Career Record: Played 30: Won 26, Drew 1, Lost 3
Test Points: 72
Tries: 1.
1986 v France (Christchurch) W 18-9
1986 v Australia (Wellington) L 13-12
1987 v Argentina (Wellington) W 46-15 (W.Cup)
1988 v Wales (Christchurch) W 52-3
1988 v Wales (Auckland) W 54-9
1988 v Australia (Sydney) W 32-7
1988 v Australia (Brisbane) D 19-19
1988 v Australia (Sydney) W 30-9
1989 v France (Christchurch) W 25-17
1989 v France (Auckland) W 34-20
1989 v Argentina (Dunedin) W 60-9
1989 v Argentina (Wellington) W 49-12
1989 v Australia (Auckland) W 24-12
1989 v Wales (Cardiff) W 34-9
1989 v Ireland (Dublin) W 23-6
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1990 v Scotland (Dunedin) W 31-16
1990 v Scotland (Auckland) W 21-18
1990 v Australia (Christchurch) W 21-6
1990 v Australia (Auckland) W 27-17
1990 v Australia (Wellington) L 21-9
1990 v France (Nantes) W 24-3
1990 v France (Paris) W 30-12
1991 v Argentina (Buenos Aires) W 28-14
1991 v Argentina (Buenos Aires) W 36-6
1991 v Australia (Sydney) L 21-12
1991 v Australia (Auckland) W 6-3
1991 v England (Twickenham) W 18-12 (W.Cup)
1991 v USA (Gloucester) W 46-6 (W.Cup)
1991 v Italy (Leicester) W 31-21 (W.Cup)
1991 v Scotland (Cardiff) W 13-6 (W.Cup 3rd/4th Place)
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Terry Right pictured playing for The All Blacks on 1st November 1990.
Photo George Herringshaw. ©
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Terry Wright spent the majority of his international career in the shadow of his wing partner John Kirwan, the pin up boy of New Zealand rugby in the 1980s. However, though he lacked Kirwan's imposing physique and star quality, the Aucklander proved to be a most effective and valuable All Black during that period, playing 30 tests between 1986 and 1991 and scoring 19 tries. Terry's rugby heritage was proud, having learned his trade with the famous and religiously orientated Marist Brothers club in Auckland, a side which spawned many a past and future All Black (including Kirwan himself). Wright made his test debut in 1986 against France as one of the "Baby Blacks" and he was a member of the supporting cast in his country's World Cup triumph a year later. In 1990 Terry was also part of the powerful New Zealand side which reached the final of the Hong Kong Sevens, only to be ambushed by a joyfully uninhibited Fijian team who were on their way to a hat-trick of titles.
In the final, Terry was one of several All Blacks to be left floundering in the wake of a famous Fijian try which spanned the length of the field and was eventually finished by Tomasi Cama. His career ended a little disappointingly in 1991 at the World Cup in England. Aside from the internal divisions which hampered New Zealand's cause that year, the All Blacks had relatively recently lost star full back John Gallagher to Rugby League, followed in the same week by his understudy Matthew Ridge. To compensate, Wright was shifted from the wing to full back for the first three matches of the campaign, returning to his more favoured position only for the third/fourth placed play off against Scotland. After the tournament, new coach Laurie Mains dispensed with Wright's services together with several other long standing players and so that game at Murrayfield would prove to be his last. (Jon Collins)
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