Frank Solomon can claim two unique distinctions in New Zealand rugby. Born in Pago Pago, in American Samoa, on May 30, 1906, he was the first Samoan player to win an All Black jersey. In 1931 he became the last man to play as a wing forward in All Black colours, and a year later he was the second test No 8, taking this position in the second and third matches against Australia. By appearing in that 1931 match, he was one of the original team to win the Bledisloe Cup, which was first offered for competition that year.
Solomon received some of his schooling in Apia and Fiji before the family reached New Zealand in 1921, ending his classroom days at Seddon Memorial Tech. That now-defunct institution was a fine source of young Ponsonby players in the 20s and 30s, but Solomon originally played his club rugby for North Shore, because that's where most of his mates were playing. He won his first Auckland jersey as a 19-year-old in 1925, before spending a couple of years in the wilderness.
During this time he achieved the unusual distinction of winning a New Zealand Maori jersey. It wasn't unusual on the strength of his playing ability, as he had plenty of that, or for the fact that he wasn't a regular in first-class player, as that was also a common scenario at the time, but for the fact nobody had bothered to check that he was actually Maori. With Islanders being something of a novelty in New Zealand back then, it was automatically assumed his skin owed its colour to Maori blood, and into the team he went.
He was one of the better players on that 1927 internal tour, and nobody caught up with the fact he was there under false pretences. After appearing in seven of the first eight matches, he had to pack his bags and go back to Auckland to avoid being sacked from his job.
By now Solomon was reaching the height of his powers as a wing forward, spreading unease through any backline he faced. Ferocious on the field, he was always scrupulously fair and earned a deserved reputation for avoiding the rougher aspects of play, something which could not be claimed for many of his contemporaries.
Indeed, old-timers who remember the four Solomon brothers suggest that they could have been even better players than they were, except they would hold back if they felt they would hurt an opponent. All were big, powerful men who played hard, but felt rugby was a game to be enjoyed by every participant - and that meant inflicting unnecessary injury was not part of their makeup.
Finally, after much persuasion, Solomon joined Ponsonby in 1929, and immediately became a key man in the champion team. He also cemented his spot in the Auckland side and began to seriously threaten Cliff Porter for his test place. He enjoyed an outstanding season in 1930, playing brilliantly against the Lions and scoring one of the tries of the season as Auckland defeated the tourists. Once Porter retired at the end of the season, Solomon was the logical man to replace him.
He duly won his test cap the next year, giving a strong display at Eden Park in a match New Zealand was lucky to win. He toured Australia in 1932, winning the test spot after missing an ordinary All Black effort in the first match, and became, in combination with Hugh McLean, one of the most impressive units in the team. Surprisingly, that was the end of his international football, although he remained an Auckland regular until shortly before the war, eventually playing 54 games in the blue and white. Strongly built, at 6ft (1.83m) and a tick under 14 stone (89kg), he was often mentioned as one of Auckland's better forwards.
He, like brother Dave, had three trials for the 1935-36 team to Britain, but, unlike Dave, Frank missed out. There was a feeling this may have been a mistake, especially early in the tour when the All Blacks were still struggling to come to grips with the three-fronted scrum and an experienced head may have proved invaluable. Frank Solomon played his last representative matches for Auckland in 1939, before turning out a few times for the Barbarians and ending his career with a few service matches in England.
Some with long memories can recall his last appearances for Ponsonby, at the end of the war, when he was nearly 40 years old. He was a huge man by then, probably starting his second lap round the bathroom scales, and hadn't been in training for some years. With rugby in a state of flux as the war ended, he was persuaded to turn out on occasions to help the old club when they were short.
Percy Tetzlaff remembered him as being unable to bend comfortably, so they played him at halfback at times. When the ball came out of the scrum, he would dribble it around the side and start a movement that way. Tacklers found him a real handful, since they simply bounced off the still-powerful giant of yesteryear. After a few fleeting appearances in 1945, he called it a day.
A commercial traveller Frank Solomon coached the Gisborne HSOB club, and was a Poverty Bay selector 1946-49. He also rowed in the eights for Auckland. One brother, Dave was an All Black 1935-36 and another, George, played for Waikato 1937,38.
A delightful character, he rose to a high position in Samoan society and, when the big migration to New Zealand started in the 60s and 70s, he was a man of some influence in this country. The many people who were proud to call him a friend remember him as a real gentleman.
The Solomon influence in rugby extended far beyond his playing days; he was a figure of importance to the Polynesian players who later came to Ponsonby and his All Black jersey, presented to the Western Samoa Rugby Union in 1986, was a treasured memento. Former All Black flanker Josh Kronfeld is a great-nephew, and no doubt reminded some long-time followers of his famous relative.
Frank Solomon died in Auckland on December 21, 1991, aged 85.
Profile courtesy Ponsonby District Rugby Football Club.
|
