The S.S Remuera, The Ship The All Blacks Travelled To England On, In 1924

In July 1924, arguably the greatest-ever All Black team left New Zealand's shores to embark on a long and arduous 32-match tour of the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, and Canada. The team would famously go on to win every match on the tour, returning home in March 1925 with the much-celebrated tag of "The Invincibles."

West Coast, of course, had our very own Invincible in the team, flying winger Jack "Frosty" Steel. The West Coast representative winger from Greymouth's Star club had a fine tour, scoring a remarkable 21 tries in just 18 games.

An interesting fact about that tour, however, and certainly not commonly known, is that Jack Steel was not the only Greymouth resident, or, for that matter, West Coast representative player, in the official touring party.

Steel was also joined on tour by a United Rugby Club member and fellow 1922–1923 West Coast representative, Arthur Edward Stephens. The New Zealand Rugby Union had asked for nominations to be called for from the various rugby unions around New Zealand for individuals wishing to accompany the team as part of the official tour party, and for those interested to apply to their respective unions.

An application was received by the West Coast Rugby Union from Arthur Stephens in late March 1924, requesting to be considered for inclusion in the official party to leave New Zealand with the All Black team.

The application was endorsed, and on the President’s motion, it was decided to forward it to the N.Z.R.F.U. with a hearty recommendation. Luckily for the then 22-year-old Stephens, he was among the very select few men fortunate to be chosen to tour by the New Zealand Rugby Union's management committee to be part of the official tour party.

Stephens, born in Ross on July 30th, 1901, to his parents John and Kate, was affectionately known as "Pie" and was both a popular member of the United cricket and rugby clubs. In 1922 he made his West Coast rugby representative debut. In that match against Buller at Victoria Park in Greymouth, he scored a try in a thrilling 14–12 encounter, helping his side defend the prized Rundle Cup. The ensuing match report in the Greymouth Evening Star stated that he played well and "promises to make a fine three-quarter."

At the time of his selection to travel with the official All Black touring party, Stephens worked for the Post Office, and on the eve of his departure, he was bid "au revoir" at the United Club's fortnightly dance. During the supper interval, club patron J. D. Lynch addressed Stephens and those in attendance, stating how proud he was of the popular "Pie" to be chosen among a fortunate select few to join the official All Black touring party.

Lynch stated, "He would be missed by the club, as in the ten years that he had been connected with it, he had proved the life of their organisation," the Greymouth Evening Star reported. His fellow club members all wished him a pleasant tour and hoped that he and his fellow West Coaster, Jack Steel, would return home safe and sound. Lynch then, on behalf of the club, presented Stephens with a gold watch as a small token of the esteem in which he was held.

United Club President Alan Adams also paid tribute to Stephens, stating his sportsmanlike qualities and highlighting his work both on and off the field to help promote the club's best interests, with club secretary Tom Ryan echoing Adams’ remarks.

When rising to respond, Stephens was greeted with musical honours and replied how much he had enjoyed his time with the club, and how grateful he was for the handsome gold watch he had been presented, hoping it would tick away many another pleasant hour in the four walls of the old pavilion.

Such was Stephens’ popularity, days later when he was due to depart at Greymouth train station, he was met and farewelled by a large, enthusiastic crowd of friends and well-wishers. Music was played in his honour, with three rousing cheers given for West Coast's "unofficial" All Black.

If Stephens thought the farewells were finally complete, there was a final series of events for him to attend alongside the All Blacks and official touring party in Wellington. These included a parliamentary luncheon held at Parliament Buildings, followed by a farewell at the Concert Chamber of the Wellington Town Hall, then finally a dinner at the Grand Hotel, hosted by the N.Z.R.F.U., where Members of Parliament also attended.

Both Stephens and his fellow West Coaster, Jack Steel, were made to feel especially welcomed at the dinner, where the member for Westland, James O'Brien, and the member for Buller, Harry Holland, went out of their way to show them a very hospitable evening. No doubt the highlight for the two Coasters would have been an introduction to the visiting Prime Minister of Great Britain, the Right Honourable Ramsay MacDonald.

