Peter Henderson

Who is Peter Henderson?

Peter "Sammy" Henderson is a former New Zealand All Black rugby test player who was banned by officialdom for 38 years for signing to join with the professional rugby league in England in 1950. Born in Gisborne but moving to Wanganui at a young age, Henderson excelled in several sports, including sprinting where he won a bronze medal at the 1950 British Empire Games held in Auckland.

Henderson was a dental technician in Wanganui where he played rugby union for the Kaierau Club, and 26 representative matches for the Wanganui Rugby Football Union. He was a medium sized winger, 1.72m and 81 kg, but is still credited with being one of the fastest All Blacks of all time He was a member of the ill-fated 1949 All Blacks side, captained by Fred Allen, which lost all four tests on its tour of South Africa. Henderson was top try scorer on the tour, with seven tries.

Following his return from South Africa he had little time to change sports and get into serious sprint training for the Empire Games. He won the bronze medal as part of the men's 4 x 110 yard relay alongside Keith Beardsley, Arthur Eustace and Clem Parker. He also competed in the 100 yards where he placed 5th in the final.