Very much a late developer, Brent Anderson had lengthy stints in Dunedin and Auckland as no more than a club grafter before entering first class rugby while well into his 20s as a lock with Wairarapa-Bush.

Anderson played for Wairarapa-Bush in one of the most successful periods in the small union’s history. From 1982 through to 1987, under the coaching of Brian Lochore and Lane Penn, the union competed with surprising success in the NPC first division and for much of the time Anderson was a leading player.

Anderson played 69 games for Wairarapa-Bush and after a move in 1989 to Hamilton to take up a school teaching post he then enjoyed an equally significant stint as a Waikato representative.

When he retired at the end of the 1993 season Anderson had played 72 games for Waikato and been one of an outstanding provincial pack which claimed many honours.

In 1992 Waikato won the national provincial championship winning the inaugural final from Otago. In 1993 Waikato beat the touring British Lions and later that year they ended Auckland’s long, historic Ranfurly Shield era. Anderson was a constant presence in all of these triumphs and after the 17-6 shield win over Auckland he made an apt comment. “Now I can die happy”, he said.

Anderson’s distinguished provincial deeds overshadowed what was a limited international record.

As a Wairarapa-Bush player, he appeared for the All Blacks on three occasions in the 1986 and 1987 seasons.

His one test was for the so called Baby Black selection which met the Wallabies at Athletic Park, losing by only 13-12. Because of injuries and suspensions Anderson was in effect New Zealand’s seventh choice lock when he was called into the test against the Wallabies as a late replacement for the injured Gordon Macpherson.

Anderson was overlooked for the remaining two tests against the Wallabies, missed the tour of France at the end of the 1986 season and after playing in the trials was narrowly beaten for a World Cup squad position by his Canterbury namesake, Albert Anderson.

Anderson’s only other All Black appearances came when he went on the short tour of Japan late in 1987, owing his selection in part to the fact that the World Cup locks, Albert Anderson and Murray Pierce, were rested for the tour. Anderson partnered Gary Whetton in the two internationals against Japan but full caps were not awarded for either of these games.

Anderson played for the N Z Emerging Players 1986, in 1988 for the Central zone and for the New Zealand Divisional selection while still with Wairarapa-Bush. His strong driving and powerful mauling made him a key member of the Waikato packs of 1989-93, but despite his consistently solid form he never appeared to be in the reckoning for All Black honours in these seasons.

After gaining somewhat of a following on the Sky Television programme Re-Union, Anderson has more recently taken a position within the NZRFU that is specifically aimed at addressing the needs of Clubs and Schools.

Profile by Lindsay Knight
for the New Zealand Rugby Museum.

ALL BLACK GAMES THAT ANDERSON PLAYED

(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced

1986

1987

POINTS SCORED FOR THE ALL BLACKS

TEST RECORD BY NATION