Sid Going

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Lore & Background

Many rate him as New Zealand's greatest running halfback, his flair and unpredictability bagging him 10 tries in test matches, and 23 in All Black games. A key member of the 1972–1973 All Blacks touring side to Great Britain and Ireland, Going's combination with flanker and captain Ian Kirkpatrick was pivotal. The side won tests against Wales, England, and Scotland before being narrowly denied an unprecedented Grand Slam by their 10–10 draw with Ireland. Going was a favourite with North Auckland fans during his long tenure there as halfback from 1965 to 1978, often playing alongside his brothers, Ken and Brian, and in New Zealand Māori sides. The brothers' specialty was a blindside triple-scissors movement, which almost gave Northland a late victory in the 1971 match against the touring British Lions. That side featured the Welsh great Gareth Edwards, whose duels with Going were a feature of the tour, which produced for the Lions their first test series victory over the All Blacks. Going was awarded the Tom French Cup for Māori player of the year a record six times; earning the accolade consecutively from 1967 to 1972. Going was a member of the 1976 All Blacks touring side to South Africa, his team experiencing a 3–1 series loss to the Springboks. Although only a part-time goal-kicker, Going performed this task during the test matches because of injuries to other players. His All Black career finished during the 1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand, when he was replaced after the second of four test matches. In the 1977 New Year Honours, Going was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to rugby. He retired from first-class rugby in 1978, but continued his involvement with the game, coaching Northland secondary school teams from 1988 to 1992, and being selector–coach of the first-class side from 1993 to 1996. In 1978, Bob Howitt wrote a biography of Going entitled Super Sid – The Story of a Great All Black. At the 2020 Halberg Awards, Going was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.

In Their Own Story

The 1971 clash between North Auckland and the touring British Lions remains a highlight of Sid Going's domestic career. The match featured the legendary Welsh fly-half Gareth Edwards, and the duel between him and Going was a central theme of the tour, which ultimately produced the first test series victory over the All Blacks for the Lions. In that specific encounter, the Going brothers' blindside triple-scissors movement almost delivered a late victory to Northland, showcasing the family's tactical genius on the field. Beyond this, Going's international journey saw him finish his All Black career during the 1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand; he was replaced after the second of four test matches. His contributions were recognized nationally when he received the Tom French Cup for Māori player of the year a record six times consecutively from 1967 to 1972, and in 1978, Bob Howitt published 'Super Sid – The Story of a Great All Black'.

Reader's Guide

Sid Going was a New Zealand rugby union halfback known for his running flair and unpredictability. He played for the All Blacks from 1967 to 1977, scoring 10 test tries and 23 overall. He was a key figure in the 1972–1973 tour of Great Britain and Ireland, where the All Blacks won tests against Wales, England, and Scotland before drawing with Ireland. He also toured South Africa in 1976, where his team lost the series 3–1. He was awarded the MBE in the 1977 New Year Honours. After retiring, he coached Northland secondary school teams and later the first-class side.

Did You Know?

• Sid Going was a bishop in the LDS church for seven years and a former president of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple.
• He was of Māori descent, affiliating with Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Hine iwi.
• His sons Jared and Milton also played rugby, with Jared representing New Zealand in Sevens and Milton playing Super Rugby for the Crusaders.
• He was the uncle of All Black Todd Miller.