FAREWELL - Enigma buried with local rugby hero

Born: Kaitaia 1939 Died: Whangarei 2008
Mystery still surrounds the abbreviated career of Northland All Black Victor Yates, but even now, more than 40 years after he ran rampant in the Cambridge blue rugby jersey, everyone agrees on one aspect: Yates is one of the hardest men to wear the provincial colours.
After playing in a three-test series against France in New Zealand, during which the French were also beaten by North Auckland and the New Zealand Maori team with Yates included, he was famously described by visiting French rugby writer Denis Lalanne as "a magnificent animal".
But after his early success, Yates fell foul of rugby administration for deeds unknown - or at least unspoken - and subsequently switched to rugby league in 1965.
He never played for North Auckland again, instead moving to Auckland and playing for Otahuhu and eventually the New Zealand Maori rugby league side.
Yates died suddenly at Whangarei Hospital last week, aged 69, joining other Northland rugby greats to have died recently, including Ken Going and Joe Morgan.
He was farewelled by a large gathering of loyal family and friends at Pukepoto in the Far North on Thursday.
Yates played three tests for the All Blacks and pulled on the Cambridge blue jersey 56 times. His career included a Ranfurly Shield win in 1960 and several notable victories over touring international teams.
He was also a proud player for the New Zealand Maori side, winning the Tom French Cup as the outstanding Maori player of the 1961 season.
But even at his tangi, those who remembered Yates in his prime simply shook their heads at his brief and mysterious rugby union career.
To a man, they all agreed Yates was one of the most talented rugby forwards to emerge from the Far North.
A rugged, uncompromising tackler, Yates revelled in the physical nature of the game in the 1960s.
But his career ended when he was simply "overlooked" for All Blacks selection in 1963.
Yates returned to his roots at Pukepoto after his career as a rugby league player ended.
Once back in the rural heartland, he became known as an accomplished cattle horseman and was one of the main drovers in the annual cattle drive down Ninety Mile Beach.
He was a highly skilled draughtsman on horseback, was well-known for his skills at breaking in horses and became the "pick-up man" at the annual Far North Rodeo, while earning a living as a well-respected farrier in the district.
Rugby league in the big city had not agreed with Yates, but his return to rural isolation did.
In the All Blacks' 32-5 win over France at Lancaster Park in 1961, Yates scored a try and few at the time would have imagined that this would be his last game at test level.
He was chosen for the tour of Australia in 1962, but after playing in the early narrow loss to New South Wales, he found himself upstaged by another outstanding young Maori loose forward, Waka Nathan.
Yates played six of the tour matches but missed out to Nathan in the test selection, with John Graham shifting from the flank to Yates' position at No8.
Yates' father, Moses, was a North Auckland representative in the late 1920s and early 30s and his brothers, John and Simon, were also outstanding players who became prominent in league in the 1950s.
In 1954-57, John was a Kiwi.
Victor was good enough to play for Auckland, but never made the step to full Kiwis status.
Yates is survived by partner Marigold, daughters Suzie, Michelle and Victoria and mokopuna Jayden, Cleo, Gorjah, Grayson, Kayla, Lenin, Charlie and Chevie (Lily).