Jack Walter (rugby union)

Jack Walter

Birth name	John Walter
Date of birth	(1904-08-02)2 August 1904
Place of birth	Toko, New Zealand
Date of death	25 April 1966(1966-04-25) (aged 61)
Place of death	Stratford, New Zealand
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	82 kg (181 lb)
School	New Plymouth Boys' High School
Notable relative(s)	Alan Smith (nephew)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Loose forward Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1924–1932 Taranaki 85 () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1925 New Zealand 7 (12)

John Walter (2 August 1904 – 25 April 1966) was an All Black and Taranaki rugby football representative in the 1920s and 1930s.

Biography

John Walter was born in Toko on 2 August 1904. Playing for the Stratford club, he was selected for his first game for Taranaki in 1924. In 1925 he was selected for the All Black tour of Australia, where, as a 20-year-old, he played in seven of the eight matches and scored four tries. He looked to have a promising career ahead of him, however the competition as loose forward was too great and Walter lost his place.

Between 1924 and 1932 Walter played 85 matches for Taranaki, and played in the combined Taranaki-Wanganui side against the touring New South Wales team in 1925. In 1931 he led Taranaki to an 11–10 victory over the touring Australian side.

John Walter died on 25 April 1966 in Stratford. His nephew Alan Smith, also playing out of the Stratford club, was a Taranaki representative and an All Black lock in 1967–70.

References

• John Walter at the All Blacks (archived)