Ryan Fox: King’s College First XV history of British Open winner

“Rugby and cricket were my main two sports,” Fox once said. “I didn’t start competitive golf until after I left school when I was 18 ... I certainly was a 2 or 3 handicap that struggled to break 80 other than at my home club.”

His dad finished his All Blacks career with a World Cup title along with 46 test caps and 645 test points. Fox’s maternal grandfather, Merv Wallace, was a test cricket captain for New Zealand and coach of the side when they secured their first test victory, against the West Indies in 1956.

King’s finished the 1A season in fifth place with a notable win against St Peter’s College and won the championship for the first time since 1969 the following season.

Meanwhile, Auckland Grammar were 1A victors in 2004, winning 20 of their 21 season games and beating Mount Albert Grammar 15-9 in the 1A final. Daniel Bowden, later an Auckland and Blues first-five, kicked five penalties. Additionally, Grammar beat King’s 31-10 in the annual Cooper-Greenbank Trophy match, which Grant played in three times for two wins and a draw.

Future New Zealand cricketers Tim Southee and Mark Craig joined Ryan Fox in the King’s First XV, along with future Blues representative James Parsons and Simon Munro, who had a useful rugby career for Northland.

Click here to read article