M. J. BROWNLIE DEAD

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28182, 22 January 1957, Page 8

M. J. BROWNLIE DEAD

Famous All Black Captain (New Zealand Press Association) GISBORNE. January 21. Mr Maurice J. Brownlie, the famous All Black forward, died in the Cook Hospital this afternoon after an illness which lasted several months. He was 60. He was easily the most outstanding of the three Brownlie brothers who were All Blacks— Cyril, in 1924-1926 and 1928: Lawrence, in 1921 and Maurice. 1922, 1923. 1924. 1925, 1926 and 1928. Mr Brownlie and his brother Cyril were members of the 1924 “Invincibles” in the tour of Britain and the 1928 All Blacks in South Africa.

Altogether he played 61 matches in the All Black jersey, starting against New South Wales in 1922. The following year he played in two tests against New South Wales in New Zealand. On the tour of Britain in 192425 he played in tests against Ireland, Wales. England and France. He represented New Zealand against New South Wales in 1925 and he led the 1928 All Blacks in South Africa in all four tests.

He captained the Hawke’s Bay team in its greatest years from 1922 to 1927 when it held the Ranfurly Shield and during the First World War while serving overseas he played in the New Zealand Army team in Palestine. In the early thirties he came to Gisborne, where he married and took up farming. In later years he was a good handicap golfer and a member of the Poverty Bay Golf Club committee. He is survived by his two daughters.