Roy Christian

{{Short description|New Zealand rugby league player and minister (1944–2024)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Roy Christian

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MBE|size=100%}}

| birth_name = Fletcher Roy Christian

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1943|10|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|11|19|1943|10|10|df=y}}

| death_place =

| module = {{Infobox rugby league biography |embed = yes

|retired = yes

|height =

|weight =

|position = {{Rlp|WG|CE}}

|club1 = Otahuhu

|year1start = 19??

|year1end =

|appearances1 =

|tries1 =

|goals1 =

|fieldgoals1 =

|points1 =

|club2 =

|year2start =

|year2end =

|appearances2 =

|tries2 =

|goals2 =

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|teamA = Auckland

|yearAstart = 19??

|yearAend =

|appearancesA =

|triesA =

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|teamB = {{nowrap|New Zealand Māori}}

|yearBstart = 1964

|teamC = New Zealand

|yearCstart = 1965

|yearCend = 72

|appearancesC = 32

|triesC = 5

|goalsC = 0

|fieldgoalsC = 0

|pointsC = 15

|updated =

|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/roy-christian/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}

}}

Fletcher Roy Christian, {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MBE|size=85%}} (10 October 1943 – 19 November 2024) was a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. A {{rlp|ce}}, he captained New Zealand in the sport. Christian also captained the New Zealand Māori rugby league team.

Early life and family

Christian was born in Auckland on 10 October 1943 to Norfolk Island parents, Leaonard Beaumont and Anna Matilda Christian.{{cite book |last1=Taylor |first1=Alister |last2=Coddington |first2=Deborah |author-link1=Alister Taylor |author-link2=Deborah Coddington |title=Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand |year=1994 |publisher=New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa |location=Auckland |isbn=0-908578-34-2 |page=98}} He was a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian, a figure in the 1789 Mutiny on the Bounty.{{cite book| last1=Coffey | first1=John |last2=Wood |first2=Bernie | title = 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908–2008 | publisher=Huia | year = 2008 | pages = 138–139| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=nklWo8vw-iIC | isbn=9781869693312}} He was educated at Otahuhu College and the University of Auckland.

In 1966, Christian married Robyn Cheryl Plant, and the couple went on to have two children.

Rugby league

During the 1965 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand Christian played on the wing in both Test matches against Australia. While playing for Otahuhu in 1966, Christian was awarded the Lipscombe Cup for Premier One sportsman of the year. However, injury caused him to miss the 1968 World Cup.

During the 1969 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand Christian played on the wing in the 2nd Test victory against Australia. He was then part of the Auckland side that defeated the tourists.[http://www.aucklandleague.co.nz/display_page.asp?item=334 1969: Referee, and Kangaroos, crash] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605021216/http://www.aucklandleague.co.nz/display_page.asp?item=334 |date=2010-06-05 }} Auckland Rugby League He was appointed captain of the New Zealand national side in 1970 and played in that year's World Cup.[http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=27865 Three Kiwi greats inducted into New Zealand Legends of League] rleague.com, 17 April 2007

During the 1971 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand Christian captained New Zealand from centre in the Test match victory against Australia at Carlaw Park.{{Cite news | last = Jessup | first = Peter | title = Rugby League: Classic battles part of folklore | work = The New Zealand Herald | date = 23 April 2004 | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=3562124 | accessdate = 29 October 2010}} Also in 1971, his Kiwis side became the first New Zealand touring team to win a test series in Britain.{{Cite news | title = Rugby League World Cup - Venues Guide | work = BBC Sport Online | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/static/in_depth/rugby_league/2000/world_cup/venue_guide/castleford.stm | accessdate = 29 October 2010}} The 1972 World Cup was the last time Christian represented New Zealand.{{Cite web | title = Christian, Fletcher Roy 1965–72 — Kiwi #435 | website = nzleague.co.nz | url = http://www.nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=C&id=435 | accessdate = 29 October 2010}} He retired with little fanfare as no test matches were scheduled for 1973. He had played in 74 matches for the Kiwis, including 32 tests. After retirement Christian served as the Otahuhu Leopards chairman.

In the 1972 Queen's Birthday Honours, Christian was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to rugby league football.{{London Gazette |issue=45680 |date=3 June 1972 |page=6294 |supp=3}} In 2007, he was inducted as one of the New Zealand Rugby League's "Legends of League".{{cite web| title =New Zealand Rugby League Annual Report 2008| publisher =NZRL| year =2008| url =http://www.nzrl.co.nz/files/financials/nzrl_2008annualreport_part1.pdf| accessdate =2009-07-21| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090912205939/http://www.nzrl.co.nz/files/financials/nzrl_2008annualreport_part1.pdf| archive-date =2009-09-12}}

Presbyterian minister

Christian studied at the Presbyterian School of Ministry at Knox College in Dunedin, and became a minister of the Presbyterian Church in 1984.

Death

Christian died on 19 November 2024, at the age of 81.[https://www.thepress.co.nz/sport/360493309/kiwis-mourn-roy-christian-legendary-captain-historic-tour Kiwis mourn Roy Christian, legendary captain from historic tour]