Three more Centurions were honoured in the weekend- B. W (Barry) McLennen, P.D (Phil) Manu, W. L (Warren) Robinson. HK president John Williams represented Centurion Phil Manu, Rhonda Bennik represented her late father Barry Mclennen. Former All Black captain Graham Mourie presented each recipient/representative with their Centurion Cap. The presentation took place at the aftermatch function and really capped off (excuse the pun) a great day for the Union following a 31-15 Heartland win over West Coast. The remaining 3 HK Centurions (R.C Puklowski, D.C Laursen, P.M Hirini) will be capped at the last Heartland match against Wairarapa Bush, Levin Domain 13th October.
Centurion Statistics:
B. W (Barry) McLennen
Barry played 100 1st class games for the Union from 1952 -1966, playing his debut as a teenager.
Played for the Celtic RC from 1952- 1953, based at Rugby Park Weraroa Rd, Levin (the Club went into recess in 1956) and then for Athletic RFC from 1955 – 1966.
In 1956 he played for the combined Manawatu-Horowhenua team and again in 1965 at the age of 32 where he played against the Springboks. As a 15 stone prop forward, Barry captained the Horowhenua team for seven years.
Barry made 88 successive appearances from 1955 to 1966, playing in every rep match and it is said he never left the field early through injury.
Major local matches; vs NZ XV at Levin Park Domain 1955, captained the Horowhenua team vs Australia at Levin Park Domain in 1962
Barry was a NZ All Black trialist at Wanganui in 1959.
Barry became a selector of the Under 16 Representative team from 1975 -1978
P.D (Phil) Manu
(Shannon RFC) played 102 1st class games for the Union from 1979 until 1989
Major local matches; vs Italy at Levin Park Domain in 1980, vs Tonga at Levin Park Domain in 1983
Phil played in the Horowhenua Invitation XV team vs Wellington in 1984, 1986 and 1987
Played close to 200 games for his Shannon club, where he played his very first game of rugby in 1978
W. L (Warren) Robinson
Warren was fondly known to many as “Big Bird” and came from a well-known farming family in Manakau, with three generations of representative rugby players.
Warren played 102 1st class games for the Union from 1967 -1982, scoring 14 tries.
He generally played at lock and partnered his brother Lindsay (who played 62 games) in the scrum in 44 representative games. Another brother Richard also represented the Union during the 1970’s.
Played for Horowhenua COB 1967- 1971 and Athletic 1973- 1982
Warren was a NZ Junior trialist in 1969
Major local match; vs Italy at Levin Park Domain 1980
Statistics taken from:
Clive Akers “In Jacobs Shadow –The Centennial History of the Horowhenua Rugby Union 1893-1993.”