John Drake
New Zealand
player portrait
Full name John Alan Drake
Born January 22, 1959, Auckland
Died December 13, 2008, Mt Maunganui (aged 49 years 326 days)
Major teams New Zealand Universities, New Zealand
Position Prop
Height 6 ft 0 in
Weight 218 lb

Test career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 1986-1987 8 8 0 4 1 0 0 0 7 1 0 87.5
Bledisloe Cup 1987-1987 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 100
IRB Rugby World Cup 1987-1987 5 5 0 4 1 0 0 0 5 0 0 100

Career statistics
Test debut France v New Zealand at Toulouse, Nov 8, 1986 match details
Last Test Australia v New Zealand at Sydney, Jul 25, 1987 match details
Test Statsguru Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Most points | Most tries | Tournament list
Profile

Rugged All Blacks forward John Drake was a member of the New Zealand team that won the 1987 Rugby World Cup,

Drake, a tight-head prop represented New Zealand between 1985 and 1987 and played 12 matches including eight Tests. He was a key member of the World Cup-winning squad, playing in five of the six matches.

Born on January 22, 1959, he was educated at Auckland Grammar School, but played his first club rugby in Dunedin and turned out for Otago Juniors. When he returned to Auckland, Drake played for the under-23 and B provincial teams before becoming a regular member of the senior side.

He went to France where he played three seasons and it was during the third, 1985-86, that he was recalled to join the All Blacks touring Argentina.

Returning to Auckland in 1986, he regained his place in the Auckland team and was selected for the All Blacks' tour of France where he played at tighthead in both Tests.

He retired at the end of 1987 at the conclusion of the World Cup season.

In recent years he was a highly respected television commentator and newspaper columnist. He died on December 13, 2008 in Mt Maunganui at the age of 49.

Scrum Staff December 2008

Latest Articles
Tuqiri and ARU settle out of court (Aug 24, 2009) Former All Blacks prop Drake dies (Dec 13, 2008)
Latest Photos
Jun 14, 1987
New Zealand's John Drake runs with the ball
New Zealand's John Drake runs with the ball
©  Getty Images
Jun 14, 1987
New Zealand'd John Drake, Sean Fitzpatrick and Steve McDowell pack down during the 1987 Rugby World Cup
New Zealand'd John Drake, Sean Fitzpatrick and Steve McDowell pack down during the 1987 Rugby World Cup
©  Getty Images

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