JIM SANDERS – KIWI #133

Addington winger/centre Jim Sanders was a representative mainstay for a decade, featuring in several momentous series, tours and domestic matches.

The prodigiously talented youngster came through Addington’s ranks – briefly turning out at Hornby when Addington did not field a senior team – and was initially prevented from playing for Canterbury when first selected due to his lack of senior experience.

He was called up to the New Zealand team as a 19-year-old in 1919, debuting on the wing in the 26-10 second-Test upset of Australia at Sydenham Park. Though he missed the remaining clashes with Australia, he returned for all three Tests against the England tourists of 1920 – two on the wing and one at centre.

Sanders embarked on tours of Australia with New Zealand in 1921 and ’25 (neither trip featured Tests), played for New Zealandwhile he played for Canterbury against Great Britain in 1924 and for country and province against the visiting Queensland side in ’25.

He scored five tries in 15 matches on New Zealand’s tumultuous 1926-27 tour of Britain, making his last Test appearance in the final clash with England at Leeds.

The most-capped pre-war international to come from Canterbury, Sanders also skippered Addington to its first title in 1923, and played for South Island in the inaugural interisland encounter in 1925 and captained its maiden win over North Island in 1929.

Sanders later coached Canterbury and South Island, and was a selector for South Island and New Zealand.

JIM SANDERS
NEW ZEALAND (1919-21, 1925-27)
5 Tests – 0 points
-1921 New Zealand tour of Australia
-1925 New Zealand tour of Australia
-1926-27 New Zealand tour of Britain