Warwick Taylor
A cerebral and versatile centre, his tactical intelligence was crucial to the All Blacks' historic first-ever Rugby World Cup victory in 1987.
Born 1960 (age 66)·Rugby player·Birthday: March 11·Baby Boomers
Biography
Warwick Taylor represented a different kind of All Black: not the colossal power runner, but the thinker, the organizer, the glue in the backline. Making his test debut in 1983, the Canterbury midfielder quickly established himself through reliability and sharp game-reading rather than sheer physical dominance. His peak coincided with New Zealand's 1987 World Cup campaign, where his consistent performances and defensive solidity in the midfield were invaluable. Taylor was the steady hand, allowing flashier talents around him to shine. His 24-test career, though ended prematurely by injury, was defined by a quiet excellence and a pivotal role in one of the most important chapters in New Zealand rugby history. He later moved into coaching, imparting the strategic understanding that characterized his own play.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Warwick was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Warwick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Warwick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the inaugural Rugby World Cup with the All Blacks in 1987, playing in the final against France.
- Earned 24 caps for New Zealand between 1983 and 1988, primarily as a centre.
- Scored a try in his test debut against the British and Irish Lions in 1983.
- Played provincial rugby for Canterbury and was part of successful Ranfurly Shield teams.
Did You Know?
He was also a skilled cricketer, representing Canterbury at age-group level.
After rugby, he worked as a sales manager for a sporting goods company.
His test career was ended by a serious knee injury suffered in 1988.
“My job was to get the ball to the wing, and do it cleanly.”
