John Dougan Profile
John Dougan in 1972 was the first of a prominent Petone family to become an All Black. Many older Wellingtonians, however, believe that this was an honour that should have come to the Dougan's earlier - to his uncle, Jackie, who was also an outstanding first five eighth for Wellington representative sides for a lengthy period in the 1940s and 1950s.

The younger Dougan emerged in the mid-to-late 1960s and was to become in the next few years a leading performer with Petone in one of the greatest club dynasties in New Zealand, let alone Wellington. And for more than a decade Dougan was to be one of the country's leading inside backs, even if his international career was not as extensive as some believed his considerable talents warranted.

Short and stocky, Dougan played with an irrepressible dash and elan. Occasionally, though, he could be rattled under pressure and sometimes his judgement and option taking could be astray. But there could never be any doubt of his courage, and despite his lack of size, he was a consistent and safe tackler.

Dougan played for Wellington Colts in 1966 and was in Bill Freeman's representative A squad as a 20 year old in 1967. He was never a first choice in his maiden season and often filled in at fullback. His promise was obvious, though, and in both the 1967 and 1968 seasons he was given All Black trials and was in the New Zealand under-23s in 1968.

In the 1968-69 seasons he was in the Hawke's Bay, where he gained invaluable experience helping defend the Ranfurly Shield. But because Blair Furlong was the first five incumbent, and with Ian MacRae out with injury, Dougan was switched to second five, where he was a competent performer. Dougan had plenty of pace and because he had an individualist streak, Hawke's Bay coach Colin Le Quesne contemplated, though he did not follow through on it, of using him as a wing.

Dougan returned to Wellington for the 1970 season and over the next few seasons, until 1977, played in many of the province's notable triumphs of that decade - a Ranfurly Shield win over South Canterbury and a win when he was captain over England in 1973. However, Dougan had his lows as well as his highs, notably in the 1975 season when the then new selector/coach, Ray Dellabarca, controversially overlooked him for the entire season.

After playing in the 1970 trials and narrowly missing selection for the tour of South Africa, Dougan was tipped to be a front-runner for the 1971 series against the Lions. But Bob Burgess was preferred and it was not until the 1972 internal tour that Dougan finally made the All Blacks. An injury to Burgess saw him play that season's first test against Australia, in which he scored the opening try, the first four-pointer in test rugby. Dougan himself was ruled out of the rest of the series against the Wallabies and then missed out on the tour to Britain and France.

But in 1973 he was again on an All Black internal tour and played in that season's one domestic test, against England at Eden Park. That match, of course, was lost and Dougan, along with many others involved in that All Black side, was never chosen for the national side again.

Like his uncle, Jackie, John Dougan was a useful cricketer, representing Wellington at age levels as a batsman and playing for Hutt Valley at minor representative level. After his retirement he coached at Wellington senior club level and later in Australia when he went to live in Queensland.

Profile by Lindsay Knight
for the New Zealand Rugby Museum.