Frank Bunce

Quite apart from his quality as a player Frank Bunce stands out among All Blacks as being of royal descent. He is the direct descendant of George Rex, one of three sons borne to King George III by Hannah Lightfoot, a Yorkshire draper, before the King's marriage to Queen Charlotte. He is one of several hundred descendants living in New Zealand and Niue Island.

Born in Auckland and educated at Mangere College Bunce, playing for the Manukau club, took a long time to emerge from club rugby. He made solitary appearances for Auckland 'B' in 1984 and Auckland in 1986, but did enough to be selected for the North Island the latter year in what proved to be the last of the regular inter-island fixtures. He remained with Auckland until 1990, though never able to become a first choice selection, but received an All Black trial in 1988.

His career took off when he moved to North Harbour in 1991. Though primarily of Niuean ancestry he was selected for Western Samoa, toured New Zealand and then performed impressively for them at the 1991 World Cup. New All Black coach Laurie Mains included Bunce, now 30 years of age, in his squad for the 1992 NZRFU centennial series and after one match at second five eight he became the regular All Black centre until 1997. He and North Harbour teammate Walter Little formed a formidable midfield combination during that period, arguably the best in the world. Bunce missed just one test during that time, against Japan at the 1995 World Cup. He also appeared for New Zealand at Sevens, at the first Sevens World Cup in 1993.

In all Frank Bunce played 69 matches for New Zealand, 55 of them tests. Inevitably he is compared with another late blooming All Black centre in Joe Stanley with his ability to read a game and make play for his outsides. Perhaps as a result of a background of working on Auckland rubbish carts, one of Bunce's assets was his strength in the tackle, either giving or receiving. A subtle as well as a strong runner he scored 20 test tries.

After an injury affected Super 12 season in 1998 Bunce, now aged 36, was dropped from All Black plans when, after going to France to explore a contract with a French club, he failed to return in time to prove his fitness to the selectors.

Nearly 36 when he played his last test Frank Bunce is the second oldest All Black test player, and the oldest back. He is also the most capped test centre.

Profile by Bob Luxford
for the New Zealand Rugby Museum.