Alan Walter Blake (3 November 1922 – 31 October 2010) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A

flanker Flanker may refer to: * Flanker (perfume), a newly created perfume sharing attributes of an existing one * Flanker (rugby union), a position in rugby union (not found in rugby league) * ''Su-27 Flanker'' (video game), a 1996 computer game modelin ...

, Blake represented Wairarapa at a provincial level. He played for the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in a single test match in 1949. Despite not having any Māori ancestry, Blake played 26 matches for New Zealand Māori and captained the side in 1950. He had an African American grandfather. During World War II, Blake served as a trooper with the

4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade The 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade was an armoured brigade of the New Zealand Military Forces, formed during the Second World War in October 1942 from the remnants of the 4th New Zealand Infantry Brigade. It was part of the 2nd New Zealand D ...

from 1943, and saw action in Italy. At the end of the war, he toured with the New Zealand Army rugby team, known as the "Kiwis", appearing in 24 matches.

References

1922 births 2010 deaths People from Carterton, New Zealand People educated at Wairarapa College New Zealand rugby union players New Zealand international rugby union players Māori All Blacks players Rugby union flankers New Zealand people of African-American descent Wairarapa rugby union players New Zealand military personnel of World War II Rugby union players from the Wellington Region {{NewZealand-rugbyunion-bio-1920s-stub