GRANT BATTY

Things you didn't know about Grant Batty, the great winger who played 55 games for the All Blacks between 1972 and 1977:

Grant Batty was a schoolboy sensation at Kuranui College in the Wairarapa. Playing mainly at halfback he scored 61 tries throughout the 1969 season, at an average of over 3 per game. 

Through his age-group and schoolboy rugby he played every position in the backline. 

Selectors wanted to select Batty to play for the Wairarapa province in 1969 while he was still at school. His school coach thought he was too small, but left the decision to his mother. The answer was an empathic "No!".

In 1970, Batty was chosen to play in the All Blacks trials before he had played rugby for Wellington. At the time, he had played just 5 senior matches for the University club after his illustrious schoolboy career. 

Batty was plagued by knee issues throughout his career - an issue that would eventually cause his early retirement at age 25. He often played in pain or below full fitness. He trialled several knee braces. In 1976 in South Africa a knee brace jammed up, and he had to leave the field to get it replaced with a Mark II version. 

Batty was not a good spectator when he was on tour with the All Blacks. He often got into heated exchanges with fans. So during the 1976 tour he took to reading a book in the stands to block out comments. He admitted reading Wilbur Smith during that South African tour. 

After the All Blacks v Barbarians match in 1973 Grant Batty shaved off his moustache in the Twickenham baths. It was a plan to shave it off if they won, but hadn't realised the match had just been drawn 13 - 13. 

Batty passed away in January 2026, while living in Australia, aged 74 years.