Mel Dunne

Mel Dunne
Full nameMelvin Robert Dunne
Date of birth(1934-12-16)16 December 1934
Place of birthWellington, New Zealand
Date of death26 February 2002(2002-02-26) (aged 67)
Place of deathChristchurch, New Zealand
SchoolWellington College
UniversityUniversity of Canterbury
Occupation(s)Civil engineer
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker / Lock
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1957–1961, 1965 Canterbury ()
1962 Marborough 3 ()
1962–1963 Wellington 12 (6)
1964 North Otago 9 ()
1966–1967 New South Wales Country ()
1967 New South Wales ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1965 NZ Universities 1
1967 Australia
Cricket information
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1961/62Marlborough

Melvin Robert Dunne (16 December 1934 – 26 February 2002) was a New Zealand-born rugby union player.[1]

Biography

Dunne was born and raised in Wellington. After attending Wellington College, Dunne went south and studied engineering at the University of Canterbury, where he also played rugby and featured in three 'A'-grade premiership-winning campaigns, while also earning NZ Universities honours. He competed for Canterbury during this period and was an All Blacks triallist, coming close to selection for their 1960 tour of South Africa. A flanker turned lock, Dunne was a also South Island representative player.[2]

A civil engineer, Dunne relocated several times through his work, which saw him play rugby with Marlborough, Wellington and North Otago in the early 1960s. He moved to Australia in 1966 and worked for the Snowy Mountains Authority. Impressing in appearances for Cooma, Dunne gained New South Wales Country selection for their match against the 1966 British Lions, then made the New South Wales state team in 1967, featuring in their win over Ireland. Following this, Dunne was a Wallabies reserve against Ireland in Sydney, as back up for Ross Teitzel and Michael Purcell.[3]

Dunne was also a cricketer, representing Marlborough in two Hawke Cup matches during the 1961–1962 season.[4][5] In 1959, he became engaged to Jennifer Blazey, daughter of the sports administrator Harry Blazey,[6] and the couple later married.[4]

Dunne died in Christchurch on 26 February 2002.[4] His wife, Jenny, died in 2020.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Dunne to lead Country rugby team in NZ". The Canberra Times. 10 May 1967. p. 40 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Melvin Robert Dunne". classicwallabies.com.au.
  3. ^ "Departure of coach big loss to rugby in Canberra". The Canberra Times. 8 July 1969. p. 20 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ a b c "Mel Dunne". New Zealand Cricket. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  5. ^ "Hawke Cup Matches played by Mel Dunne". New Zealand Cricket. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  6. ^ "Engagements". The Press. Vol. 98, no. 28962. 1 August 1959. p. 2. Retrieved 11 January 2025 – via PapersPast.
  7. ^ "Jennifer Dunne obituary". The Press. 11 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2025.