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Jack Forrest, league legend from Runanga. 1924-2016.R.I.P.
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DescriptionThe West Coast rugby league community is mourning one of the sport's great characters of the early post-war period.
Jack Forrest – a speedy try-scoring Kiwis wing nicknamed Nippy – died in Greymouth on the 29th February 2016, two days after turning 92.
Forrest had a twinkle in his eye when he told a Christchurch reporter just before his 90th birthday in 2014 that he "got sick of rubbing oil on the backs" of 365 war brides on board the boat that carried the 1947-48 Kiwis to England, via New York.
"The captain put me in charge of them," he recalled. "He said: 'you are the only reliable one out of the lot of them.
"The sea trip was marvellous, just lying back there in the sum and [doing] a bit of training – you couldn't beat it."
It was a long way from Runanga where John Alexander Forrest was born on February 24, 1924.
His father owned a coal mine, but his mother swore none of her boys would work down the pit.Seven West Coasters were named to tour Britain and France with the Kiwis in 1946-47. Forrest was the last survivor of that exalted group that included Peter (Ken) Mountford, Bob Aynsley, John (Chang) Newton, Charlie McBride , Arthur Gillman and Ray Nuttall.
Forrest made his test debut in the Kiwis' opening encounter, a 11-10 lost to England in Leeds.
He scored in 28-20 win over Wales in Swansea and pinned his ears back for a 50m try in their 10-7 second test victory against the English at Swinton's Station Road ground in Manchester.
Forrest and McBride played pivotal parts in setting up Coast cobber Chang Newton for a score hailed as the greatest try in 40 years of test football.
The Kiwis lost the test series, 2-1, after a 25-9 defeat at Bradford, and they split the series with France with Forrest scoring in the tourists' first test win in Paris.
He finished the tour as the leading test try-scorer, but it was the Kiwis' win over Wigan that he recalled most fondly. "They were a very strong team then."
One of Forrest's finest hours came in the Kiwis' remarkable 21-19 comeback win over Australia before 55,000 fans at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1948 after they had trailed 13-5 at half-time.
The West Coaster was on the wing for both tests in the Kiwis' 1950 home series win over Great Britain and also played against France the following season.
He was selected to tour Britain and France again in 1951-52 with West Coast team-mate Charlie McBride as his room mate.
Forrest scored his last Kiwis try in the second test at Manchester in what proved his final international.
To read more click on the link below.
Article by Tony Smith of "Stuff"
Second pic Les Holmes:
A good morning's work. Sketch for a mural at the Runanga Workingmen's Club exterior currently being painted. Local Rugby League Kiwi Jack Forrest "Nippy", nicknamed for his ability to run with the ball. 1947-48 Kiwis second Test. Kiwis 10. Great Britain 7.Date of PhotoBetween 1st January 1940 and 31st December 1950Map[1] External LinkJack Forrest..Stuff.ContributorLes Holmes
Jack Forrest – a speedy try-scoring Kiwis wing nicknamed Nippy – died in Greymouth on the 29th February 2016, two days after turning 92.
Forrest had a twinkle in his eye when he told a Christchurch reporter just before his 90th birthday in 2014 that he "got sick of rubbing oil on the backs" of 365 war brides on board the boat that carried the 1947-48 Kiwis to England, via New York.
"The captain put me in charge of them," he recalled. "He said: 'you are the only reliable one out of the lot of them.
"The sea trip was marvellous, just lying back there in the sum and [doing] a bit of training – you couldn't beat it."
It was a long way from Runanga where John Alexander Forrest was born on February 24, 1924.
His father owned a coal mine, but his mother swore none of her boys would work down the pit.Seven West Coasters were named to tour Britain and France with the Kiwis in 1946-47. Forrest was the last survivor of that exalted group that included Peter (Ken) Mountford, Bob Aynsley, John (Chang) Newton, Charlie McBride , Arthur Gillman and Ray Nuttall.
Forrest made his test debut in the Kiwis' opening encounter, a 11-10 lost to England in Leeds.
He scored in 28-20 win over Wales in Swansea and pinned his ears back for a 50m try in their 10-7 second test victory against the English at Swinton's Station Road ground in Manchester.
Forrest and McBride played pivotal parts in setting up Coast cobber Chang Newton for a score hailed as the greatest try in 40 years of test football.
The Kiwis lost the test series, 2-1, after a 25-9 defeat at Bradford, and they split the series with France with Forrest scoring in the tourists' first test win in Paris.
He finished the tour as the leading test try-scorer, but it was the Kiwis' win over Wigan that he recalled most fondly. "They were a very strong team then."
One of Forrest's finest hours came in the Kiwis' remarkable 21-19 comeback win over Australia before 55,000 fans at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1948 after they had trailed 13-5 at half-time.
The West Coaster was on the wing for both tests in the Kiwis' 1950 home series win over Great Britain and also played against France the following season.
