Frank Bunce
Encyclopedia
Frank Eneri Bunce is a retired New Zealand rugby union
player and current coach. He played international rugby for both Western Samoa
and New Zealand in the 1990s, appearing in the 1991
and 1995
World Cups
. He played in four international matches for Samoa and 55 for New Zealand (the All Blacks
).
, New Zealand and attended Mangere College. He has two daughters, Samantha and Victoria, and three sons, Chance, Jordan and Joshua. He is the great nephew of Sir Robert Rex
, the premier of Niue
, and a direct descendent of King George III
.
He wrote an autobiography, Frank Confessions, published in 1998, and contributed to the book Rugby Skills, Tactics and Rules with Tony Williams, published in 2008.
in 1986, the same year he was selected for the North Island
team. He remained with Auckland until 1990, not usually a first choice player, although he did play in the trial for the All Blacks in 1988. In 1991 he moved to North Harbour
.
Though mainly of Niue
an descent, he was selected to play for Western Samoa
, receiving international attention at the 1991 World Cup
where the Samoan team reached the quarter-finals. These performances brought him to the attention of New Zealand coach Laurie Mains
who selected him to play for the All Blacks in 1992.
Bunce became a regular feature of the All Black backline, missing only one game (against Japan at the 1995 World Cup
) until his last game on 6 December 1997 against England in London. He played for New Zealand in the NZRU's centenary games against a World XV
, against the British and Irish Lions
in their 1993 tour
, in the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final
, the first two Tri Nations tournaments and the victorious series win over South Africa
in 1996. He captained New Zealand once in a non-test game, and also played for New Zealand at the first Sevens World Cup
in 1993. He scored 20 international tries
(96 points) for New Zealand, and one try (4 points) for Samoa.
He played for the Chiefs
until 1998, and played one season for Castres
in France, and one season for Bristol
in England before retiring in 1999.
At the close of his international career he was 35 years and 305 days old, a ripe old age for an international rugby player. He was the second-oldest All Black ever and New Zealand's most capped test centre (outside centre) and oldest back. Though best known as an excellent defensive player, he was also a strong attacking player in his own right. Bunce's powerful running and strength when tackled allowed the backs outside him to shine.
from 2001 to 2003, was Auckland's defence coach in 2004 and served as a technical advisor to Samoa in 2005. He is a position-specific coach for the International Rugby Academy in New Zealand.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player and current coach. He played international rugby for both Western Samoa
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
and New Zealand in the 1990s, appearing in the 1991
1991 Rugby World Cup
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...
and 1995
1995 Rugby World Cup
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country....
World Cups
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
. He played in four international matches for Samoa and 55 for New Zealand (the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
).
Biography
Bunce was born in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand and attended Mangere College. He has two daughters, Samantha and Victoria, and three sons, Chance, Jordan and Joshua. He is the great nephew of Sir Robert Rex
Robert Rex
Sir Robert Richmond Rex, KBE, CMG, was Premier of the Pacific island state of Niue from its establishment as a self-governing territory 19 October 1974 until his death in 1992...
, the premier of Niue
Niue
Niue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
, and a direct descendent of King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
.
He wrote an autobiography, Frank Confessions, published in 1998, and contributed to the book Rugby Skills, Tactics and Rules with Tony Williams, published in 2008.
Playing career
Bunce began his representative career at the Manukau club, and progressed to Auckland B in 1984 and then AucklandAuckland representative rugby union team
The Auckland representative rugby union team is the top representative rugby union team under the Auckland Rugby Football Union in New Zealand. It competes in the ITM Cup, renamed from the Air New Zealand Cup in 2010....
in 1986, the same year he was selected for the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
team. He remained with Auckland until 1990, not usually a first choice player, although he did play in the trial for the All Blacks in 1988. In 1991 he moved to North Harbour
North Harbour Rugby Union
The North Harbour Rugby Union , commonly referred to colloquially as North Harbour or simply Harbour, is a provincial rugby team which competes in the ITM Cup , the successor to the country's former domestic competition, the National Provincial Championship .-Area:Harbour Rugby encompasses a...
.
Though mainly of Niue
Niue
Niue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
an descent, he was selected to play for Western Samoa
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
, receiving international attention at the 1991 World Cup
1991 Rugby World Cup
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...
where the Samoan team reached the quarter-finals. These performances brought him to the attention of New Zealand coach Laurie Mains
Laurie Mains
Laurence William 'Laurie' Mains MNZM is a former rugby union footballer and coach who represented New Zealand. Mains' representative career started when he first played for Otago in 1967. He made his All Blacks début in 1971, against the British and Irish Lions. His last Test was against Ireland...
who selected him to play for the All Blacks in 1992.
Bunce became a regular feature of the All Black backline, missing only one game (against Japan at the 1995 World Cup
1995 Rugby World Cup
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country....
) until his last game on 6 December 1997 against England in London. He played for New Zealand in the NZRU's centenary games against a World XV
World XV
A World XV is a rugby union team, typically composed of invited players from various countries. Various World XVs have been arranged from time to time, often to take part in celebration and testimonial games, usually against national teams; recent World XV games have generally not been considered...
, against the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
in their 1993 tour
1993 British Lions tour to New Zealand
In 1993 the British Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand. This tour followed the Lions' 1989 tour to Australia and preceded their 1997 tour to South Africa. It was the last Lions tour in the sport's amateur era....
, in the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final
1995 Rugby World Cup Final
The 1995 Rugby World Cup Final, was the final match in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, played in South Africa.The match was played at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg on 24 June 1995 between the host nation, the South African Springboks, and the New Zealand All Blacks...
, the first two Tri Nations tournaments and the victorious series win over South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
in 1996. He captained New Zealand once in a non-test game, and also played for New Zealand at the first Sevens World Cup
Rugby World Cup Sevens
The Rugby World Cup Sevens is the premier international Rugby sevens competition. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board , and is contested by the men's national sevens teams every four years. The inaugural tournament was held in 1993 in Scotland, the...
in 1993. He scored 20 international tries
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
(96 points) for New Zealand, and one try (4 points) for Samoa.
He played for the Chiefs
Chiefs (Super rugby franchise)
The Chiefs are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys...
until 1998, and played one season for Castres
Castres Olympique
Castres Olympique is a French rugby union club located in the Midi-Pyrénées city of Castres and currently competing in the top level of the French league system.Founded in 1898, the club took its current name in 1906...
in France, and one season for Bristol
Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...
in England before retiring in 1999.
At the close of his international career he was 35 years and 305 days old, a ripe old age for an international rugby player. He was the second-oldest All Black ever and New Zealand's most capped test centre (outside centre) and oldest back. Though best known as an excellent defensive player, he was also a strong attacking player in his own right. Bunce's powerful running and strength when tackled allowed the backs outside him to shine.
Coaching career
Bunce coached in ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
from 2001 to 2003, was Auckland's defence coach in 2004 and served as a technical advisor to Samoa in 2005. He is a position-specific coach for the International Rugby Academy in New Zealand.