Even for the standards of the late 19th century James Lambie was short for a top rugby forward, being well under 6ft (or 1.83m). But what he lacked in inches Lambie made up for with what was an extremely powerful physique. In an era where few players weighed 14st Lambie was 13st 6lbs and a veritable pocket battleship.

From rural Taranaki and a member of the old Waimate club, Lambie had a natural hardness and both for Taranaki and New Zealand he was a prolific try scorer.

He first made Taranaki sides in the late 1880s while only a teenager and continued playing for the province up until 1894.

He played in the trial to pick the side to tour Australia in 1893 and proved to be one of the outstanding players. The team played 11 matches and Lambie showed his endurance by playing every one. He scored four tries, including one in the first international against New South Wales and a second in the third international.

Lambie had another top season in 1894 when the Waratahs toured New Zealand. He played against them for the North Island, who won 15-3, and then for Taranaki, who won 21-6. In the latter match Lambie scored a hat-trick of tries. He then played for New Zealand at Christchurch in the unofficial international, but this game was lost 8-6.

That was his last year in major rugby, though his brother, W Lambie, played for Taranaki between 1895 and 1899.

Lambie died in his mid 30s in 1905 after being seriously injured when on his journey home from watching Taranaki play the 1904 British team he was kicked in the head by his horse.

Profile by Lindsay Knight
for the New Zealand Rugby Museum.

FULL NAME

James Taylor Lambie

BORN

Saturday, 9 April 1870 in Christchurch

DIED

Saturday, 15 April 1905 in Manaia

PHYSICAL

85kg

POSITION

Forward

LAST SCHOOL

Unknown

RUGBY CLUB
(First made All Blacks from)

Waimate

PROVINCE

Taranaki

ALL BLACK DEBUT

Wednesday, 21 June 1893
v Combined XV at Wellington
aged 23 years, 73 days

ALL BLACK TESTS

0 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK GAMES

12 (0 as Captain)

TOTAL ALL BLACK MATCHES

12 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK GAME POINTS

12pts (4t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)

TOTAL ALL BLACK POINTS

12pts (4t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK NUMBER

27

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

Click on the date to be taken to the Match Card

1893

 21 Jun vs Combined XV at Wellington 7-4  

 28 Jun vs Cumberland County at Sydney 8-0  

 1 Jul vs N.S.W. at Sydney 17-8  

 4 Jul vs N.S.W. Junior XV at Sydney 19-0  

 6 Jul vs Northern Districts at Newcastle 25-3  

 8 Jul vs N.S.W. at Sydney 3-25  

 15 Jul vs Queensland at Brisbane 14-3  

 19 Jul vs Queensland 2nd XV at Brisbane 6-0  

 22 Jul vs Queensland at Brisbane 36-0  

 26 Jul vs Western Districts at Bathurst 24-5  

 29 Jul vs N.S.W. at Sydney 16-0  

1894

 15 Sep vs N.S.W. at Christchurch 6-8  

Points scored for the All Blacks

t

c

p

dg

pts

vs Cumberland County, 28 Jun 1893

1

-

-

-

3

vs N.S.W., 1 Jul 1893

1

-

-

-

3

vs Northern Districts, 6 Jul 1893

1

-

-

-

3

vs N.S.W., 29 Jul 1893

1

-

-

-

3

Totals

4

0

0

0

12

Lambie played in no test matches for the All Blacks.