He was selected to tour Britain and France again in 1951-52 with West Coast team-mate Charlie McBride as his room mate.
Forrest scored his last Kiwis try in the second test at Manchester in what proved his final international.
To read more click on the link below.
Article by Tony Smith of "Stuff"
Second pic Les Holmes:
A good morning's work. Sketch for a mural at the Runanga Workingmen's Club exterior currently being painted. Local Rugby League Kiwi Jack Forrest "Nippy", nicknamed for his ability to run with the ball. 1947-48 Kiwis second Test. Kiwis 10. Great Britain 7.Date of PhotoBetween 1st January 1940 and 31st December 1950Map[1] External LinkJack Forrest..Stuff.ContributorLes Holmes
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Category TagRugby League
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LinkFacebookDate Created2017-05-10CommentsLyn Galvin My dad's cousin
Like · Reply · 1 · 4 hrs
Jack N Pat Manderson
Jack N Pat Manderson My grandmother Mary Manderson was a Forrest. Jack's Aunty.
Like · Reply · 1 · 4 hrs · Edited
Alan Johnson
Alan Johnson Jack just a question if I may. Was Murray Manderson related to you in any way. I remember when I lived in Trentham at the then Post Office Hostel Murray was working for Don Davidson at The Totara Lodge and being from Westport I was granted all the dispensations at the Pub including being shuffled to the private bar after all the bars closed at 6pm in those days (this was of course at 6 O'clock closing times for all pubs) There were many tales told then about how Buller used to beat Coast at all sports in those day, a wonderful time for me while I was growing up away from home
Mike Dale Thoughts of the past and who shaped the future. Respect
Heather Newby what a handsome man.I think he used to live in the pensioner flats in Threadneedle Street.
Linda Hughes Sad, remember my dad, Simmy, talking about him. I think I saw him play after that tour as I was a regular attendee at Wingham park along with my family. RIP
Heather Newby He lived at the pensioner flats in Threadneedle Street in his latter years and he used to wander around trying to find someone to talk to. He was a lonely man., he told Dad that. I felt sorry for him.Dad lived there too.
Jack N Pat Manderson My Grandmother Mary Manderson was Jacks Aunty. Went to visit Jack at his flat in August last year. He and his Father worked with my grandfather Peter in the mines at one time.
Jack N Pat Manderson My sister & I attended the Forrest family reunion at Easter in Oamaru. We.were the only Coast family represented there. I was always under the impression that "NIPPY" was his nick name because of his ability to run with the ball but.the Forrest family said that it was a family name handed down over the years to other members of the family also.My Grandmother & Grandfather Peter Manderson moved up to work in the Brunnerton mine followed by her Brother Jack Forrest Snr.from the mines in Kaitangata Otago.
Like · Reply · 1 · 4 hrs
Jack N Pat Manderson
Jack N Pat Manderson My grandmother Mary Manderson was a Forrest. Jack's Aunty.
Like · Reply · 1 · 4 hrs · Edited
Alan Johnson
Alan Johnson Jack just a question if I may. Was Murray Manderson related to you in any way. I remember when I lived in Trentham at the then Post Office Hostel Murray was working for Don Davidson at The Totara Lodge and being from Westport I was granted all the dispensations at the Pub including being shuffled to the private bar after all the bars closed at 6pm in those days (this was of course at 6 O'clock closing times for all pubs) There were many tales told then about how Buller used to beat Coast at all sports in those day, a wonderful time for me while I was growing up away from home
Mike Dale Thoughts of the past and who shaped the future. Respect
Heather Newby what a handsome man.I think he used to live in the pensioner flats in Threadneedle Street.
Linda Hughes Sad, remember my dad, Simmy, talking about him. I think I saw him play after that tour as I was a regular attendee at Wingham park along with my family. RIP
Heather Newby He lived at the pensioner flats in Threadneedle Street in his latter years and he used to wander around trying to find someone to talk to. He was a lonely man., he told Dad that. I felt sorry for him.Dad lived there too.
Jack N Pat Manderson My Grandmother Mary Manderson was Jacks Aunty. Went to visit Jack at his flat in August last year. He and his Father worked with my grandfather Peter in the mines at one time.
Jack N Pat Manderson My sister & I attended the Forrest family reunion at Easter in Oamaru. We.were the only Coast family represented there. I was always under the impression that "NIPPY" was his nick name because of his ability to run with the ball but.the Forrest family said that it was a family name handed down over the years to other members of the family also.My Grandmother & Grandfather Peter Manderson moved up to work in the Brunnerton mine followed by her Brother Jack Forrest Snr.from the mines in Kaitangata Otago.
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West Coast New Zealand History (29th Jun 2019). Jack Forrest, league legend from Runanga. 1924-2016.R.I.P.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 12th Jun 2026 07:49, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/15598