Melvin Robert Dunne

In the history of international rugby many players have come close to representing their country, some on more than one occasion. Mel Dunne, a lock/back-row forward in the Brad Thorn mould, had it happen twice and, quite remarkably, for different countries.

Born in New Zealand, Dunne attended Wellington College where he showed as a handy all-round cricketer and played rugby at weight restricted grade level. He left school for the Public Service (Lands and Survey Department) and in 1961 became a registered engineer.

“A top-class second row forward” and “an outstanding flanker”, Dunne played his club rugby for University in Canterbury. A former colleague, Dick Hockley, remembers his introduction to Dunne’s rugby. “He had come from Wellington, and he played in the lesser of the two University club Easter trials, against Cheviot. Most of these players were destined for senior B or lower grades. But this bloke did everything, he dominated line-outs, caught the kick-offs, chased the loose ball relentlessly. Needless to say, he went straight into the A team.”

University won the senior championship in three of Dunne’s four seasons. He went on to play 47 matches for Canterbury, despite being a contemporary of Kel Tremain, John Graham and Hugh Burry, and represented South Island in all four of his full seasons for the province. Dunne’s engineering career saw him posted to different regions however a rugby ball was never far away. He also represented Wellington, Marlborough and North Otago, and in doing so topped 100 first class appearances.

In 1960, Dunne was picked to play for the Rest of New Zealand against the All Blacks alongside several giants of that era - Fergie McCormick, Des Connor, Waka Nathan and Stan Meads. Unfortunately, Dunne was then considered “desperately unlucky” to miss selection for the impending tour to South Africa. He remained in the mix in 1961 and again in 1962 when selected twice as an All Black triallist.

In 1966 Dunne left his homeland for Australia to join the Snowy Mountains Authority at Cooma. Working at Island Bend, and playing out of Cooma RC, Dunne didn’t take long to make his mark with selection for New South Wales Country against the British Lions at Manuka Oval. In what was his second match against the famed northerners, he also played for New Zealand Universities against the 1959 team in New Zealand, Country went down in an “epic struggle” by 3-6.

The following season he captained NSW Country on their tour to New Zealand, packed down for Country 1, alongside Owen Butler, against Sydney 1, before he was chosen for New South Wales to face Ireland. In what was described as the Waratahs’ “biggest Rugby Union success over a touring side in more than 20 years”, the locals outclassed the Irish by 21-9. Although Dunne’s performance was said to be “outstanding”, the Australian selectors, “as was expected” went with the Test hardened Queensland locking duo of Ross Teitzel and Mick Purcell for the one-off international in Sydney. Nonetheless, Dunne won a place in the squad as a reserve but was not required to play in the 5-11 loss. He rounded out the year in style when awarded the Tommy Byrne trophy for the best and fairest player by the ACTRU.

Dunne briefly coached the ACT in 1969 before he returned home to New Zealand and in later years coached his beloved University. Perhaps the final words should be left to Hockley: “He was such a good player. There were a number of good players (in his positions) around in those days, but I think he was better than some who wore the All Black jersey.”

Highlights

1967 Dunne was an unused reserve in the 5-11 loss to Ireland at the SCG.