Nicky Allen had an unusual career in New Zealand rugby because for his all obvious and exceptional gifts as a first five eighths his involvement at both representative and international levels was brief and sporadic. He then became a figure of tragedy for at just 26 he died from head injuries received in a club match in Australia. Nicky excelled in both rugby and cricket when he attended the Auckland Grammar School and as a teenager it seemed as if he had a huge career ahead of him. After entering first class rugby with New Zealand Colts in 1978 he was chosen for Auckland later that season but could not make the team the following year. He reappeared for Auckland in 1980 but then switched to Counties gaining his place in the All Blacks from that union. That was as an injury replacement for Wayne Smith on the 1980 tour of Australia. He played in the final test against the Wallabies in Sydney and even though he played little rugby on his return to New Zealand he was still included in the short tour late in 1980 to Wales. Nick made the test lineup and scored a try in the 23-3 win over Wales. Though there was some doubt as to whether he forced the ball properly for his try there was none over the class and composure he had shown in that match. But regrettably Allen was seldom seen in New Zealand rugby after that tour. He injured a knee playing club rugby in England after he had stayed on in Britain at the end of the tour and so was ruled out for all of the 1981 season. He resumed rugby in 1982 while in Australia and was back in Auckland for the 1983 season. Even though he damaged a wrist playing for an Auckland XV in one of the union's centenary matches there were high hopes in 1983 that his brilliant potential would at last be realised. Grant Fox (a great kicker) had emerged as a formidable force in Auckland rugby by then but Allen was used by coach John Hart outside Fox in a couple of NPC matches with good effect. But Allen suffered another injury and soon after returned to Australia, only to suffer his tragic mishap when tackled heavily in a club match at Port Kembla late in the 1984 season. Nick played for a variety of teams, Auckland, Counties, the All Blacks as well as New Zealand Colts, New Zealand Juniors and New Zealand Universities. But at the time of his untimely death because of his many injuries, selection vagaries and absences overseas he had managed just 35 first class matches. New Zealand rugby never ever saw the best of what was a rare talent. BORN 30-Aug-1958 at Auckland DIED 07-Oct-1984 at Woollongong, Australia PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES: 1.75m, 73kg POSITION First five-eighth LAST SCHOOL Auckland Grammar RUGBY CLUB Auckland University PROVINCE Counties ALL BLACK DEBUT 02-Jul-1980 v Australian Universities at BrisbaneALL BLACK TESTS 2 ALL BLACK GAMES 9 ALL BLACK TEST POINTS 4pts (1 try) ALL BLACK TOTAL POINTS 28pts (4 tries) ALL BLACK NUMBER 8 & 12 Match Record by Year(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced 1980 Jul 2 v Australian Universities at Brisbane 33-3 Jul 8 v A.C.T. at Canberra 48-15 Jul 12 v Australia at Sydney 10-26 Jul 16 v Nadroga at Lautoka 14-6 Jul 23 v Fiji at Suva 30-6 Oct 8 v USA at San Diego 53-6 Oct 18 v Cardiff at Cardiff 16-9 Oct 25 v Swansea at Swansea 32-0 Nov 1 v Wales at Cardiff 23-3 Nicky Allen was a friend and a person I went to school with. I have only recently found his grave. So Nick I hope the above bio is OK. Credit must be given the the rugby museum where all this information has come from. Never forgotten mate. Derrick