Few All Black forwards have had the imposing physique of Chris Jack, who at 2.02m (6ft 7in) and 115kg (more than 18st) was one of the All Blacks’ first choice locks for an extended period between 2001 and 2007.

In these seasons, too, Jack was a major contributor to the successes of Canterbury at provincial level and to the Crusaders in the Super 12/14. As a 20-year, after having impressed in national age group sides, he actually appeared for the Crusaders in the 1999 Super 12 before representing Canterbury.

In 2000 Jack had still not established himself as a first choice Canterbury player, behind two other All Blacks in Norman Maxwell and Todd Blackadder. But his potential was obvious and he was taken on the New Zealand “A” team’s end of year tour of Europe.

Jack’s greatest attributes were his lineout ability, scrummaging strength and considerable athleticism, for such a big man, in the open.

Jack had an especially outstanding season in 2001, when he appeared in the All Blacks for the first time, scoring a try on debut in a test against Argentina in Christchurch, and winning the Kelvin Tremain Memorial Trophy as the player of the year.

For the next few seasons, including the 2003 World Cup in Australia, there was not much argument that Jack was New Zealand’s premier lock, one who was entitled to rank with previous greats such as Tiny White, Colin Meads, Peter Whiting, Andy Haden, Gary Whetton, Ian Jones and Robin Brooke.

In more recent seasons, though, despite remaining a force with the Crusaders and playing in the successes of 2002, 2005-06, there was more of an inconsistency about his play. At national level he found himself frequently “rotated” as the All Blacks developed a locking group which also included Ali Williams, Keith Robinson, James Ryan and Jason Eaton.

Through 2006-2007 there were often signs that the preferred pair as locks were Williams and Robinson and, indeed, for the All Blacks’ ill fated quarter-final of 2007 against France in Cardiff Jack was used only from the reserves bench.

That turned out to be Jack’s final All Black appearance for he then departed for an overseas contract. He was only in his late 20s and, like some of the other departing players such as Doug Howlett, Aaron Mauger, Luke McAlister especially, and Carl Hayman, seemed to have a little more to contribute to New Zealand rugby.

Jack was in the Canterbury side which won the NPC first division title in 2004, but All Black selection, reconditioning and injury meant his involvement at provincial level was sporadic and he missed being in the Ranfurly Shield winning sides of 2000 and 2004 and the NPC final of 2001.

He played in all only 45 provincial games, the last handful of which in 2006-07 were for the new Tasman union, to which he was transferred to avoid salary cap problems. But he played 89 games for the Crusaders and his 67 tests placed him only behind Jones (79) as New Zealand’s most capped international lock.

Jacks’ elder brother, Graham, also a lock, preceded him into Canterbury teams, playing in the side which won the NPC title in 1997. An uncle, David, was in the Southland side which won the Ranfurly Shield in 1959.

Profile by Lindsay Knight
for the New Zealand Rugby Museum.

FULL NAME

Christopher Raymond Jack

BORN

Tuesday, 5 September 1978 in Christchurch

AGE

31

PHYSICAL

2.02m, 115kg

POSITION

Lock

LAST SCHOOL

Shirley Boys' High

RUGBY CLUB
(First made All Blacks from)

Shirley

PROVINCES

Canterbury, Tasman

RUGBY NICKNAME

Jacko

ALL BLACK DEBUT

Saturday, 23 June 2001
v Argentina at Christchurch
aged 22 years, 291 days

INTERNATIONAL DEBUT

Saturday, 23 June 2001
v Argentina at Christchurch
aged 22 years, 291 days

LAST TEST

Saturday, 6 October 2007
v France at Cardiff
aged 29 years, 31 days

ALL BLACK TESTS

67 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK GAMES

1 (0 as Captain)

TOTAL ALL BLACK MATCHES

68 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK TEST POINTS

25pts (5t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK GAME POINTS

0pts

TOTAL ALL BLACK POINTS

25pts (5t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK NUMBER

1003

The All Black Games that Jack played.
(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced

