Bill McLennan (rugby league)
William "Ginger" Richard McLennan[2] (5 June 1927 – 21 July 2007) was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in the 1954 and 1957 World Cups.
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Richard McLennan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 5 June 1927 The Catlins, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 21 July 2007 (aged 80) Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 101 kg (15 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Prop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: [1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing career
Born on the West Coast, McLennan was a miner and represented the West Coast. He played for the Runanga club.[3] He was first selected for New Zealand in 1951. McLennan played in 84 games for the Kiwis, including 28 tests. This included 22 consecutive tests.[4] His total 84 games has been bettered only by Jock Butterfield (99) and Tom Baxter (94).
He was part of the famous Kiwi team that won back-to-back test series against Australia in 1952 (in Australia) and 1953 (in New Zealand).[5]
McLennan was the vice-captain in the 1955-56 tour of Great Britain. He retired after this tour however he made a comeback for the 1957 World Cup.[6]
He was inducted as one of the New Zealand Rugby Leagues "Legends of League" in 2000.[7]
References
- "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- McLENNAN, William Richard 1951 - 57 - Kiwi #334 Archived July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine nzleague.co.nz
- Top Players West Coast Rugby Football League
- Playing Records Archived 2012-09-08 at Archive.today nzrl.co.nz
- Kiwi League Legend passes away rleague.com, 25 July 2007
- "Obituary: Bill 'Ginger' McLennan". The New Zealand Herald. 28 July 2007. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- Legends of League Archived 2012-09-11 at Archive.today nzrl.co.nz