RICHARD  JOHN  “Dick”  LITTLEJOHN
Born 24.2.1931, Hamilton                                 
Died 12.9.2022, Hamilton

With the passing of R.J. “Dick” Littlejohn, the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union lost their longest serving member who had been involved both through the amateur and professional era's.

Born in Hamilton, the family moved not long after to Christchurch where he commenced his education at the Waimairi Primary School, Papanui. Within a few short years, the family moved to Whakatane and he attended Whakatane High School where he spent his third form year. Dick from that period on was a boarder at New Plymouth Boys High School where he spent three years and along the way, represented the schools third fifteen as the teams hooker. At this time it was established that he was a very handy debater which put him in good stead for his future involvement in rugby administration which wasn't too far away at this stage of his young life. He was also taught by J.J. Stewart who would become an All Black coach.

On returning to Whakatane in 1949, he joined the Whakatane United RFC and was selected to play for the Whakatane RSU juniors as hooker. However, his career prevented him representing the Whakatane RSU senior team as he moved to Auckland to train as a mechanic. On the completion of his mechanic apprenticeship, he returned to Whakatane and rejoined the Whakatane United RFC and also joined the family business of Mussett and Littlejohn Limited who serviced the rural agriculture with tractors and farm machinery. He would take ownership of the company in 1977 and the name changed to Littlejohn Machinery, International Harvester dealers currently located in Commerce Street.

Dick was reported  to have said “I wasn't much of a rugby player" and a near fatal case of peritonitis prompted him into the grandstand on game days. Quickly followed committee board rooms and at the age of 24 he became the Whakatane United RFC secretary. By 1957 he was both the clubs secretary and treasurer and the club delegate on the Whakatane RSU. He had already made his first management appearance in 1955 when he deputised for Stan McLeod the United delegate who was unable to attend that particular meeting.

By 1960 he was the vice-president of the Whakatane RSU and in 1962 he took over the Sub Union presidency. With the calibre of his stature in the game of rugby, administration wise, the rest is history as the following break down of  his management achievements show.

Richard (Dick) Littlejohn achievements
BAY OF PLENTY RUGBY UNION
1963-73: BOPRU  Executive
1974-86: BOPRU President
1987-89: BOPRU  Chairman
1990: Honoured with BOPRU Life Membership
2008: Took over as BOPRU Patron (with the passing of Eric Pinker) 

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION
1981-88: NZRU Council
1984-85: All Blacks Manager (To Australia, Fiji  & Argentina)
1987: Director of the Board of Rugby World Cup Ltd
2011: Inducted into the International Rugby Board Hall of Fame
2014: NZRU Steinlager Salver Award for outstanding Service to Rugby
2018: Honoured with NZRU Life Membership

Near on 73 years service to the game of rugby, a legend in the Bay of Plenty rugby world. Rest in peace Dick Littlejohn you have earnt your rest.

Information provided by Brent Drabble, BOPRU Historian.

Article added: Tuesday 13 September 2022