Tommy Chase (Tame Henare Teehi Chase) (1912- 4 May 1956) was a rugby league player. He represented the New Zealand rugby league team in one match on the 1939 aborted tour of England. In the process he became the 271st player to represent New Zealand. He also represented New Zealand Māori rugby league team, Auckland, and Auckland Māori on several occasions. He had joined the Manukau club in Auckland in 1937 following several years playing rugby union. He originally played for the Huia club in the Moawhango area in Whanganui and also spent time at the Old Boys and Ratana clubs. Chase also represented Taihape, Whanganui, Whanganui Māori, the Māori All Blacks, and several other representative sides. He became famous for his versatility where he played in almost every backline position on both rugby union and rugby league. Though it was generally stated that his ideal position on attack was the left wing due to a lightning fast left foot side step and swerve.
Early life Tommy Chase was born in 1912 to Wire Hiraka Te Rakeipohe Pine and Paekiri Pine in Moawhango, in rural Whanganui. One of his younger half brothers was Rangi Chase who he would move to Auckland with in 1937 where they played together for the Manukau rugby league club. Rangi also represented New Zealand at rugby league.
Playing career Rugby union Huia club (1928-29) Like many members of his family, Chase played a lot of sport in the local Moawhango area near Taihape. He played rugby for the (Moawhango) Huia rugby club which is now the Taihape Rugby Club following a merger in 1999 with Taihape Pirates. In 1928 he was playing with Huia Juniors. He was listed in many of their published team lists but the games received very little coverage so it is unknown how he performed. In 1929 he made one appearance for the Huia senior side early in the season with six juniors playing in their match with Hautapu. Huia lost 17-8 with Chase kicking a conversion near the end of the game.
Old Boys (Taihape) 1930 The 1930 season saw Chase move to the Old Boys club in Taihape. Aged 18 he played regularly for the senior side though with relatively little coverage in the newspapers he is only confirmed to have played in 4 games. He made his debut for them on May 17 against Hautapu in the fullback position. At one point he dropped a kick allowing a try to Haupatu. The following week against Huia he scored two tries in their 25-19 win at the Oval Domain. He next played in a 21-11 loss to Pirates but was mentioned for returning play to halfway with an excellent kick.
Midweek he was reclassified from senior to junior by the Whanganui Union. The following day he played for the Taihape Māori team against Ruapehu District Māori at the Oval Domain for the Mako Cup. The match was drawn 3-3 with Chase playing on the wing. Early in the match he missed a penalty and soon after a conversion of their only try. Near halftime he stopped Wilson, the opposing winger when Ruapehu threatened with the ball.
Two weeks later he was selected for the Taihape Junior side to play Whanganui Metropolitan Juniors on July 5 at the Taihape recreation ground. He was chosen to play at centre. His side won 8-5 and he featured prominently in a passing movement leading to Meihana's try. Chase missed the conversion and later was caught in possession and nearly conceded a try.
On July 26 Chase played again for Taihape Māori in a game against Wainui-a-rua for the Whenuaroa Shield. He kicked a penalty in the first half and in the second half he crossed for a try but the Taihape side was defeated 21-14.
On August 2 Chase again turned out for the Old Boys senior side in a match against Pirates. He was involved in several attacking movements though Old Boys lost 12-8. Two weeks later he played for Taihape Juniors in a match with Rangitikei Juniors with Taihape winning 22-16. Chase was involved in their second try to E Brogden after fielding a kick. His final game of the season was for Taihape Country against Taihape Town on August 23. The Town side won 33-23 on the Oval Domain with Chase at halfback. Former All Black, Moke Belliss was playing in the Town side.
Huia (1931-34) The 1931 season saw Chase return to his Huia club and he was to play there for the next four seasons. However at the start of the year he attended the Old Boy Football Club's annual meeting to receive a medal donated by E. McDonnell for the most improved junior player last year. On April 18 he played in Huia's practice match against Hautapu and scored a try in a 16-16 draw. On June 6 they beat Old Boys 11-5 with Chase gaining possession and passing to Kingi who scored which gave them a 9-5 lead. Chase's next game was on June 6 in a 9-3 loss to Hautapu. In their 10-0 win against Pirates on July 4 he was involved in several attacking movements. He had been playing second five eighth but on July 18 when they played Hautapu he moved to fullback. Huia won 11-3 with Chase doing “all that was expected of him as full-back”.
Chase was named at centre in a Whanganui Māori trial game to be played at Spriggens Park in August. He was then selected for Whanganui Māori to play Hawke's Bay Māori on August 12. The Hawke’s Bay Māori side won 9-5. Returning to his Huia club side he played at fullback in their 11-0 win over Pirates. Huia then won the championship after beating Old Boys 17-6 with Chase at fullback once more. Huia then played for the Presidents Rose Bowl, played between the winners of the Taihape competition and the winners of the Rangitikei competition which was the Rata club. Chase didn't play in the game and instead was replaced by his brother Ted.
