Roderick Gray (rugby union)

Rod Gray

Full name	Roderick Gray
Date of birth	22 October 1870
Place of birth	Masterton, New Zealand
Date of death	27 May 1951 (aged 80)
Place of death	Taratahi, Wairarapa, New Zealand
Occupation(s)	Farmer, miller
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Utility forward
New Zealand No.	43
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1891–97	Wairarapa	15
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1893	New Zealand	0	(0)

Roderick (Rod) Gray (22 October 1870 – 27 May 1951) was a New Zealand rugby union player.

Gray was born in Masterton in 1870, and he received his education there. A utility forward, Gray represented Wairarapa at a provincial level, playing 15 games for the team between 1891 and 1897. He played two games for the New Zealand national rugby union team on their 1893 tour of Australia. Initially passed over in the trials, he was called up (together with Billy Watson) as reinforcement, and arrived in time to play the last two games of the tour.^[1] He did not appear in any Test matches as New Zealand did not play its first full international until 1903.

Gray worked as a farmer and is said to have been a 'fine miller'. He died on 27 May 1951 at Taratahi in the Wairarapa,^[1] and was buried at the Archer Street Cemetery in Masterton.^[2]

References

1. Wairarapa-Bush RFU. "Rod Gray". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
2. "Cemetery search". Masterton District Council. Retrieved 20 January 2016.