Jock Hobbs became a regular fixture in the New
Zealand side following his debut against
the British Lions
in the summer of 1983,
missing just two of the next twenty
Internationals.
Career Record: Played 21: Won 15, Drew 2, Lost4
Test Points: 16
Tries: 4
1983 v British Lions (Christchurch) W 16-12
1983 v British Lions (Wellington) W 9-0
1983 v British Lions (Dunedin) W 15-8
1983 v British Lions (Auckland) W 38-6
1983 v Australia (Sydney) W 18-8
1983 v Scotland (Murrayfield) D 25-25
1983 v England (Twickenham) L 15-9
1984 v France (Christchurch) W 10-9
1984 v France (Auckland) W 31-18
1984 v Australia (Sydney) L 16-9
1984 v Australia (Brisbane) W 19-15
1984 v Australia (Sydney) W 25-24
1985 v England (Christchurch) W 18-13
1985 v England (Wellington) W 42-15
1985 v Australia (Auckland) W 10-9
1985 v Argentina (Buenos Aires) W 33-20
1985 v Argentina (Buenos Aires) D 21-21
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1986 v Australia (Dunedin) W 13-12
1986 v Australia (Auckland) L 22-9
1986 v France (Toulouse) W 19-7
1986 v France (Nantes) L 16-3
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Photo George Herringshaw. 19th. November 1983. ©
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Flanker Jock Hobbs came to prominence following the retirement of Graham Mourie in 1982 and went on to play 21 internationals in a three year career. His debut came in the first test against the '83 Lions at his home ground of Christchurch, a tense encounter which was only put beyond doubt when Alan Hewson sent over a 45 metre drop goal near the end. The rest of the series proved more straightforward and Jock scored the first of his four international tries in the final game. After victory in the one off match against Australia in Sydney, Hobbs visited the UK in the autumn (the photo above shows Jock, far right, during the defeat against England) and enhanced his reputation in what proved a difficult tour, scoring a try in the tied test against Scotland. In 1984 he experienced more success against the Wallabies when the All Blacks triumphed 25-24 in the series decider.
The year after England toured New Zealand for the first time in twelve years, and performed creditably in the first test in Christchurch, going down by only 18-13. However, New Zealand bludgeoned the old country by a record 42-15 margin in the second at Wellington, with Jock chalking up another try. Hobbs was then given the honour of captaining his side for the trip to Argentina due to the unavailability of Andy Dalton, though he would later recall that it was a difficult undertaking: "I was relatively young and had extremely senior players in the team. One player particularly was upset by my appointment." Despite such problems, the tour was a success, with New Zealand winning five out of six matches. Jock toured South Africa with the Cavaliers in 1986, and was made captain again for the trip to France later in the year. New Zealand were victorious in the first game, but the second test in Nantes was lost 16-3, and sadly it would prove Jock's last, for he was forced to retire soon after on medical grounds. (Jon Collins)
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