Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Fred Allen, the only unbeaten All Blacks coach, is marking his 90th birthday with a civic reception hosted by the Mayor of Auckland.

Allen's players nick-named him 'The Needle' when he coached Auckland, then the All Blacks during an unbeaten run of 14 Tests from 1966 - 1968.

NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs says it's a record that would be hard to surpass and it was great that Allen's birthday is being recognised by so many people in Auckland.

Allen first played for Canterbury and also for Marlborough and Waikato in 1944, before joining the Army "Kiwi's" team which toured Europe after World War II.

He went on to captain the All Blacks, retiring after a tour of South Africa in 1949. He became Auckland's selector-coach from 1957 till 1963.

Fred Allen is patron of the Auckland Rugby Union.