Anthony Gordon Steel (31 July 1941 – 4 May 2018) was a New Zealand rugby union player, politician and educator.

Tony Steel
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Hamilton East
In office
27 October 1990 – 8 November 1993
Preceded byBill Dillon
Succeeded byDianne Yates
In office
12 October 1996 – 27 July 2002
Preceded byDianne Yates
Succeeded byDianne Yates
5th Headmaster of Hamilton Boys' High School
In office
1980–1989
Preceded byRichard Taylor
Succeeded byJames Bennett
Personal details
Born
Anthony Gordon Steel

(1941-07-31)31 July 1941
Greymouth, New Zealand
Died4 May 2018(2018-05-04) (aged 76)
Hamilton, New Zealand
Political partyNational
RelativesJack Steel (uncle)[1]
EducationChristchurch Boys' High School
OccupationSchoolteacher
Sports career
SportTrack and field
EventSprints
Sports achievements and titles
National finals100 yd champion (1965, 1966)
220 yd champion (1965, 1966)
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight82 kg (181 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1966–1968 New Zealand 23 (60)

Early years

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He was born in Greymouth, and played rugby first for his school, Christchurch Boys' High School, and then for Canterbury before finally playing for the All Blacks between 1966 and 1968. He was a part of the All Blacks 1967 New Zealand rugby union tour of Britain, France and Canada.

After retiring from sport due to injury, he took up teaching, first at the Brisbane Grammar School and then back in New Zealand. He eventually became headmaster of Hamilton Boys' High School.

Member of Parliament

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New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1990–1993 43rd Hamilton East National
1996–1999 45th Hamilton East 44 National
1999–2002 46th Hamilton East none National

In the 1990 election, he stood for Parliament as a candidate for the National Party, defeating Labour's Bill Dillon in the Hamilton East electorate. In the 1993 election, however, he was defeated by Labour's Dianne Yates. He regained the seat in the 1996 election, and retained it in the 1999 election, but in the 2002 election, he was defeated again by Dianne Yates. Having opted not to seek a position on National's party list, Steel left Parliament. Testament to Steel's popularity in the city of Hamilton is the fact that he lost what has traditionally been regarded as a bellwether seat by a mere 600 votes, in an election where the National Party was almost destroyed by its lowest polling result in recent history.[citation needed]

Death

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Steel died in Hamilton on 4 May 2018.[1][2]

Legacy

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In 2000, an extra house was added at Hamilton Boys' High School, named Steel house, after Tony Steel. Apart from Argyle House (the boarding house), all of the other houses are also named after former Headmasters. Tony Steel also won the New Zealand 100/200metres Sprint double at the 1965-66 New Zealand Track and Field Championships representing Canterbury as well as being a member of the winning Canterbury 4x100 metres Team that took Gold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Former All Black Tony Steel made the most of his life a role model". Stuff. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Former All Black and National MP Tony Steel dies aged 76". The New Zealand Herald. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
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New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Hamilton East
1990–1993
1996–2002
Succeeded by
Preceded by