Hugh Good was the youngest of three brothers who were Taranaki representatives in the 1880s and 1890s. He followed Alan, his elder brother by four years, as a New Zealand representative in 1894.

Having played in the trial, he had been chosen to join Alan on tour in Australia in 1893 as a reinforcement after several of the original selection went down with injuries. But he could not secure leave and so had to decline the invitation.

His chance to play for New Zealand came a year later when he had a starring role on the wing for Taranaki against the touring New South Wales side. In the 21-6 win he scored a try and kicked a goal from a mark.

That won him inclusion in the New Zealand team to play the unofficial international against the tourists in Christchurch, a match New Zealand lost 8-6. That was his only appearance for New Zealand with the national side being fielded twice more in the decade of the 1890s, against Queensland in 1896 and in Australia 1897.

For a wing of his era Good was a big man who weighed more than 90kgs. But despite his size he had considerable pace and like Alan he was an excellent track and field athlete. He ran 100 yards in close to 10s and in 1898 he was the national champion in the high jump and the shot putt.

He was only in his teens and in his final year at Wanganui Collegiate when he first represented Taranaki in 1889 and continued playing for the province until 1896.

Profile by Lindsay Knight
for the New Zealand Rugby Museum.

ALL BLACK GAMES THAT GOOD PLAYED

(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced

1894

Good played in no test matches for the All Blacks.