Mr A. I. Cottrell

Press, 12 October 1988, Page 6

Mr A. I. Cottrell

Mr Anthony lan Cottrell, one of the few men who successfully made, the transition from hooker to prop at international level in the great rugby scrum upheaval of the early 19305, died in Christchurch last Monday. He was 81. “Beau” Cottrell, as he was known, was a hooker in the All Blacks’ twofronted scrum formation on the Australian tour of 1929, in the epic series against Britain at home in 1930, and in the one-off test against the Wallabies in 1931. With the outlawing of the wing forward by the international rugby authorities, New Zealand was forced to switch to the 3-4-1 formation, and Beau Cottrell became one of the country’s first rugby props on the Australian tour of 1932. Of his 22 games for New Zealand, 11 were tests, played consecutively. He appeared 40 times for Canterbury between 1928 and 1934, and captained the side in 14 of its 15 successful Ranfurly Shield defences in the early 19305. He was a prominent public figure in the Christchurch community, and entered rugby administration circles well before his playing days were over. He served on the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union from 1930 to 1939, and filled several official roles in the Christchurch Football Club, becoming president between 1957 and 1975. His wide interest in sport led him to play a

prominent role in the securing of the Commonwealth Games for Christchurch in 1974. Mr Cottrell was chairman of Commonwealth Games Promotion (N.Z.) and a member of the games organising committee. He helped champion Christchurch’s case in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1966 and in Edinburgh in 1970. Mr Cottrell was educated at Christ’s College in the early 19205, played in the rugby first XV for three seasons, represented the college at cricket, and was the senior swimming champion in his final year. As a young man he continued these interests, playing senior cricket and taking a leading role in surf life-saving contests. In later years he became president of the Canterbury Surf Life-saving Association. In World War II he served with the 20th Battalion of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East, rising to the rank of captain before being wounded and captured at El Alamein in 1942. A barrister and solicitor in Christchurch, Mr Cottrell figured prominently in Christchurch public life. He was district governor for the South Island for Rotary International, served on the executive committee for the Pan Pacific Arts Festival and the Medical Research Council, was the director of several companies, and president of the Christ’s College Old Boys’ Association. For his services to the community he was awarded the C.B.E. Mr Cottrell is survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters.