Frank Bunce
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| Frank Bunce | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | February 4 1962 | ||
| Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Weight | 85 kg (13 st 5 lb) | ||
| School | Mangere College | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Centre | ||
| All Black No. | 915 | ||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| 1986–1990 1991– |
Auckland North Harbour |
||
| Super Rugby | Caps | (points) | |
| Blues | |||
| National team(s) | Caps | (points) | |
| 1991 1992–1997 |
Western Samoa New Zealand |
55 |
(96) |
| 7's National teams | |||
| 1993 | New Zealand | ||
Frank Eneri Bunce (born 4 February 1962 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who played 69 games for the All Blacks, including 55 tests. He captained the team once in a non-test game. He was an unusual selection in that he was 30 when he made his All Black debut on 18 April 1992, against the World XV at Christchurch, an age when most rugby players are nearing retirement rather than beginning a career with an international side.
Bunce was born in Auckland and attended Mangere College. He played for the Manukau club, and progressed to Auckland B in 1984 and then Auckland in 1986, the same year he was selected for the North Island team. He remained with Auckland until 1990, but was not a first choice player, although he did trial for the All Blacks in 1988.
In 1991 he moved to North Harbour. Selected in the Western Samoa team, he received international attention at the 1991 World Cup where they impressed crowds on the way to making the quarter-finals. These performances brought him to the attention of All Black coach Laurie Mains who selected him for the All Blacks in 1992.
Bunce was renowned for his ability to stop opposition attacks with crunching tackles. Considered by many to be the anchor of the All Black backline, his strong running and strength when tackled allowed the backs outside him to shine. He was also a strong attacking player in his own right, as his 20 test tries attest. Bunce also brought experience and a certain wiliness to the All Black backline.
Bunce was a regular feature of the All Black backline, missing only one game (against Japan at the 1995 World Cup) until his last game on 6 December 1997 against England in London. At the close of his career he was 35 years and 305 days old, a ripe old age for an international rugby player. He was the second-oldest All Black ever, the oldest back and New Zealand's most capped test centre-three quarters (outside centre). Bunce also played for New Zealand at the first Sevens World Cup in 1993. He has one daughter, named Samantha Bunce, and two sons, one named Chance Bunce.
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