawa New Zealand. ...

In 1974 Loveridge married his wife Janine, returned to Tariki to run the family farm, played for Inglewood seniors and secured the halfback position in the Taranaki team. The following year he was selected for the Junior All Blacks, and in 1977 was given his first All Black trial. In 1978 he was reserve All Black halfback for the three-match series against the [Wallabies]] in New Zealand, but didn’t get on the field. He finally got the chance to don the black jersey in the tour to Great Britain at the end of the year, and on October 21, 1978, made his debut against Cardiff at Cardiff Arms Park. He played his first test match when first-choice halfback Mark Donaldson was stung with an ankle injury and ruled out of the match against Wales. While New Zealand almost lost that match, only winning because of Andy Haden’s famed lineout dive, Loveridge played a competent game. Donaldson remained first choice for the home season of 1979, but Loveridge finally gained the edge and secured the test matches against England and Scotland at the end of the year. The Junior All Blacks is a New Zealand rugby team. ... The All Blacks are the national rugby union representative team of New Zealand. ... Cardiff (English:  Welsh: ) is the capital of Wales and its largest city. ... Cardiff Arms Park is a stadium complex situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. ... A rugby union scrum. ... Grays Fig. ... Motto: (Welsh for Wales forever) Anthem: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau Capital Cardiff Largest city Cardiff Official language(s) Welsh, English Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM Unification    - by Gruffudd ap Llywelyn 1056  Area    - Total 20,779... Andrew Maxwell Haden (born September 26, 1950) was a rugby union lock-forward for the New Zealand All Blacks in the 1970s and 1980s. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I...

Loveridge went on to play 54 matches for the All Blacks, 24 of which were tests. In 1980 Graham Mourie and Andy Dalton were unavailable for the tour of Australia, and Loveridge was selected as captain. Loveridge was most renowned for his performance in the second test against the touring British Lions on June 18, 1983, at Athletic Park in Wellington. According to Lindsay Knight, for the New Zealand Rugby Museum, Graham Neil Kenneth Mourie (born 8 September 1952) is a former New Zealand All Black flanker. ... Andrew Grant Dalton, Born 16th November 1951 Born in Dunedin, Andy Dalton finished his schooling at Selwyn College, Auckland where he was in the 1st XV in 1968,69, (captain the latter year) playing mainly as a prop. ... Two rugby teams may be known as the British Lions, though it is not the correct title for either: The British and Irish Lions are a touring side playing rugby union. ... Wellington (Te Whanganui-a-Tara or Poneke in Māori) is the capital of New Zealand, the countrys second largest urban area and the most populous national capital in Oceania. ...

“In difficult conditions Loveridge was the perfect complement to an All Black pack which battling into a gale took charge of the ultra confident Lions in the second spell.

Loveridge displayed every aspect of the halfback's art, passing accurately, kicking effectively and running with judgement. In a match where he took every correct option he then scampered over for the match's only try in the All Blacks' 9-0 win.

Even the most exacting judges declared Loveridge had produced one of the greatest displays of all time and agreed with the assessment of All Black coach Bryce Rope that this had been "Trapper's Test.”[2]

In 1984 Loveridge suffered a serious knee injury, which hampered his game for the rest of his career. Loveridge joined the All Black Cavaliers for the rebel tour of South Africa in 1986, which proved to be his final appearance in the black jersey. He retired from New Zealand first class rugby at the end of that year, at the age of 34, after 54 matches for the All Blacks and 136 games for Taranaki. For other uses, see Knee (disambiguation). ...

Loveridge remains on the family pig farm in Taranaki with his wife Janine to this day, and is father to three adult children. He is employed as a staff coach by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, has coached the Taranaki under-23 development team, been on three tours with the New Zealand youth team, spent two years coaching the Wellington Hurricanes under-20 development side and been a selector for the New Zealand under-19s. The New Zealand Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in New Zealand. ... The Hurricanes are a New Zealand rugby union team based in Wellington and representing the East Coast, Poverty Bay, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Wairarapa-Bush, Horowhenua-Kapiti and Wellington unions. ...

References

• New Zealand Rugby Museum article: Dave Loveridge
• Puke Ariki article: Halfback Star Dave Loveridge