Doug Rollerson

Rollerson in 1978
Birth name	Douglas Leslie Rollerson
Date of birth	(1953-05-14)14 May 1953
Place of birth	Papakura, New Zealand
Date of death	3 May 2017(2017-05-03) (aged 63)
Place of death	Auckland, New Zealand
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	82 kg (181 lb)
School	Wesley College
University	Massey University
Rugby league career
Position(s) Fullback Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1982–83 North Sydney ()
Rugby union career
Position(s) First five-eighth Fullback Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1972–77, 80–81 Manawatu (515) 1979–80 Middlesex 3 () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1973–77 NZ Universities 1976, 1980–81 New Zealand 8 (24)

Douglas Leslie Rollerson (14 May 1953 – 3 May 2017) was a New Zealand rugby union and rugby league player, and rugby union executive.

Rugby union

Primarily a fullback and first five-eighth, Rollerson represented Manawatu at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in 1976, 1980 and 1981.

He played 24 matches for the All Blacks including eight full internationals.^[1]

Rollerson played for Manawatu in their 16–22 loss to the Irish team of 1976. He did not score as the Freyberg Old Boys winger Sheridan Murphy did the goal kicking that day.

Against the 1977 British Lions Doug scored 3 penalties for Manawatu-Horowhenua in their 12–18 loss and 1 conversion and 3 penalties for the New Zealand Universities team in their 21–9 victory. He did not play for the All Blacks in that series.

Rollerson was called in to replace an injured Eddie Dunn at first five-eighth for the second test against the 1981 Scottish team which the All Blacks won comprehensively by 40–15. He then played for Manawatu in their 19–31 loss against the 1981 Springboks, scoring 1 conversion and 3 penalties. Manawatu led for the first hour of the match and according to Chester and McMillan “Manawatu’s hero was Rollerson, who pressured Botha all day. His quick thinking led to Manawatu’s first try.”. Rollerson was selected as first five-eighth in all three tests against the Springboks and over the series scored a try (in the first test), 2 conversions, 1 penalty and a dropped goal. He shared the goal kicking with Allan Hewson in the third test, Rollerson took the goal kicks from the left hand side and Hewson those on the right.^[2]

He later served as the chief executive of the North Harbour Rugby Union from December 1997 to March 2004.^[1][3]

Rugby league

From 1982, Rollerson spent two seasons with the North Sydney Bears, playing fullback, mostly in reserve grade.^[1]

Death

He died on 3 May 2017 after a long battle with cancer.^[4]

References