Tony Steel

For other uses, see Anthony Steel (disambiguation).

Anthony Gordon Steel (31 July 1941 – 4 May 2018) was a New Zealand rugby union player, politician and educator.

Tony Steel
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Hamilton East
In office 27 October 1990 – 8 November 1993
Preceded by	Bill Dillon
Succeeded by	Dianne Yates
In office 12 October 1996 – 27 July 2002
Preceded by	Dianne Yates
Succeeded by	Dianne Yates
5th Headmaster of Hamilton Boys' High School
In office 1980–1989
Preceded by	Richard Taylor
Succeeded by	James Bennett
Personal details
Born	Anthony Gordon Steel (1941-07-31)31 July 1941 Greymouth, New Zealand
Died	4 May 2018(2018-05-04) (aged 76) Hamilton, New Zealand
Political party	National
Relatives	Jack Steel (uncle)
Education	Christchurch Boys' High School
Occupation	Schoolteacher
Sports career
Sport	Track and field
Event	Sprints
Sports achievements and titles
National finals	100 yd champion (1965, 1966) 220 yd champion (1965, 1966)
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	82 kg (181 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1966–1968 New Zealand 23 (60)

Early years

He was born in Greymouth, and played rugby first for his school, Christchurch Boys' High School, and then for Canterbury before finally playing for the All Blacks between 1966 and 1968. He was a part of the All Blacks 1967 New Zealand rugby union tour of Britain, France and Canada.

After retiring from sport due to injury, he took up teaching, first at the Brisbane Grammar School and then back in New Zealand. He eventually became headmaster of Hamilton Boys' High School.

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament

Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1990–1993	43rd	Hamilton East			National
1996–1999	45th	Hamilton East	44		National
1999–2002	46th	Hamilton East	none		National

In the 1990 election, he stood for Parliament as a candidate for the National Party, defeating Labour's Bill Dillon in the Hamilton East electorate. In the 1993 election, however, he was defeated by Labour's Dianne Yates. He regained the seat in the 1996 election, and retained it in the 1999 election, but in the 2002 election, he was defeated again by Dianne Yates. Having opted not to seek a position on National's party list, Steel left Parliament. Testament to Steel's popularity in the city of Hamilton is the fact that he lost what has traditionally been regarded as a bellwether seat by a mere 600 votes, in an election where the National Party was almost destroyed by its lowest polling result in recent history.

Death

Steel died in Hamilton on 4 May 2018.

Legacy

In 2000, an extra house was added at Hamilton Boys' High School, named Steel house, after Tony Steel. Apart from Argyle House (the boarding house), all of the other houses are also named after former Headmasters. Tony Steel also won the New Zealand 100/200metres Sprint double at the 1965-66 New Zealand Track and Field Championships representing Canterbury as well as being a member of the winning Canterbury 4x100 metres Team that took Gold

See also

• High School Old Boys RFC

External links

• Tony Steel at AllBlacks.com