Donaldson (Doddy) Gray

Donaldson 'Doddy' Gray was an accomplished first five eighths who between 1900 and 1915 had a long, distinguished career which was reflected in the fact that he amassed 92 first class appearances. Match centurions in those years of limited representative programmes and occasional tours both in and out of the country were rare in Gray's time.

Gray was a near veteran of 27 when he first made the All Blacks and might well have played more for his country but for the fact he played in an era when New Zealand had considerable depth in the first five eighths positions. Among his rival contemporaries were Morrie Wood and the two preferred in the 1905-06 Originals, Billy Stead and Simon Mynott.

He made his debut for Canterbury in 1900 but after the 1902 season moved to Wellington, joining the Poneke club and playing 14 matches for Wellington in the 1903-04 seasons.

He was also in the Wellington Province side, which included players from other unions in the lower North Island and which met the 1903 New Zealand side before it left for its tour of Australia in which the country's first official test was played.

He returned to Canterbury for the 1905 season and played for that union until 1915, playing 56 games in all for the province.

He made the first of six consecutive appearances for the South Island in 1908, in which season he won his test cap for the All Blacks in the second test against the Anglo Welsh touring side.

Against what was considered a moderate opponent New Zealand only drew that match and Gray may have been judged harshly as a consequence. His next appearance for the All Blacks was not until 1913, by which time he was 33 and by inside back standards a very mature player. But he played with plenty of dash in the first test against Australia scoring a try in the 30-5 win.

Following a match against Wellington he was included in the team to tour North America. He played in 11 of the matches and scored two tries in the 51-3 test win over All America giving him three tries in his three test appearances.

As a first five eighths Gray was noted for his enterprise and his preference to pass rather than kick. One of his virtues was that he was a fine judge of a pass and seldom was guilty of passing to a player in a worse position.

In Christchurch he formed an inside back combination at the Albion club with Paddy Burns, who was also an All Black, and a strong second five eighths who played for Canterbury and the South Island in Joseph Weston.

These three were the basis for one of Albion's golden eras in Christchurch club rugby, with four championships won between 1906 and 1911.

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