Click on the date to be taken to the Match Card

2001

 23 Jun vs Argentina at Christchurch 67-19 (+) 

 21 Jul vs South Africa at Cape Town 12-3 (+) 

 25 Aug vs South Africa at Auckland 26-15 (-) 

 1 Sep vs Australia at Sydney 26-29  

 17 Nov vs Ireland at Dublin 40-29  

 24 Nov vs Scotland at Edinburgh 37-6  

 1 Dec vs Argentina at Buenos Aires 24-20  

2002

 15 Jun vs Ireland at Dunedin 15-6  

 22 Jun vs Ireland at Auckland 40-8  

 13 Jul vs Australia at Christchurch 12-6  

 20 Jul vs South Africa at Wellington 41-20  

 3 Aug vs Australia at Sydney 14-16  

 10 Aug vs South Africa at Durban 30-23  

2003

 14 Jun vs England at Wellington 13-15  

 21 Jun vs Wales at Hamilton 55-3  

 28 Jun vs France at Christchurch 31-23  

 19 Jul vs South Africa at Pretoria 52-16  

 26 Jul vs Australia at Sydney 50-21  

 9 Aug vs South Africa at Dunedin 19-11 (+) 

 16 Aug vs Australia at Auckland 21-17  

 11 Oct vs Italy at Melbourne 70-7  

 17 Oct vs Canada at Melbourne 68-6  

 8 Nov vs South Africa at Melbourne 29-9 (-) 

 15 Nov vs Australia at Sydney 10-22  

 20 Nov vs France at Sydney 40-13  

2004

 12 Jun vs England at Dunedin 36-3  

 19 Jun vs England at Auckland 36-12  

 26 Jun vs Argentina at Hamilton 41-7 (-) 

 10 Jul vs Pacific Islanders at Albany 41-26 (-) 

 17 Jul vs Australia at Wellington 16-7  

 24 Jul vs South Africa at Christchurch 23-21  

 7 Aug vs Australia at Sydney 18-23  

 14 Aug vs South Africa at Johannesburg 26-40  

 13 Nov vs Italy at Rome 59-10  

 20 Nov vs Wales at Cardiff 26-25  

 27 Nov vs France at Paris 45-6  

 4 Dec vs Barbarians at London 47-19 (+) 

2005

 10 Jun vs Fiji at Albany 91-0 (+) 

 25 Jun vs British & Irish Lions at Christchurch 21-3  

 2 Jul vs British & Irish Lions at Wellington 48-18 (-) 

 9 Jul vs British & Irish Lions at Auckland 38-19 (-) 

 6 Aug vs South Africa at Capetown 16-22  

 13 Aug vs Australia at Sydney 30-13  

 27 Aug vs South Africa at Dunedin 31-27 (-) 

 3 Sep vs Australia at Auckland 34-24 (-) 

 5 Nov vs Wales at Cardiff 41-3  

 19 Nov vs England at London 23-19  

 26 Nov vs Scotland at Edinburgh 29-10  

2006

 10 Jun vs Ireland at Hamilton 34-23  

 17 Jun vs Ireland at Auckland 27-17  

 8 Jul vs Australia at Christchurch 32-12  

 22 Jul vs South Africa at Wellington 35-17  

 29 Jul vs Australia at Brisbane 13-9  

 19 Aug vs Australia at Auckland 34-27  

 26 Aug vs South Africa at Pretoria 45-26 (+) 

 2 Sep vs South Africa at Rustenberg 20-21 (-) 

 5 Nov vs England at London 41-20  

 18 Nov vs France at Paris 23-11 (-) 

2007

 2 Jun vs France at Auckland 42-11 (-) 

 9 Jun vs France at Wellington 61-10  

 30 Jun vs Australia at Melbourne 15-20  

 14 Jul vs South Africa at Christchurch 33-6  

 21 Jul vs Australia at Auckland 26-12  

 8 Sep vs Italy at Marseille 76-14  

 15 Sep vs Portugal at Lyon 108-13 (-) 

 23 Sep vs Scotland at Edinburgh 40-0 (+) 

 29 Sep vs Romania at Toulouse 85-8 (+) 

 6 Oct vs France at Cardiff 18-20 (+) 

Points scored for the All Blacks

t

c

p

dg

pts

vs Argentina, 23 Jun 2001

1

-

-

-

5

vs Ireland, 17 Nov 2001

1

-

-

-

5

vs France, 20 Nov 2003

1

-

-

-

5

vs Australia, 19 Aug 2006

1

-

-

-

5

vs Italy, 8 Sep 2007

1

-

-

-

5

Totals

5

0

0

0

25

Test Record by Nation

P

W

D

L

t

c

p

dg

pts

Argentina

3

3

-

-

1

-

-

-

5

Australia

15

10

-

5

1

-

-

-

5

British & Irish Lions

3

3

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Canada

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

England

5

4

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

Fiji

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

France

7

6

-

1

1

-

-

-

5

Ireland

5

5

-

-

1

-

-

-

5

Italy

3

3

-

-

1

-

-

-

5

Pacific Islanders

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Portugal

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Romania

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Scotland

3

3

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

South Africa

15

12

-

3

-

-

-

-

-

Wales

3

3

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Totals

67

57

0

10

5

0

0

0

25