Jeff Wilson — the golden one made his rugby test debut in 1993 and scored three tries against Scotland at a chilly Murrayfield, one day before he turned 20. He went on to score 44 tries in 60 tests.
Hamish Rutherford — playing on his home track in Dunedin, Rutherford went out and blazed a memorable 171 against England in March in 2013. It was the seventh-highest score by a batsman on debut.
Bevan Wilson — the Omakau farmer was called in for the third rugby test against the British Lions at Carisbrook in 1977. He played well and was assured again in the fourth test. Injuries unfortunately took hold and he retired just two years later, aged 23.
Mike Brewer — had been tipped for higher honours and with the Cavaliers banned, the Baby Blacks were born. Brewer made his test debut aged 21 in 1986. Scored a try and played well in a win for the ages. Then backed up the next day and played for Otago against Taranaki, which Otago unfortunately lost.
Ben McLachlan — the Queenstown doubles specialist had not even qualified for the ASB Tennis Classic in Auckland and only just scraped into the Australian Open. But he went on a dream run in 2018, when he and Jan-Lennard Struff came within a tiebreak of the final at his first grand slam.
Zoe McBride — had a successful junior rowing career and on her first foray to the senior world championships in 2015, she claimed gold in the women’s lightweight single sculls.
Mark Craig — the Otago spinner took eight wickets and was named man of the match on debut, as the Black Caps beat the West Indies in Kingston in 2014.
Tania Murray — came from nowhere and in an exciting contest, the Dunedin high jumper won the gold medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland.
