Jock Hobbs
Encyclopedia
Michael James "Jock" Bowie Hobbs, CNZM
(born 15 February 1960) is a former New Zealand rugby union
player who was an All Blacks
flanker
who played in 21 tests between 1983 and 1986, with four tests as captain. In recent years he has been prominent in rugby administration. Between 2002 and 2010 he was chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union before standing down due to illness.
Jock Hobbs was born in Christchurch
. He played in the first XV at Christ's College
in Christchurch, and was a regular first choice for Canterbury
during from the 1981 season onwards, playing in the failed Ranfurly Shield
challenge against Waikato
. His test debut came in 1983 against the British and Irish Lions
, where he was successor to Graham Mourie
. Others that were possible replacements were Bruce Middleton, and Auckland
captain at the time, Alwyn Harvey, but Hobbs played so well against the Lions that he was an automatic selection as All Blacks number seven for the next few seasons.
Hobbs was All Black captain on the short tour of Fiji
late in 1984 when Andy Dalton
was unavailable, and in the tour of Argentina
in 1985 when Dalton was again unavailable. He took part in the 1986 Cavaliers tour to South Africa, before retiring in 1987 after a succession of concussions.
Hobbs led New Zealand's successful bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup, which was won by the All Blacks, and is the longest serving Chairman in NZRU history. His service to the game was recognized at the 2011 IRB awards where he received the Vernon Pugh award for Distinguished service. He was also an executive director of failed finance company Strategic Finance, which was placed in receivership in March 2010. The receiver of which has found some questionable transactions.
He was Chairman of the NZRU when it had its worst financial result ever in 2010.
He has taken a break from his administrative positions in order to battle leukaemia.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(born 15 February 1960) is a former New Zealand rugby union
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 who was an 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....
flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
who played in 21 tests between 1983 and 1986, with four tests as captain. In recent years he has been prominent in rugby administration. Between 2002 and 2010 he was chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union before standing down due to illness.
Jock Hobbs was born in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. He played in the first XV at Christ's College
Christ's College, Canterbury
Christ's College, Christchurch is an independent, Anglican, secondary, day and boarding school for boys, located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand....
in Christchurch, and was a regular first choice for Canterbury
Canterbury Rugby Football Union
The Canterbury Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in a substantial part of the Canterbury region, in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand...
during from the 1981 season onwards, playing in the failed Ranfurly Shield
Ranfurly Shield
The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies...
challenge against Waikato
Waikato Rugby Union
The Waikato Rugby Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the Waikato area in the North Island of New Zealand. Its senior representative team competes in the ITM Cup , and won the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup in 2006.Waikato Rugby Union was founded in 1921...
. His test debut came in 1983 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...
, where he was successor to Graham Mourie
Graham Mourie
Graham Neil Kenneth Mourie is a former New Zealand All Black flanker and coach of the Hurricanes. He was one of the great All Black Captains in the late 70s and early 80s...
. Others that were possible replacements were Bruce Middleton, and Auckland
Auckland Rugby Football Union
The Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland Region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Its colours are navy blue and white in a hoop design. Auckland's top representative team have won New Zealand's top provincial rugby competition 16 times, more than...
captain at the time, Alwyn Harvey, but Hobbs played so well against the Lions that he was an automatic selection as All Blacks number seven for the next few seasons.
Hobbs was All Black captain on the short tour of Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
late in 1984 when Andy Dalton
Andy Dalton
Andrew Grant Dalton is an ex-All Blacks rugby union player who captained the side 17 times in tests...
was unavailable, and in the tour of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
in 1985 when Dalton was again unavailable. He took part in the 1986 Cavaliers tour to South Africa, before retiring in 1987 after a succession of concussions.
Hobbs led New Zealand's successful bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup, which was won by the All Blacks, and is the longest serving Chairman in NZRU history. His service to the game was recognized at the 2011 IRB awards where he received the Vernon Pugh award for Distinguished service. He was also an executive director of failed finance company Strategic Finance, which was placed in receivership in March 2010. The receiver of which has found some questionable transactions.
He was Chairman of the NZRU when it had its worst financial result ever in 2010.
He has taken a break from his administrative positions in order to battle leukaemia.