Sam Gemmell

Sam Gemmell
Birth nameSamuel William Gemmell
Date of birth(1896-08-28)28 August 1896
Place of birthMohaka, New Zealand
Date of death28 June 1970(1970-06-28) (aged 73)
Place of deathWairoa, New Zealand
SchoolMaori Agricultural College
Te Aute College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Loose forward
Hooker
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1921–31 Hawke's Bay 74 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1922–29 New Zealand Māori 57
1923 New Zealand 0 (0)

Samuel William Gemmell (28 August 1896 – 28 June 1970) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A loose forward, Gemmell represented Hawke's Bay at a provincial level. He played one match for the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, out of position at hooker against New South Wales at Dunedin.[1]

Affiliating to Ngāti Pāhauwera, Gemmell played 57 matches for New Zealand Māori between 1922 and 1929, making him the most capped player for that team.[1][2] He served as a private with the New Zealand (Māori) Pioneer Battalion during World War I,[3] and was selected by ballot to represent Māori returned soldiers as part of the New Zealand military contingent to the coronation of King George VI in 1937.[4] During World War II he served in New Zealand with the Territorial Force.[3]

His uncle, Ben Gemmell, was a New Zealand Māori representative between 1914 and 1921.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Knight, Lindsay. "Sam Gemmell". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  2. ^ Mulholland, Malcolm (2009). Beneath the Māori Moon. Wellington: Huia. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-86969-305-3.
  3. ^ a b "Samuel William Gemmell". Online Cenotaph. Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  4. ^ "For coronation". Auckland Star. 24 February 1937. p. 13. Retrieved 28 August 2015.