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John Butterfield

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.

Vital Statistics

Full Name
John Rutherford Butterfield
Nickname(s)
Jock
Born
Monday, 18th January, 1932
Died
Saturday, 14th February, 2004 (Aged 72 years and 27 days)
Place Of Birth
Taylorville, West Coast, New Zealand

Biography

Kiwi Test forward first tried to join Manly in 1963 but the NZRL blocked the move. Butterfield had made almost 100 appearances for his country (Tests, World Cup matches and tour matches included) before being cleared in to play with the Sea Eagles in 1964. With a record 36 Tests to his credit from 1954 to 1963, the 32 year-old hooker/prop had a modest season with the Sea Eagles. Butterfield later captain-coached Leeton in the Riverina competition in 1965, before moving to Mt Isa (1966-69) and Cloncurry (1970-72) in Queensland. The veteran player, a Kiwi ‘Legend of League’ passed away in Brisbane in February 2004, aged 72.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Representative Career - International   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Tests (Senior International Matches) - 35 - 35 5-5 - - - 15 - - - 14 20 1 40.00% List
Other International Matches - 2 - 2 --- - - - - - - - - 2 - 0.00% List
World Cup - 8 - 8 --- - - - - - - - 2 6 - 25.00% List
Tour Matches South IslandSIS - 2 - 2 1-1 3 - - 9 - - - - 2 - 0.00% List
Tour Matches Canterbury (NZ)CNZ - 3 - 3 4-4 - - - 12 - - - 2 1 - 66.67% List
Tour Matches New ZealandNZL - 66 - 66 10-10 2 - - 34 - - - 39 26 1 59.09% List
Tour Matches West Coast NZ FirstsWCN - 3 - 3 1-1 1 - - 5 - - - - 3 - 0.00% List
Tour Matches North West QLDNOR - 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
Test Series 3 26 - 26 5-5 - - - 15 - - - 12 13 1 46.15% List
Club Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - 10 - 10 --- - - - - - - - 4 5 1 40.00% List
Preseason Cup - 2 - 2 --- - - - - - - - 1 1 - 50.00% List
Overall   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
First Class  92 - 92 16-16 6 - - 60 - - - 47 43 2 51.09% List

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
New Zealand 1954-63   35 - 35 5-5 - - - 15 - - - 14 20 1 40.00% List

International Matches - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
New Zealand 1954   2 - 2 --- - - - - - - - - 2 - 0.00% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
New Zealand 1954, 1957, 1960   8 - 8 --- - - - - - - - 2 6 - 25.00% List

Australia - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Canterbury 1953-55   3 - 3 4-4 - - - 12 - - - 2 1 - 66.67% List
South Island 1953-54   2 - 2 1-1 3 - - 9 - - - - 2 - 0.00% List
West Coast 1958, 1961-62   3 - 3 1-1 1 - - 5 - - - - 3 - 0.00% List
North West QLD 1968   1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

Team Season   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
ManlyManly 19641964 NSWRFL   10 - 10--- - - - - - - - 4 5 1 40.00% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Manly 1964   10 - 10 --- - - - - - - - 4 5 1 40.00% List

Your Say

  • James Ewen
    30 Oct 2011 12:39am

    Jock Butterfield was my big cousin and i only seen him once in the mid 50s when he came to Scotland to play rugby, he came to visit my Mum and i can remember him picking me up and giving me a hug,After that i spoke to him many years later he was living in Australia and we had a good chat,sadly he died there a few years later. I would like to have a vidio of our Jock playing rugby as i live in Scotland its hard to get one,if anyone can help me please let me know where i can get a copy of Jock playing the game that he loved,Regards,James Ewen.

  • Alan
    11 Jun 2021 8:48pm

    My mum is your cousin also then.

    Alan Kerr
    NZ

  • Anonymous
    25 Jun 2024 1:16am

    Jock was an extremely good friend of mine and I have talked about Jocks significant and positive influence on me as a young 20 year old living in Mount Isa. Bill Sweetenham ; Olympic Swim Coach of Australia; Hong Kong and Great Britain. A wonderful man. Bill Sweetenham .. AM and Churchill Fellow.

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Contributions: Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, Max Turner, Rugby League Tables, Tony McCarron, Bill Bates, Tim Costello

Sources: RFL Player Registers