Jon Preston

Jon Preston was a natural ball player who because of his ability to play at either halfback or first five eighths with equal ease proved good value to various All Black squads from 1991 to 1997.

In each position he was probably a notch below the ultimate champions, such as a David Loveridge or a Graeme Bachop at scrum half or an Andrew Mehrtens or a Grant Fox. But he was thoroughly competent in either position and as such was an ideal squad member, particularly as a reserve when there was a limit of six. Added to this was a considerable talent as a goalkicker.

Otago born but Canterbury-raised, Preston excelled as a schoolboy and from the St Bede’s College first XV made the national secondary schools side. By 1988 he had his first game for Canterbury A and was in the New Zealand Colts side of that year which played in Australia.

In Canterbury, though, his progress as a halfback was slowed by having to compete against Bachop, who was about the same age and had been a schoolboy rival, and another All Black, Bruce Deans. But even though he was not a regular representative player he made the All Blacks for the 1991 World Cup. A decision to take him as Fox’s understudy was made after he had moved out to the number 10 spot that season in a few games for Canterbury and for the New Zealand XV (against the Soviet Union) and for New Zealand B against Australia B.

Preston played in two matches at the 1991 World Cup, the pool match against the United States when he kicked 14 points and the third-fourth playoff against Scotland in which he kicked three penalty goals.

In 1992, with Laurie Mains taking over as All Black coach, Preston was returned to halfback and in that position he toured Australia and South Africa as the understudy to Ant Strachan. Preston’s only test appearance that year was as a very impressive replacement for Strachan after 16 minutes of the one-off international (the first in 11 years) against the Springboks.

In just 22 matches for Canterbury between 1988 and 1992 Preston scored 129 points, including a record 44 (a try and 20 conversions) in an early season 1991 match against West Coast. For the 1993 season Preston moved to Wellington and a marketing position with the New Zealand Rugby Union.

In the capital city Preston now began to gain the regular big match opportunities which had been hard to obtain in Canterbury.

Over the next half a dozen years Preston often captained Wellington at NPC level or the Hurricanes in the Super 12. When he quit New Zealand rugby to play out his career with a lucrative contract in England Preston had scored 669 points from his 72 games for Wellington and 300 from 25 Super 12 appearances.

In 1993 Preston ousted Strachan as the first choice All Black halfback for two home tests against the British Isles and those against Manu Samoa and Australia. He scored a try in the third test against the Lions at Eden Park but for the end of the year tour of Scotland and England he was replaced for the internationals by Stu Forster.

In 1994-95 seasons he was ignored at All Black level though he played in the trials and in 1995 for the North Island when the interisland match was briefly revived.

Preston generally was at halfback in these years but still had stints at first five. It was this adaptability which won him an All Black recall for the 1996-97 squads of John Hart when he took over the coaching from Mains. Preston made the tour of South Africa in 1996 and coming on as a replacement in the test at Pretoria for an injured Simon Culhane he enjoyed arguably the greatest moments of his international career. Under severe pressure he landed two mighty penalty goals to help the All Blacks hang on for a historic 33-26 victory.

Preston also went on the 1997 tour of Wales, England and Ireland, coming on as substitute in the international against Ireland and the first against England. In 27 matches in all for the All Blacks Preston scored 83 points and in his 10 tests, four of which were as a substitute, he scored 34.

After playing for New Zealand A in 1998 against the touring England side Preston departed at the end of the season for Britain where he spent a number of seasons. Since returning to New Zealand he has acted as Sky Television comments man.

Before his rugby took over Preston showed just as much talent and promise in cricket. An opening batsman and good fieldsman, Preston represented Canterbury at age levels and in the late 1980s was in the Canterbury second XI, acting as 12th man once in a Shell Trophy match.