Date of birth | 14 November 1919 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Place of birth | Raetihi, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of death | 20 August 1987 | (aged 67)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of death | Tauranga, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Ohakune District High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children | Rhonda Bryers [1] (daughter) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ronald Frederick Bryers (14 November 1919 – 20 August 1987) was a New Zealand rugby union player. He was a lock, but in his early career was in the backs and was a loose forward. He played one match for New Zealand, against Australia in the first test in 1949. [2]
Bryers was born in Raetihi and educated at Ohakune District High School. He enlisted in the New Zealand Army in World War II; he was then a teacher living in the Bulls Schoolhouse. He served in the 34th Battalion, and played in service games. [3]
In 1946, he played for the New Zealand Māori against Australia. As a Māori, he could not be selected for the 1949 tour of South Africa so played against Australia instead. He retired as headmaster of Mount Maunganui primary school, and died in Tauranga Hospital. [4]
He captained King Country. [2] He was a selector for the New Zealand Māori from 1957 to 1958 and for Bay of Plenty from 1962 to 1973. [2]