On July 29th, Stephens and the All Black party set sail from Wellington on the S.S. Remuera for their six-week voyage to England, and on the first day aboard, a general meeting was held to select both a management committee and a games and amusements committee, where Stephens was duly elected to the latter. To complement this committee, an entertainments committee was then also elected, and it’s said that concerts were frequent, where Stephens, alongside All Blacks George Nepia, Jock Richardson, and Read Masters, were all said to be stars of such performances.

It seems Stephens was never too far away from any action or fun held on the ship, as he entered and won the blindfold boxing contest that was held over two nights. Although sadly for him, during a fancy-dress party held just days before the All Blacks’ arrival in Plymouth, he tumbled out of a window and landed on the deck below, painfully breaking his right arm just above the elbow joint.

The following day, during the All Blacks’ final day of training before docking, bad luck would then befall Stephens’ fellow West Coaster, star wing Jack Steel, when he badly injured his right arm during an impromptu wrestling bout, falling awkwardly against an angle iron on the side of the ship. This left both Coasters with their arms in slings, with Steel initially thought to have a simple fracture to his right arm.

After their long voyage, the All Black party aboard the S.S. Remuera arrived in Plymouth on September 2nd to a glorious sunny day. Upon their arrival, Stephens went to stay with relatives in the area to recuperate, while Steel was mightily relieved upon having an x-ray at Newton Abbott to find his arm wasn’t fractured, and he could remove the splints that had been protecting his arm, much to the delight of Steel and his teammates.

While the incredible exploits of the Invincibles are very well-documented in press clippings, books, and film, Stephens’s name is seldom mentioned while on tour, although no doubt the popular "Pie" was always in the thick of things when it came to socialising and supporting the team.

One story that was recorded, however, in mid-December 1924, was from tour correspondent and former All Black Ernie Booth, who was a player in the 1905 Originals team. In an article he wrote that was published in the N.Z. Truth, Booth reported that while in the company of "Mr Stephens," they visited the Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, which was under construction.

Their brief inspection of the field, however, was interrupted by an official caretaker of the ground, asking if they could not read the signs, and they were essentially ordered off the field. Booth said that he wasn’t sure if the caretaker saw the silver fern on Stephens’ hat or not, or whether that might have made a difference if he had, but still, the pair of them got a close-up look at the famous ground, which was officially opened just months later, in March 1925.

While Stephens’ exploits while touring with the team might not have been reported on much in dispatches in the newspapers while away, arriving home on March 1st, 1925, prior to the rest of the touring party, on the S.S. Manuka, the press were eager to speak to Stephens to get his assessment and comments on the tour.

In the Wellington newspaper, the Evening Post, Stephens expressed the opinion that the All Blacks wouldn’t have learned much that would be of an advantage to the game of rugby in New Zealand. He said there had been some hard games on the tour and some lucky ones, but he felt that all through, the team should not have been beaten.

Stephens rated five-eighth Mark Nicholls as "absolutely the star of the team," while, in order of merit, he placed Bert Cooke and George Nepia as the stand-out backs, with Maurice Brownlie and Andrew White on a par as great forwards.

He also noted that the hospitality and entertainment afforded the side by rugby supporters could not have been better, and such was the level of entertainment offered to the team, the team had to tone things down a good deal. Stephens also noted that the whole result of the tour was simply confirmation of former tours showing the superiority of the game in New Zealand to that in other countries which had been visited.

Stephens returned to Greymouth on March 7th, and while the welcome home afforded him is unknown, the same can’t be said for his fellow tourist and All Black hero, Jack Steel. A crowd of between 2,000 to 3,000 were awaiting him at the Greymouth train station on March 19th when he arrived to a mayoral welcome and to rapturous applause.

A civic reception then awaited Steel at a packed Opera House, and Stephens, an official guest, was one of the many who was in attendance. Stephens was given the opportunity to speak and said, "As one who had been privileged to be associated with Steel on his tour, I wish to say I am glad to see my old comrade back safe and sound. It gives me great pleasure to see ‘Frosty’ home. He is entitled to my congratulations for his splendid work."

Stephens went on to say, "The recent tour had meant more to New Zealand than just a game of Rugby. It was one of the greatest advertisements the country had ever had." He then wished his friend the best of health and expressed the hope that he might long continue to play Rugby.

