But it was his influence on rugby at Sacred Heart that was particularly pronounced, with his knowledge of the code considered unparalleled during his heyday.
Sacred Heart’s 2023 First XV rugby coach Mark Selwyn (left) reacquainted Brother Michael Taylor with the 1A trophy he won as coach in 1965. Photo / Supplied
Brother Michael had earlier played six games for Hawke’s Bay in 1949, at first five-eighths and centre, and as Magpie No 808 he was the province’s oldest living representative until his death.
A well as his prowess at rugby, he also represented Hawke’s Bay in cricket and the 1949 New Zealand Cricket Almanack records he batted in the top order and made 110 in a game against Hutt Valley. He made the Wellington Colts and North Island Colts.
Some said he could even have played for New Zealand, and he later used his immense knowledge to guide Sacred’s First XI out of the 1B grade as coach in 1956.
Even though he was invited to trial for the All Blacks in 1949, Brother Michael sacrificed his own personal sporting ambitions to take up his vocation as a Marist Brother, initially teaching in Timaru.
In 1956, he moved from the Marist Brothers School in Greymouth to Sacred Heart, staying there until 1972, coming back for a year in 1978, before returning long-term to the college in 1983.
It was at Sacred Heart that he revealed his hitherto latent ability as a perceptive, inventive and inspirational rugby coach.
So much so that as part of Sacred Heart’s centenary celebrations in 2003, Brother Michael not only served as one of four selectors for the college’s “First XV of the Century”, but was also himself named as “Coach of the Century”.
He took Sacred’s First XV from 1963-1971, during which time he led them to the 1A title in 1965, and to runners-up finishes in 1963, 1966, 1967, 1970 and 1971.
In later years he was often an assistant coach and also coached 4A, 5A and 6A rugby teams to Auckland championships, then in later decades essentially became a consultative voice, called in for team talks before big matches.
Former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick presents Brother Michael Taylor with his Sporting Legend of Sacred Heart medallion in 2003. Photo / Supplied
Bill Tapper, who played centre for the 1965 Sacred 1A team and is now 77, was among those to speak at a 400-strong funeral service for Brother Michael on Saturday.
Tapper explained how Brother Michael had a deep appreciation of the game, right down to his meticulous research about the opposition.
“His nickname was ‘The Third Eye’ and he always gave the impression he knew what was going on before it happened or was aware of things he couldn’t possibly have seen.
“His ability to analyse, combined with seemingly having a network of spies, was incredible. It was like he had the CIA working for him.
“But he was also an outstanding personality with a mild character, strong on discipline, but a highly popular figure who had a real spark about him.”
Brother Michael was also affectionately known as “Doggie” by many of his past pupils, and they in turn called themselves “Doggie’s Disciples”.
His first sporting task when arriving at Sacred Heart was as First XI coach, where with a total school roll of just 140, he managed to not only engineer the college’s return to 1A cricket ranks, but then nearly win that competition the following year.
“It was clear from the start that he was a gifted sportsman,” said Bob Burnes, the now 86-year-old 1956 Sacred First XI team captain.
Burnes described Brother Michael as the epitome of what it meant to be a Marist man.
“As the First XV and First XI coach Brother Michael enjoyed the respect and friendship of so many coaches and players, which has been long-lasting up until this passing.”
In 1965, with Brother Michael at the helm, Sacred Heart College won their first 1A rugby championship in 12 years (and one that was to be their last until 2023).
Heading into the penultimate round of the 1965 season, Sacred Heart trailed Auckland Grammar by one point after Grammar had crushed them 15-3 with Roger Whatman, who later played fullback for Auckland, remarkably kicking five drop goals, three from beyond 40m.
However, when Grammar were beaten for the first time, 6-0 by St Kentigern, the door was left ajar for Sacred.
Against fierce rivals King’s College, a determined forward display, a Richard Day try and a Brian Gilhooly conversion and penalty earned Sacred a precious 8-3 victory.
A fortnight later, Sacred secured their sixth championship with a resounding 23-3 triumph against Takapuna Grammar. After a vigorous and even start, Tapper crossed for a try for Sacred, which opened the floodgates. It was 17-0 at halftime, and Sacred scored seven tries in total to Gary Carter (2), Terry Matehaere, Peter McCabe, Paul Cooney and Brian Gilhooly.
Sacred didn’t have a “superstar” roster, though three of their players did go on to play first-class rugby. The late Gilhooly played for Wellington and Taranaki and was a New Zealand junior representative in 1967. Terry Maehaere played for Thames Valley and was a first-class referee. Philip Peacocke represented Mid Canterbury, Canterbury and King Country, and was a member of the New Zealand Juniors in 1972.
Others achieved professional distinction. Brian Donnelly became an MP for New Zealand First; John Kirton became head of prisons for the Justice Department; Kerry Coleman became general manager of the Auckland Catholic Diocese; and Paul Cooney became a prominent lawyer in Tauranga.
