| Birth name | Samuel William Gemmell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 28 August 1896 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Mohaka, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 28 June 1970 (aged 73) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Wairoa, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Maori Agricultural College Te Aute College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Samuel William Gemmell (28 August 1896 – 28 June 1970) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A loose forward, Gemmell represented Hawke's Bay at a provincial level. He played one match for the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, out of position at hooker against New South Wales at Dunedin.[1]
Affiliating to Ngāti Pāhauwera, Gemmell played 57 matches for New Zealand Māori between 1922 and 1929, making him the most capped player for that team.[1][2] He served as a private with the New Zealand (Māori) Pioneer Battalion during World War I,[3] and was selected by ballot to represent Māori returned soldiers as part of the New Zealand military contingent to the coronation of King George VI in 1937.[4] During World War II he served in New Zealand with the Territorial Force.[3]
His uncle, Ben Gemmell, was a New Zealand Māori representative between 1914 and 1921.[citation needed]
