[Mick]

Who was the first Stanford University rugby player to play for the New Zealand All-Blacks?

Native New Zealander Jim Wylie, played for the All Blacks in 1913. The All-Blacks played an American tour that year and played Stanford in two matches, winning 54-0 and 56-0. Wylie realized he wanted to remain in USA and enrolled at Stanford, playing from 1914-1917.   

By 1915, Cal and USC had returned to American football.  Stanford and Santa Clara were the only two remaining American colleges playing rugby.  From 1915 through 1916, Stanford went 19-1-1 against rugby club teams and SCU. Due to cutbacks near the end of WWI, Stanford restricted most of its sports in 1917, playing just one baseball game, holding just one track meet and playing one rugby game, versus Santa Clara.  Jim Wylie was the coach and captain of the 1917 team which played one game, The Big Game versus SCU, winning 15-11.

In 1918 there was no team, and in 1919, Stanford returned to American football, relegating rugby to  minor sport status once again.  Wylie coached Stanford's rugby team for more than 30 years, until at least 1948.

[Mick]

Who was the first Stanford University rugby player to play for the New Zealand All-Blacks?

Native New Zealander Jim Wylie, played for the All Blacks in 1913. The All-Blacks played an American tour that year and played Stanford in two matches, winning 54-0 and 56-0. Wylie realized he wanted to remain in USA and enrolled at Stanford, playing from 1914-1917.   

By 1915, Cal and USC had returned to American football.  Stanford and Santa Clara were the only two remaining American colleges playing rugby.  From 1915 through 1916, Stanford went 19-1-1 against rugby club teams and SCU. Due to cutbacks near the end of WWI, Stanford restricted most of its sports in 1917, playing just one baseball game, holding just one track meet and playing one rugby game, versus Santa Clara.  Jim Wylie was the coach and captain of the 1917 team which played one game, The Big Game versus SCU, winning 15-11.

In 1918 there was no team, and in 1919, Stanford returned to American football, relegating rugby to  minor sport status once again.  Wylie coached Stanford's rugby team for more than 30 years, until at least 1948.