As captain of Varsity A in 1936, C. C. Gillies led his team by example. He was a fine first five-eighth who left the defence standing with many an exciting dash.

Gillies played on the principle that the first thrust after the ball came from the scrum should be made by the first five-eighth. He was always quick on attack and played tirelessly, often in gruelling conditions. In cutting through to score, running his supports into position, kicking for the line, or covering on defence, he invariably imparted brilliance to his play.

Gillies was in the Varsity A team in 1932-33-35-36 and in the Otago team as a Varsity club member in the same four seasons. In the 1936 season Varsity played another fine first five-eighth, T. Berghan, outside Gillies in the A team backline. A little ironically, Gillies himself was played at second five-eighth by the Otago selectors in 1936 and also appeared in that position for the South Island. But, when he was brought into the New Zealand team against South Canterbury and for the second test against Australia, played at Carisbrook, he was given his usual position of first five-eighth. He seized the opportunity to demonstrate all his elusiveness and dash.

Gillies provided practically all the thrust in the All Blacks' rearguard. Time and again he went through the defence. And the result was that after Australia had led 13-11 at half time, New Zealand piled on 27 points in the second half to win, 38-13.

When the first regular universities inter-island match was played in 1936 Gillies took his place in the South Island team. He had previously represented N Z Universities on their Japanese tour early in 1936.

Profile courtesy University of Otago RFC.

Colin Gillies was in the 1st XV at Waitaki BHS 1929-31 and represented North Otago at both rugby and cricket in 1931 whilst still at school. Two brother, A J and D H Gillies also played rugby for North Otago.

A schoolteacher, later an accountant, Gillies was North Otago sub-unions selector-coach 1954-56 and North Otago selector 1956.

Profile by Bob Luxford
for the New Zealand Rugby Museum.

FULL NAME

Colin Cuthbert Gillies

BORN

Tuesday, 8 October 1912 in Oamaru

DIED

Tuesday, 2 July 1996 in Timaru

PHYSICAL

73kg

POSITION

First five-eighth

LAST SCHOOL

Waitaki Boys' High

RUGBY CLUB
(First made All Blacks from)

Otago University

PROVINCE

Otago

ALL BLACK DEBUT

Wednesday, 9 September 1936
v South Canterbury at Timaru
aged 23 years, 337 days

INTERNATIONAL DEBUT

Saturday, 12 September 1936
v Australia at Dunedin
aged 23 years, 340 days

LAST TEST

Saturday, 12 September 1936
v Australia at Dunedin
aged 23 years, 340 days

ALL BLACK TESTS

1 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK GAMES

1 (0 as Captain)

TOTAL ALL BLACK MATCHES

2 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK TEST POINTS

0pts

ALL BLACK GAME POINTS

0pts

TOTAL ALL BLACK POINTS

0pts

ALL BLACK NUMBER

426

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

Click on the date to be taken to the Match Card

1936

 9 Sep vs South Canterbury at Timaru 16-13  

 12 Sep vs Australia at Dunedin 38-13  

Gillies did not score any points for the All Blacks.

Test Record by Nation

P

W

D

L

t

c

p

dg

pts

Australia

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Totals

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0