Lachore
Brian Lochore was a coach, player and captain of the All Blacks. Discover his career with RugbyPass, your resident rugby gurus.
Brian Lochore is an All Blacks legend who was the side’s head coach when they triumphed at the 1987 Rugby World Cup. He also played for and captained the side during an illustrious playing career. Prior to his death in 2019, he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame. Brian Lachore was inducted into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame in 2021.
Born 3 September 1940, Brian Lochore started playing rugby while he was still at school. Following this, he played domestic rugby for both Masterton and Wairarapa, making his debut for both teams in 1959 and representing both sides until 1970.
As well as excelling at the domestic level, Brian Lochore was also a force on the international stage. Between 1964 and 1971, he played in 25 tests for the All Blacks, including several appearances as captain. In 1970, he retired from rugby, but he returned to play for the All Blacks for one game in 1971, when the side was hit by injuries.
Towards the end of his rugby career, Brian Lochore had already begun to move into coaching. After coaching at Masterton between 1975 and 1978, he moved onto coaching Wairarapa Bush. Following this, he took on a role as a selector with the All Blacks before he was named as the side’s head coach in 1985. During his time as the national side’s head coach, he guided them to victory at the inaugural Rugby World Cup. After standing down from the role in 1987, he also held roles as the team’s manager at the 1995 Rugby World Cup and as a selector.
Sadly, it was announced in June 2019 that Brian Lochore was suffering from bowl cancer. He died of the disease on 3 August 2019, aged 78.