Once all of the welcome homes were complete, it was back to work for Stephens at the Greymouth Post Office as a member of telegraphic staff, and of course, he was quickly back on board with his beloved United Rugby Club, where, at their annual general meeting on March 27th, he was duly elected to the committee of the club.

Come rugby season, Stephens was again back playing in the blue and white hoops with his United club mates, and it wasn’t long until a much-anticipated clash against town rivals Star took place. The clash brought "Pie" face-to-face on the field against his great All Black mate and fellow Invincible tourist, Jack "Frosty" Steel. Both players, playing for their respective clubs on the wing, played some great rugby in a hard-fought clash. Stephens’ performance was described as "top-notch," while Steel, a try-scorer in the match, was described as being both "prominent" and "dangerous."

At the break, the game was 3–0 to Star, and despite United being held up over the line three times, Steel's Star side came away with bragging rights and a much-deserved 9–0 victory.

Sadly for the United club, and for rugby on the West Coast in general, this was to be the much-loved Stephens’ last game for his club, as he received a transfer to Ashburton in his role as a telegraph worker at the Post Office. Following the match against Star, he was given a fond farewell at a function hosted by his club that featured a large number of footballers representing the various clubs in the district, highlighting the popularity of the man.

During the function, Alan Adams, on behalf of the United Football Club, presented Stephens with a gold Wahl pen and a gold Eversharp pencil, and he paid tribute to Stephens’ good sportsmanship and his ability as a footballer.

"All footballers," he said, "regretted Mr Stephens’ removal to Ashburton, but hoped he would get into harness there and show the grit of a West Coaster on the football field." Adams then wished Stephens every success in his future career, both officially and on the football field.

Replying, Stephens said he "truly regretted leaving Greymouth," and he "had enjoyed a happy time on the West Coast and knew he could go further and fare worse, and that if it were a case of having a choice, you can bet I wouldn’t be going," he remarked. He was thankful for the valuable gifts, which he took to be a reminder to "drop some of them a line now and again." He also said he "hoped the Ashburton footballers would prove as good pals as the old United boys had been," and that when holiday time came, he would wander back again to see them all.

When departing Greymouth by express train for Ashburton, he was farewelled at the station by a large number of friends. Greymouth's loss, though, was to be Ashburton's gain, and Stephens soon made a similar impression on the sports field on the east of the Alps as he did on the west of them. In 1926 he represented Ashburton County (now known as Mid Canterbury) in a non-first-class rugby match against the University Club of Dunedin, while in 1927 he represented Ashburton County in four first-class matches, matching the four he played for West Coast.

Stephens would also take up refereeing, and in 1931 he refereed his first and only first-class fixture, a match between South Canterbury and Ashburton County.

The following year, in 1932, Stephens was married to Mary Meikle Burton, and Tauranga was to be their new home. Stephens continued with his role as a telegraphist in the city, and while no mention of rugby can be found upon his move north, he continued with his love of cricket, playing for the Post Office–Railway side in the local competition. In 1936 he was elected vice-president of the Tauranga County Cricket Sub-Association, and he was still turning out for his club as late as the 1945/1946 season.

Stephens also became a rather handy golfer of note, and in 1949 he set a course record at the Te Puna Golf Club links, with the score at the time being reported by the Bay of Plenty Times as "likely to stay for some time."

Still working as a telegraphist into the mid-1950s, he then had a change of career, taking up farming in the small settlement of Te Puna, just on the outskirts of Tauranga, until his early passing in Tauranga, on February 15th, 1960, at the age of just 58, leaving behind his wife Mary, aged 53.

Arthur Edward "Pie" Stephens led a remarkable life. The proud West Coaster dedicated so much of his life to a variety of sports that he loved dearly, excelling both as a player and administrator, while he remained a loyal servant to the Post Office for over thirty years and to the communities he served so passionately.

Forging many strong friendships, Stephens left an indelible mark wherever he travelled, and when news came of the loss of their great mate “Pie,” there is no doubt that much sorrow was felt throughout New Zealand, and beyond, for West Coast's "Unofficial" All Black.