Jock Butterfield
- February 14, 2004
- 72 years
About Jock Butterfield
Jock Butterfield, 72, New Zealand rugby player.
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Full Biography
|John Rutherford "Jock" Butterfield (18 January 1932 – 14 February 2004) was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He was named amongst the finest that New Zealand produced during the 20th century. A New Zealand international representative forward, he played his club football in various places in New Zealand, New South Wales and Queensland. Butterfield held the record for most test caps for the New Zealand national team until overtaken by Gary Freeman. In 2007 he was named at hooker in New Zealand's rugby league team of the century.
New Zealand
Born in Taylorville, on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, Butterfield played at the nearby township of Brunner's rugby league club and also represented the West Coast.
Butterfield then moved to Christchurch, playing for the Sydenham club in the Canterbury Rugby League from 1953 and also representing Canterbury. At this time he was first selected to represent New Zealand at Greymouth's Wingham Park, scoring a try in the 20-14 second test win over Great Britain. During the 1954 Great Britain Lions tour's New Zealand leg Butterfield played in the 2nd and 3rd Test matches. He went on to play for the Kiwis in the first Rugby League World Cup in 1954 as a second-row forward. Touring Great Britain and France with the Kiwis in the winter of 1955-56, Butterfield switched to hooker and was also selected to go on the 1956 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia, playing in all three test matches. He appeared at the next World Cup in 1957 as well.
Butterfield returned to the West Coast in 1958 to work in the coal mines. Rejoining Brunner Rugby League Club, he captain-coached the side to the Thacker Shield championship that year. Also, during the 1958 Great Britain Lions tour's New Zealand leg, Butterfield played in both test matches. The following year he was selected to go on the 1959 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia. In 1960 he played for New Zealand in another World Cup.
Butterfield was selected to go on the 1961 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand, playing in the first of the two test matches. He led Brunner to another championship in 1963 and also toured Australia. He'd been trying to join Australian club Manly-Warringah but the move was blocked by the NZRL. Butterfield played his final test for the Kiwis that year. He had played in 99 games, including 36 tests, for New Zealand, a record that still stands.
Australia
After being cleared to do so by the NZRL, in 1964 Butterfield signed with NSWRFL Premiership side Manly-Warringah and moved to Australia at the age of 32. After one season with the Sydney club he moved to the country, where he captain-coached Leeton in the Reverina competition. In 1965, Butterfield, along with the rest of the Manly-Warringah, visited the USA Rugby League for an exhibition match against the St. Louis Bombers Rugby Football Club. Butterfield ended up playing in the Foley Shield competition for Mount Isa and Cloncurry in Queensland's outback until his retirement in the early 1970s.
Butterfield remained in Queensland and in 2001 was inducted as one of the NZRL's Legends of League. He died in Brisbane on 14 February 2004 aged 72. A regional Queensland youth rugby league tournament was named after him.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jock_Butterfield
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
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- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Jock Butterfield's archived record and the sources above.
1.What was the date of birth of Jock Butterfield?
- A.18 January 1932correct
- B.14 February 2004
- C.14 February 1932
- D.18 January 1952
Jock Butterfield was born on 18 January 1932.
Source: biographical introduction
2.In which New Zealand town was Jock Butterfield born?
- A.Greymouth
- B.Taylorvillecorrect
- C.Brunner
- D.Christchurch
Jock Butterfield was born in Taylorville on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.
Source: New Zealand section
3.Which club did Jock Butterfield join when he moved to Christchurch in 1953?
- A.Brunner
- B.Sydenhamcorrect
- C.St. Louis Bombers
- D.Manly-Warringah
Jock Butterfield moved to Christchurch in 1953 to play for the Sydenham club.
Source: New Zealand section
4.What position did Jock Butterfield transition to during the 1955-56 tour of Great Britain and France?
- A.Wing
- B.Hookercorrect
- C.Fullback
- D.Second-row forward
During the tour of Great Britain and France in 1955-56, Jock Butterfield switched positions to hooker.
Source: New Zealand section
5.Which championship did Jock Butterfield captain-coach the Brunner Rugby League Club to in 1958?
- A.Thacker Shieldcorrect
- B.Kangaroo Shield
- C.Foley Shield
- D.Canterbury League Cup
Jock Butterfield captain-coached the Brunner side to the Thacker Shield championship in 1958.
Source: New Zealand section
6.How many test matches did Jock Butterfield play for the Kiwis before his record stood?
- A.19
- B.99
- C.36correct
- D.72
Jock Butterfield played a total of 36 tests for the Kiwis, which remains a standing record.
Source: New Zealand section
7.Which Australian club did Jock Butterfield sign with in 1964?
- A.Mount Isa
- B.St. Louis Bombers
- C.Manly-Warringahcorrect
- D.Leeton
In 1964, Jock Butterfield signed with the NSWRFL Premiership side Manly-Warringah.
Source: Australia section
8.What was the age of Jock Butterfield when he moved to Australia in 1964?
- A.36
- B.32correct
- C.40
- D.28
Jock Butterfield moved to Australia at the age of 32 after being cleared by the NZRL.
Source: Australia section
9.After leaving the Manly-Warringah club, where did Jock Butterfield move to captain-coach?
- A.Leetoncorrect
- B.Brisbane
- C.Christchurch
- D.Taylorville
After one season with Manly-Warringah, Jock Butterfield moved to the country to captain-coach Leeton in the Reverina competition.
Source: Australia section
10.In 1965, which team did Jock Butterfield and Manly-Warringah visit for an exhibition match in the USA?
- A.New Zealand Kiwis
- B.St. Louis Bomberscorrect
- C.Great Britain Lions
- D.Queensland Outbacks
In 1965, Jock Butterfield played with Manly-Warringah in an exhibition match against the St. Louis Bombers.
Source: Australia section
11.In which competition did Jock Butterfield play for Mount Isa and Cloncurry?
- A.NSWRFL Premiership
- B.Foley Shieldcorrect
- C.Canterbury Rugby League
- D.Thacker Shield
Jock Butterfield played in the Foley Shield competition for Mount Isa and Cloncurry in Queensland.
Source: Australia section
12.What honor was bestowed upon Jock Butterfield in 2001?
- A.Appointed as a national team coach
- B.Named in the team of the century
- C.Awarded a lifetime coal mining fellowship
- D.Inducted as one of the NZRL's Legends of Leaguecorrect
Jock Butterfield was inducted as one of the NZRL's Legends of League in 2001.
Source: Australia section
13.In what city did Jock Butterfield die in 2004?
- A.Brisbanecorrect
- B.Greymouth
- C.Sydney
- D.Christchurch
Jock Butterfield died in Brisbane on 14 February 2004.
Source: Australia section
14.What distinction was Jock Butterfield given in 2007, three years after his death?
- A.Named as hooker in New Zealand's rugby league team of the centurycorrect
- B.Awarded the Thacker Shield posthumously
- C.Inducted into the Australian Sports Hall of Fame
- D.Knighted by the New Zealand government
In 2007, Jock Butterfield was named as the hooker in New Zealand's rugby league team of the century.
Source: biographical introduction
15.What is the legacy associated with Jock Butterfield in Queensland?
- A.A regional youth rugby league tournament named after himcorrect
- B.A national rugby league museum
- C.A lifetime statue in front of the Brunner Club
- D.The annual Jock Butterfield Coal Miners Cup
A regional Queensland youth rugby league tournament was named after Jock Butterfield.
Source: Australia section
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