The season started for Huia on April 30 with them losing to Hautapu 20-17. Chase was responsible for "some excellent defensive play at one stage" along with Charlie Bennett for Huia. Against Old Boys in a 9-8 win he played fullback and was only mentioned as missing an easy kick. A week later on May 21 Huia lost 11-0 to Pirates but the Whanganui Chronicle wrote “had it not been for the wonderful display of the Huia custodian, Tommy Chase, who saved his side on numerous occasions, Pirates would have piled up a large number of points. After the game he was nominated by the Taihape subunion for the Māori trial match. The following weekend Chase played for the Country side against Town at the Whanganui Oval Domain. The match was to raise money for the Injured Players Fund. He started at fullback but moved to first five for the second half with Town winning 11-8. Huia had a default win over Mangaweka before a 21-3 loss to Hautapu on June11 with Chase effecting a good save after a group of three Hautapu players broke away with the ball at their feet. On Thursday, June 16 Huia played Hukaroa for the Mako Cup. Hukaroa was a small settlement south of Raetihi who played out of Ohakune. Huia were defending the cup in Taihape and won 8-6. Chase played at fullback and was involved in the play many times though mostly on defense.
Chase was then selected at fullback in the Taihape Māori side to play Rangitikei Māori on June 23. They were competing for the Māori shield. Taihape Māori lost 13 to 9 in a sodden ground after heavy rain. Early in the game Chase missed a conversion to a try and then fumbled the ball which allowed J Taiuru to score. In the second half he kicked over the Rangitikei Māori line but their opponents forced and then later Chase was beaten by the bounce of the ball and R. Potaka nearly scored. Chase then played for Huia in an 11-0 win over Old Boys and was named on the wing to play in the Taihape representative side to play Ruapehu. The two sides were sub-union representative teams playing for the Main Trunk Brewery Cup on July 2. He had a spectacular game with Taihape winning 33-13, scoring two tries, kicking two conversions, and two penalties. The Whanganui Chronicle wrote that Chase was “outstanding” and “proved himself to be a dashing winger”. During the first half he “caused a thrill by making a spectacular dash down the side-line” but his team mate (Mana) failed to gain possession. Soon after Brogden broke away and passed “to Chase who got over with two Ruapehu players hanging on to him”, then he was involved in a passing movement for Joblin’s try. He then kicked a penalty, missed a penalty, and kicked a conversion on halftime. His second try came soon after the break, in the corner untouched. Chase kicked another penalty and then was forced from the field with an injured hand. In a 7-6 loss to Pirates it was said that Chase did not play up to the form of the representative game but made a good defensive tackle on Biel when Pirates threatened.
On Wednesday July 13 Chase played for Huia for the Mako Cup at the Taihape Recreation Ground. Their opponents were Punahau (Levin Māori) and the visiting side won 8-3 to claim the trophy Huia had defended weeks earlier. Chase started on the wing but moved to fullback after halftime and was mentioned a handful of times in the match report but didn't do anything spectacular. Ten days later he was selected on the wing for Taihape for their game against the Whanganui Metropolitan team. The Metropolitan side won 13-5 with the Whanganui Chronicle writing that Taihape’s inside backs played poorly and “in consequence, the ability of T. Chase and Hall, on the wings, could not be assessed. Chase in particular, looked a likely type of attacking winger, but he rarely saw the ball except when in a defending position”. With the scores 0-0 Chase took a penalty kick and the ball hit the crossbar but bounced out. He did get a chance later on when Taihape spread the ball from a scrum win but he knocked on in front of the goal line. The Chronicle said later that Chase was probably the best winger but was not the equal of [George] Bullock-Douglas or of Brisco in the Metropolitan side. Bullock Douglas was the 21 year old Whanganui winger and was selected for the All Blacks during this 1932 season. Chase then returned to his Huia club side in a 28-5 loss to Pirates where they only had 14 players which was reduced to 13 during the first half through injury to Whai Pine. Chase scored all their points from fullback with a try which he converted. Early on he showed “a rare turn of speed”, and “swerved past three opponents but was grassed by Kilkolly”. His try came after a passing movement where he “raced over and touched down”.
His form saw him selected at fullback for Whanganui Māori for their August 13 match with Taranaki Māori at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth. Whanganui Māori won 21 to 12. Chase line kicked very well, and then later in the first half “upended” Broughton. He then followed a kick fast and “smothered” his opposite, Jack McLeod. Chase then collared Broughton after he had streaked through from the opposite wing. McLeod would later convert to rugby league and play for New Zealand. The Taranaki Daily News in their match report mentioned him several times and wrote that he played “an able game at full-back”.
Chase returned to Taihape where he played for the Taihape side in a game against Rangitikei on August 17. He scored two tries on the wing on a heavy ground in a 41-19 loss which saw Rangitikei take the Pownall Trophy. Chase was “the best of the Taihape backs, displaying marked ability on attack and defence. His second try was a particularly fine effort and left the opposition standing”. His first came after a passing movement where he crossed, then his second was described; “Chase led the opposition to believe that he was going to pass to Pika... and then changed direction rapidly to score by the posts, after completely bamboozling the opposition”. After the match he was selected to play for the same side in the Main Trunk Cup match against Taumarunui on August 20. Taihape lost 19 to 6 to lose the trophy to their opponents. Chase started on the wing but was moved to second five eighth. He had a busy game and was mentioned several times in the newspaper description of the match both in attack and defence.