John Yates was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in two World Cups. His brother, Victor, was a New Zealand rugby union representative and played rugby league for Auckland while his father, Moses, represented North Auckland in rugby union.
Playing career Yates originally played rugby union, playing his first senior game for Rarawa and was chosen for North Auckland.The Sporting Yates Family Te Ao Hou The New World, No. 37 (December 1961) p.60.
In 1953 Yates switched codes and he quickly became an Auckland representative and first played for the New Zealand national rugby league team in 1954.YATES, John Edward - 1954 - 57 nzleague.co.nz He was part of both the 1954 and 1957 World Cup squads.
In 1958 he was part of Auckland Rugby League's first ever Grand Final, being part of the Otahuhu Leopards side that lost 7-16 to Ponsonby.Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. .
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