Frank Solomon
Australian defence during the inaugural Bledisloe Cup match at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1932 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Birth name | Frank Solomona | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 30 May 1906 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Pago Pago, American Samoa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of death | 21 December 1991 | (aged 85)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of death | Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 89 kg (196 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Seddon Memorial Technical College (now Auckland University of Technology) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Dave Solomon (step brother) Josh Kronfeld (great-nephew) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Frank Solomon (30 May 1906 – 21 December 1991) was an
Solomon was the first U.S. national of Samoan descent to play for a New Zealand national rugby team. The second was Jerome Kaino in 2004.
Early life
Solomon was born on 30 May 1906 in the
International rugby career
Solomon had 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.
Solomon won his test cap in 1931 making him the first ever Samoan to wear the All Black jersey. He gave 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 as well as having the distinction of leading the All Black Haka before the game. 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 6 ft (1.83m) and a tick under 14 stone (89 kg), 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.[1]
Military career
Wartime saw Solomon serving with the
Death
Solomon died in Auckland on 21 December 1991, aged 85.
Legacy
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.[1]
References
- ^ a b c "Frank Solomon". All Blacks. Archived from the original on 21 October 2008.
- ^ "The first Island men to play for the All Blacks". Oceania Rugby. 4 November 2008. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.