Dick Everest

Dick Everest was a New Zealand rugby union player and coach. Beginning his career with Frankton Rugby Club, Everest played for Waikato between 1937 and 1944, as a five-eighth, before playing for the New Zealand [Defence Force] Combined Team. Everest never played for New Zealand national [rugby union team|the national team] as there were no All Blacks matches during World War II.
After the war, during which a shoulder injury ended his prospects as a player, Everest returned to Frankton as a coach, before beginning his legendary tenure with the Mooloos. Learning innovative tactics from matches lost and recruiting several future All Blacks, Everest enabled a climb for the Waikato side using the limited resources available to him that led to a memorable victory over the 1956 [South Africa rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand|1956 touring Springboks side] in the opening match of the New Zealand leg of the tour.
In 1957, Everest was appointed All Blacks coach for the 1957 [New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia|tour of Australia], where he led the team to victory in two test matches. Everest was considered for coach when the All Blacks toured South Africa in 1960, the position ultimately going to Jack Sullivan who was unable to attain victory. New Zealand would not win a series in South Africa until 1996 New Zealand [rugby union tour of South Africa|1996].