Pat Crowley (rugby union)

Patrick Joseph Bourke Crowley (20 October 1923 – 9 June 1981) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A flanker, Crowley represented Auckland at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national rugby union team, from 1949 to 1950.

Pat Crowley

Birth name	Patrick Joseph Bourke Crowley
Date of birth	(1923-10-20)20 October 1923
Place of birth	Whanganui, New Zealand
Date of death	9 June 1981(1981-06-09) (aged 57)
Place of death	Auckland, New Zealand
Height	188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	90 kg (200 lb)
School	St. Pat's (Silverstream)
Notable relative(s)	Cheree Crowley (grand-daughter)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1946–1950 Auckland 34 () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1949–1950 New Zealand 21 (12)

Career

At the age of 19, Crowley made his first class debut for an army division team in 1943. He then went on to represent Auckland from 1946 to 1950, making thirty-four appearances for the provincial side. In his first season with Auckland, he would also play for the North Island team in the annual North vs South rugby union match.^[1] Crowley played for the North Island every year afterward, apart from 1949.^[1]

His performances saw him being called up for the national side, making his debut for the All Blacks during their tour of South Africa in 1949. The following year, he was part of the squad to face the British Lions in their tour of New Zealand and Australia.^[1] In an interview with The Scotsman, Angus Black was complimentary of the flanker, recalling: "Crowley was very good. I spent most of my day getting tackled hard. I was up in the air more often than I was on the ground. Crowley sorted us all out."^[2] The third test was to be Crowley's career defining performance as an All Black. Due to injuries, New Zealand had to play much of the match with six forwards, and Crowley ended having to do the work of two men instead of one. Crowley scored two tries against the Lions, the first was in the second test, and the second was when he was playing for Auckland.^[1]

Crowley retired from rugby union later that year at the age of 26, having played sixty-four first class matches.^[1]

Personal life

Crowley was the grandfather of professional wrestler Cheree Crowley, better known by the ring names Evie and Dakota Kai.^[3]

References

1. Knight, Lindsay. "Pat Crowley #487". New Zealand Rugby Museum. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
2. English, Tom (5 May 2013). "Gus Black recalls his 1950 Lions experience". The Scotsman. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
3. France, Marvin (14 August 2018). "WWE rising star Dakota Kai blazing a trail for Kiwi women wrestlers". stuff.co.nz. Stuff. Retrieved 17 August 2018.