Roger Tait
{{Short description|New Zealand international rugby league footballer (1938–2023)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Roger Tait
|fullname = Roger Bruce Tait[http://nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=T&id=440 TAIT, Roger Bruce - 1965 - 68] nzleague.co.nz
|image =
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|position = {{rlp|FB|CE|SO}}
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1938|12|01|df=y}}
|birth_place = Huntly, New Zealand
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|05|06|1938|12|01|df=y}}
|death_place = Canberra, Australia
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|club1 = Huntly United
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|club2 = Glenora Bears
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|club3 = {{nowrap|Papakura Sea Eagles}}
|year3start =
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|teamA = Waikato
|yearAstart = 1961
|yearAend =
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|teamB = Auckland
|yearBstart = 1963
|yearBend = 68
|appearancesB =
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|teamC = New Zealand
|yearCstart = 1965
|yearCend = 68
|appearancesC = 11
|triesC = 3
|goalsC = 11
|fieldgoalsC = 0
|pointsC = 31
|updated =
|new = yes
}}
Roger Bruce Tait (1 December 1938 – 6 May 2023) was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in the 1968 World Cup.
Playing career
Tait was born in Huntly on 1 December 1938.{{cite news |url=https://tributes.canberratimes.com.au/obituaries/479129/roger-bruce-tait/ |title=Roger Bruce Tait |date=13 May 2023 |work=Canberra Times |access-date=16 February 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19381208.2.2.1 |title=Births |date=8 December 1938 |work=The New Zealand Herald |volume=75 |issue=23215 |page=1 |access-date=16 February 2024 |via=PapersPast}} He grew up in there and played for Huntly United.[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news/article.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=10704437 Huntly duo paved the way] New Zealand Herald, 6 February 2011 In 1961 he represented Waikato.{{cite book
| last =John Coffey, Bernie Wood
| title = 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008
| publisher =Huia Publishers
| year = 2008
| pages = 127
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=nklWo8vw-iIC
| isbn =9781869693312}}
Tait then transferred to Auckland, playing for the Glenora Bears in the Auckland Rugby League competition. By 1963 Tait captained Auckland against South Africa, with Auckland winning 10–4.Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. {{ISBN|978-1-86969-366-4}}.
During the 1964 season Tait scored 203 points for Glenora. He was first selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team in 1965 and went on to play in eleven tests for New Zealand, including three matches at the 1968 World Cup.
Tait later played for the Papakura Sea Eagles.[http://www.aucklandleague.co.nz/display_page.asp?item=376 Papakura Sea Eagles Club Historical Information] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605021730/http://www.aucklandleague.co.nz/display_page.asp?item=376 |date=2010-06-05 }} Auckland Rugby League, 2009
Tait moved to Australia, settling in Canberra, where he played for and coached the Valley Statesman RFLC, Woden Valley Rams, and Queanbeyan Kangaroos clubs. He died there on 6 May 2023.{{cite news |url=https://australianseniorsnews.com.au/news/canberra-raiders-mourn-passing-of-former-player-and-coach/ |title=Canberra Raiders mourn passing of former player and coach |date=9 May 2023 |work=Australian Seniors News |access-date=16 February 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{New Zealand 1968 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tait, Roger}}
Category:20th-century New Zealand sportsmen
Category:Auckland rugby league team players
Category:Glenora Bears players
Category:Huntly United players
Category:New Zealand emigrants to Australia
Category:New Zealand national rugby league team players
Category:New Zealand rugby league players
Category:Papakura Sea Eagles players
Category:Queanbeyan Kangaroos players
Category:Rugby league fullbacks