Brian Victor Sampson (30 July 1945 – 29 April 2026) was a New Zealand cricketer, and rugby union player and coach.
Early life and family Sampson was born in Ashburton on 30 July 1945, the third son of Andrew David and Mary Luwena Sampson. In August 1964, he became engaged to Janice Margaret Kerr, and the couple subsequently married.
Cricket career Sampson played in two first-class cricket matches for Canterbury in 1969/70. He was a right-handed batsman, and scored a total of 40 runs in those two games, averaging 20.00 with a high score of 24 not out. He was also a right-arm off-break and medium pace bowler, and recorded first-class bowling figures of 0–15 from 32 deliveries.
Sampson also played for Ashburton County from 1960/61 to 1979/80, including in Hawke Cup fixtures between 1964/65 and 1979/80.
Rugby union career A winger, Sampson was a member of the Allenton Rugby Football Club in Ashburton. He played 57 matches for Mid Canterbury between 1964 and 1970, scoring 41 tries. He also made three appearances for a combined Hanan Shield unions (Mid Canterbury / South Canterbury / North Otago) team, in 1965 and 1968, and played one match for the South Island in 1969.
Sampson later coached the Mid Canterbury team from 1977 to 1983. During Sampson's tenure as coach, Mid Canterbury twice won the National Provincial Championship second division South Island title, in 1980 and 1983.
Death Sampson died on 29 April 2026, at the age of 80.
See also List of Canterbury representative cricketers
References