Kevin Skinner (rugby union)
Encyclopedia
Kevin Lawrence Skinner is a former All Black who played in 20 international tests for New Zealand
, 2 of them as captain. He was also a heavy weight boxer, winning the New Zealand championship in 1947.
. He was educated at Christian Brothers School, Dunedin
and St. Kevin's College, Oamaru
where he played in the first XV in 1943 and 1944. He captained the side in the latter year. In 1945 he played senior rugby for the Dunedin Pirates as lock. As a boxer, Skinner won the Otago heavyweight championship in 1946 and won the New Zealand heavyweight title in 1947. In 1947, Skinner also played rugby in nine matches for Otago
and was in the team when they defeated Southland to win the Ranfurly Shield. He also played in the South Island team and represented Otago again in 1948.
(also an old boy of St. Kevin's College, Oamaru
) was captain of the 1953/4 All Blacks in their tour of Great Britain and France. Skinner also went on that tour and played in 27 games including all five tests. He was one of the key players.
Skinner retired at the end of the 1954 season but he played again for the All Blacks for the final two tests against South Africa in 1956. Both those tests were won by New Zealand. "Six foot tall (1.83m) and weighing 15st 4lb (97kg) Kevin Skinner, a skilled lineout No.2, expert rush stopper, strong scrummager and extremely mobile, remains one of the very best props New Zealand has produced."
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, 2 of them as captain. He was also a heavy weight boxer, winning the New Zealand championship in 1947.
Early life
Skinner was born in DunedinDunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
. He was educated at Christian Brothers School, Dunedin
Kavanagh College
Kavanagh College is a Catholic Secondary school in Dunedin, New Zealand. The school in its present form dates from 1989 but its origins as a secondary school go back to 1871....
and St. Kevin's College, Oamaru
St. Kevin's College, Oamaru
St Kevin's College in Oamaru, New Zealand was founded in 1927. It is a Catholic school run by the Christian Brothers and Dominican Sisters for boaders and day students...
where he played in the first XV in 1943 and 1944. He captained the side in the latter year. In 1945 he played senior rugby for the Dunedin Pirates as lock. As a boxer, Skinner won the Otago heavyweight championship in 1946 and won the New Zealand heavyweight title in 1947. In 1947, Skinner also played rugby in nine matches for Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
and was in the team when they defeated Southland to win the Ranfurly Shield. He also played in the South Island team and represented Otago again in 1948.
First-class career
Skinner played for Otago again in 1950-1954. He represented Counties in 1956 (from the Waiuku Club). He was in the South Island team in 1950-1953 9as well as in 1948). He participated in the New Zealand trials in 1948, 1950–1951 and 1953. He represented Bay of Plenty-Thames Valley-Counties in 1956.All Black
Skinner was selected for the 1949 All Black tour of South Africa. He continued playing for the All Blacks and was captain in the 1952 series against South Africa. However Bob StuartBob Stuart
Robert Charles "Bob" Stuart was one of the most well known and admired sportsman in New Zealand. He was given a lifetime service award by the International Rugby Board immediately after the World Cup in 2003.-Career:...
(also an old boy of St. Kevin's College, Oamaru
St. Kevin's College, Oamaru
St Kevin's College in Oamaru, New Zealand was founded in 1927. It is a Catholic school run by the Christian Brothers and Dominican Sisters for boaders and day students...
) was captain of the 1953/4 All Blacks in their tour of Great Britain and France. Skinner also went on that tour and played in 27 games including all five tests. He was one of the key players.
Skinner retired at the end of the 1954 season but he played again for the All Blacks for the final two tests against South Africa in 1956. Both those tests were won by New Zealand. "Six foot tall (1.83m) and weighing 15st 4lb (97kg) Kevin Skinner, a skilled lineout No.2, expert rush stopper, strong scrummager and extremely mobile, remains one of the very best props New Zealand has produced."