May 16, 2023
Protest principled end to All Black career
Tributes have flowed for Counties Manukau and All-Black great Bruce Robertson, who has died at the age of 71.
Robertson played 102 matches for the All Blacks between 1972 and 1981 including 34 tests, the last against Scotland.
Because of what he had witnessed in South Africa during the 1976 tour of the then-apartheid state, he ruled himself out of selection for the 1981 Springbok tour.
Commentator Ken Laban says he was one of the greatest centres to wear the number 13 jersey for the ASll Blacks.
“He made his very high profile protest given he was a walk-up start in the test 15. After he finished in the game in his brilliant career he continued to work at the grass roots in Northland and in Counties Manukau, areas heavily populated by Maori and Pacific Island whanau and players and also spent a little time in an assistant role coaching at the elite level,” he says.