Dave Solomon

Solomon in 1935
Personal information
Full name	David Solomona
Born	(1913-05-31)31 May 1913 Levuka, Fiji
Died	15 August 1997(1997-08-15) (aged 84) Auckland, New Zealand
Playing information
Height	173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	76 kg (12 st 0 lb)
Rugby union
Position	Fullback, first five-eighth
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1935–38 Ponsonby RFC 50 32 14 0 129 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1934 Waikato 1935–1938 Auckland 26 6 0 0 18 1935–1936 New Zealand 8 1 0 0 3
Rugby league
Position	Stand-off
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1939–41 Richmond Rovers 21 11 0 85 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1939 New Zealand 1 0 0 0 0 1940–41 Auckland Māori (Tamaki) 4 0 0 0 0 1941 Auckland 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]

Dave Solomon (31 May 1913 – 15 August 1997) was a Fijian-born rugby football player who represented New Zealand in both rugby union (as a five-eighth and fullback) and rugby league. His brother Frank Solomon was also an All Black.

Early years

Solomon attended Mt Albert Grammar, and was in the 1st XV in 1931.^[2]

Rugby union career

David Solomon passport application (1935)

Playing with the Ponsonby rugby union club, Solomon moved south; playing for the Matamata sub-union 1932–43 and represented the Waikato Rugby Union in 1934 before moving back home and playing for Auckland 1935–38, in every back position except wing.^[2] He made the 1935 All Blacks tour and travelled with the squad to Great Britain, playing in eight tour matches in 1934–35 and scored 3 points (a try) for New Zealand.

Rugby league career

In 1939 Solomon switched codes to play rugby league. He was named in the 1939–40 New Zealand national rugby league team squad, however the tour was cut short by World War II.^[2][3]

Return to rugby union

After the war he returned to rugby union, and coached the East Coast Bays and Northcote clubs on the North Shore.

Later years

Solomon became a Samoan Matai. He died in Auckland on 15 August 1997.^[2]

References