Jimmy Haig

James Scott Haig (7 December 1924 – 28 October 1996) was a New Zealand rugby footballer who represented New Zealand in both rugby league and rugby union.

Jimmy Haig

Personal information
Full name	James Scott Haig
Born	7 December 1924 Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland
Died	28 October 1996 (aged 71) Dunedin, New Zealand
Playing information
Height	170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	75 kg (11 st 11 lb)
Rugby union
Position	Halfback
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1945–46 Otago 9 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1946 New Zealand 2 1 0 0 3
Rugby league
Position	Halfback
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1947–51 Prebbleton (CRL) 1952–53 Marist (CRL) 1954 Unknown (ORL) Total 0 0 0 0 0 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1947–53 Canterbury 1947–53 South Island 1947–54 New Zealand 21 3 2 0 13 1954 Otago
Source: [1] Scrum.com

Early years

Haig was born in Scotland but emigrated to New Zealand at a young age with his family and grew up in Kaitangata in Otago.[2] His elder brother, Laurie, was also an All Black.[2] Another brother, Bert, played for Otago in rugby union while another, Bill, represented the province in cricket.

Rugby union career

Haig made his first grade debut for Otago in 1945, playing in four matches, and also playing for the South Island and a New Zealand XV that year.

He played in another five matches in 1946 for Otago and again represented the South Island.[2]

Haig made his All Blacks debut against Australia on 14 September 1946. He played in the next Test match on 28 September, but this was also to be his last, as Haig switched codes to rugby league the following season.

Rugby league career

Haig moved to Canterbury in 1947, playing for the new Prebbleton club in the Canterbury Rugby League competition and representing the province. Pat Smith had lured him north from Dunedin with a cash incentive and a barman's job.[3] He made his debut for the New Zealand national rugby league team that same year.[4] Part of Haig's reason for the switch was the opportunity to tour Great Britain and Haig was selected for the Kiwis 1947–48 tour of his place of birth.[2]

He was the New Zealand captain for nine Test matches between 1951 and 1954.[4] Haig moved clubs in 1952, joining the new Marist club.[5]

Haig returned to Otago in 1954, representing the province and again being selected for the Kiwis.[4] He retired at the end of the year.

Later years

Haig later coached the Pirates club in the Otago Rugby Union competition, where his son Barry played.[2] He was the last New Zealand dual-code rugby international until Kurt Sherlock in 1989.[6]

Haig died aged 71 on 28 October 1996.

The New Zealand Rugby Union presented his family with his All Blacks cap in 2009.[7]

References

1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
2. Jimmy Haig 'allblacks.com
3. "In the beginning was Pat Smith". The Press. 24 August 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
4. HAIG, James Scott 1947 – 54 – Kiwi #300 Archived 1 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine nzleague.co.nz
5. Coffey, John. Canterbury XIII, Christchurch, 1987
6. Lion Red 1989 Rugby League Annual New Zealand Rugby League, p. 10
7. Hepburn, Steve (6 June 2009). "Rugby: Haig brothers to get capped finally". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 6 October 2011.