Brother Michael Taylor flanked by former Sacred Heart College pupils Neil Finn (left) and Dave Dobbyn. Photo / Supplied
In the 1965 college yearbook, Brother Michael wrote: “How was it that the 1965 side succeeded? Possibly because it was so well balanced in both backs and forwards, and because it played consistently sound, fundamental rugby.
“The forwards were fiery, skilled at scrummaging and competent in lineout work, which enabled the backs to capitalise on the good ball received. The team also had a very reliable goal-kicker.”
But Tapper summed it up differently: “We were a team of average players turned into an extremely good team by an outstanding coach.”
During the Brother Michael years, Sacred Heart also suffered many near misses in further pursuit of the Auckland title, with Auckland Grammar and St Paul’s College their chief rivals, while as coach he intersected with many future rugby greats.
In 1963, Sacred Heart had all but won the championship when leading Auckland Grammar 6-3 in the dying moments of the last game of the season. Leo Davis had kicked two penalties, and the Sacred Heart forwards had produced a passionate performance to foil the dangerous Grammar backs.
In conversation with Brother Michael in 2012, he recalled what happened next: “We had the better of this game, but Grammar had an outstanding midfielder named Grahame Thorne. Towards the end of the game, he got the ball and breached our defence, which had been superb. I knew once he found space, he would keep on going and score. The game was drawn, and Grammar won the title.”
Thorne went on to play 39 games for the All Blacks, scoring 35 tries.
In 1967, another future All Black, Laurie Knight, was captain of the Auckland Grammar First XV. Despite another fine effort, Sacred Heart were beaten in the championship decider, 16-14.
“Laurie Knight was another player like Grahame Thorne,” Brother Michael recalled. ”He had a huge impact on the game and could create things from nothing. I knew the lad would go a long way in rugby.”
In 1970, Sacred Heart were again second and again lost narrowly to Grammar 3-8, but the second-place finish in 1971 would perhaps be the most painful. The championship would ultimately be decided in the game against St Paul’s.
Despite a heroic performance by captain Peter Mahoney (son of All Black Athol Mahoney), Sacred Heart went down 14-18. The difference between the sides was Bernie Fraser, a future All Black who went on to score a record 105 tries in 124 games for Wellington, and scored a hat-trick for St Paul’s, including a brilliant try in the last play of the match.
Brother Michael recalled Fraser had a “huge step which created much of our trouble in this game”.
Sacred Heart had a challenging season in 1978, winning only seven of 16 games and their chances of defeating the Sir Graham Henry-coached 1A champions, Auckland Grammar, seemed slim.
However, an inspired performance led to a stunning 9-7 victory. Through feverish defence and astute tactics, Sacred Heart gained a slight territorial advantage, which, combined with mistakes from Grammar, became the catalyst for their win.
Pat O’Sullivan and Andrew Stott delivered outstanding performances for Sacred Heart, along with lock Mata’afa Keenan, who would later become a Samoan international. Kieran Crowley, a future All Black and Canadian and Italy Rugby World Cup coach, kicked all three penalties for Sacred Heart in a tight win.
Brother Michael wasn’t head coach of Sacred’s First XV in 1978, but his fingerprints were all over their success, as he devised a strategy to counter Grammar’s brilliant first five – 1987 Rugby World Cup-winning All Black Grant Fox.
“I had seen Grammar play earlier in the season and noticed their machine-like efficiency,” Brother Michael explained in 2012. ”So, I asked the First XV, ‘What is the best way to stop a machine? Throw a spanner into the works.’
“We focused on keeping Grammar’s score low. Back then, flankers detaching early from the scrum wasn’t penalised, so we deliberately targeted the Grammar halfback to disrupt the ball’s delivery to Fox, which unsettled the Grammar backs. That was our spanner.
“Another of Grammar’s weaknesses was that their fullback was frequently up in the line, leaving large spaces to kick into. We executed our kicks well and had solid locks, which were key to our success in the game.”
While Henry coached Auckland Grammar from 1975-1980, winning 92 out of 101 games, including five Auckland championships (with four unbeaten seasons), Sacred Heart, under Brother Michael’s guiding hand, were the only side to topple Grammar twice during this period.
In summing up, Tapper described Brother Michael as the college’s dominant personality: “Like a CEO in today’s world.
“Brother Michael was a man of outstanding character and ability whose legacy has been woven into the hearts of all who knew him.
“Overriding his legendary abilities was a deep humility that never wavered and it was matched by an even deeper faith. He loved God and he loved all of us. He was quite simply the finest man I have ever known.”
Was Brother Michael also the last of his kind? A man who could have been an All Black, or Black Cap, but instead devoted his life to the brotherhood and being a coaching gift to future generations.
Br Michael’s rugby coaching stats, 1963-71
Played: 120
Won: 84
Lost: 26
Drawn: 10
1A Champions: 1965.
1A Runners-up: 1963, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971.
Marist Quadrangular Champions: 1963, 1965, 1966.