Francis Alexander (Paddy/Alex) McMinn

http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/Profile.asp?ABID=591

Paddy was the 114th All Black

The McMinn family included five boys, four of whom represented Manawatu and two New Zealand. Their father, Alexander McMinn, came out to New Zealand in 1863 at the age of 21. The Irishman was sent out by a London newspaper to report on the Maori Wars in Taranaki. With the War over he went teaching in Wanganui, but soon returned to journalism, working in newspapers in Wanganui and Marton before settling in Palmerston North in 1880.

Here he established his own paper. The paper McMinn started was, of course, The Manawatu Evening Standard. McMinn was a big man, standing over 6’3” (1.85m) and weighing 18st. l0lb (119kg).

The eldest of the McMinn brothers was Alex. or “Paddy” who represented New Zealand against Great Britain in 1904. Born at Turakina on Nov. 10, 1874, Alex first played senior rugby as a 14 year old and represented Manawatu 1895,96,98,99, 1903-05,07,08.

Although he played most of his rugby as a hooker in the old 2-3-2 scrum, he played his first two years at fullback. He later appeared as half-back and five-eighth. Apart from three years out of the district during which time he represented Hawke's Bay and Wellington, all of Paddy's rugby was with Manawatu. He also appeared in combined provincial teams against the 1904 and 1908 British teams and the 1905 Australians.

In 1906 he was a member of the M.R.U. management committee as well as rep. selector, but the following year came out of retirement to again play in the front row for the rep. side. A concrete worker and brick layer, Paddy finally retired at the age of 33, in 1908. He returned in 1923 as a Manawatu Selector before moving to Auckland where he died on August 8, 1947.

His brother Archie F McMinn represented New Zealand 1903,05. Two other brothers, Gordon and Garnet also played for Manawatu, whilst a fifth, Leslie, played for College Street Old Boys for several years.

FULL NAME Francis Alexander McMinn

BORN Tuesday, 10 November 1874 in Turakina

DIED Friday, 8 August 1947 in Auckland

POSITION Hooker

LAST SCHOOL Unknown

RUGBY CLUB

(First made All Blacks from) College St OB

PROVINCE Manawatu

RUGBY NICKNAME Paddy

ALL BLACK DEBUT Saturday, 13 August 1904 v British & Irish Lions at Wellington aged 29 years, 277 days

INTERNATIONAL DEBUT Saturday, 13 August 1904 v British & Irish Lions at Wellington aged 29 years, 277 days

LAST TEST Saturday, 13 August 1904 v British & Irish Lions at Wellington aged 29 years, 277 days

ALL BLACK TESTS 1 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK GAMES 0 (0 as Captain)

TOTAL ALL BLACK MATCHES 1 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK TEST POINTS 0pts

ALL BLACK GAME POINTS 0pts

TOTAL ALL BLACK POINTS 0pts

ALL BLACK NUMBER 114

13 Aug 1904 vs British & Irish Lions at Wellington final score 9-3

Francis McMinn did not score any points for the All Blacks.

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Feb 15 2018, 3:41:44 UTC

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/166190229/francis-alexander-mcminn