was there under false pretences. After appearing in seven of the first eight matches, he had to pack his bags and go back to Auckland to avoid being sacked from his job. Solomon won his test cap in 1931 making him the first ever Samoan to wear the All Black jersey. He gave a strong display at Eden Park in a match New Zealand was lucky to win. He toured Australia in 1932, winning the test spot after missing an ordinary All Black effort in the first match, and became, in combination with Hugh McLean, one of the most impressive units in the team as well as having the distinction of leading the All Black Haka before the game. Surprisingly, that was the end of his international football, although he remained an Auckland regular until shortly before the war, eventually playing 54 games in the blue and white. Strongly built, at 6 ft (1.83m) and a tick under 14 stone (89 kg), he was often mentioned as one of Auckland's better forwards. He, like brother Dave, had three trials for the 1935-36 team to Britain, but, unlike Dave, Frank missed out. There was a feeling this may have been a mistake, especially early in the tour when the All Blacks were still struggling to come to grips with the three-fronted scrum and an experienced head may have proved invaluable. Frank Solomon played his last representative matches for Auckland in 1939, before turning out a few times for the Barbarians and ending his career with a few service matches in England. Military career Wartime saw Frank serving with the 2NZEF where he quickly became a Company Sergeant Major – and later a commissioned Lieutenant. Death Frank Solomon died in Auckland on 21 December 1991, aged 85. Legacy A delightful character, he rose to a high position in Samoan society and, when the big migration to New Zealand started in the 60s and 70s, he was a man of some influence in this country. The many people who were proud to call him a friend remember him as a real gentleman. The Solomon influence in rugby extended far beyond his playing days; he was a figure of importance to the Polynesian players who later came to Ponsonby and his All Black jersey, presented to the Western Samoa Rugby Union in 1986, was a treasured memento. Former All Black flanker Josh Kronfeld is