Richard White (rugby union)
As of August 12, 2010
Richard Alexander Tiny White ( born June 11, 1925 in Gisborne, New Zealand, † March 10, 2012 ) was a New Zealand rugby union player at the position of the second row striker and was active in his rugby career local politicians in Gisborne. Considered together with Colin Meads to this day as one of the best New Zealand second- row players of all time.
White, who was a farmer like his parents in Poverty Bay, went as a student to the Ngata Primary School and Gisborne District High School. He then studied at Fielding Agricultural College, where he received the ironic nickname Tiny.
After the war he was stationed as a soldier in the New Zealand Defence Force in occupied Japan from 1946 to 1948. During this time he played in various New Zealand Army rugby teams. In New Zealand, he played in his entire career throughout the rugby club Gisborne High School Old Boys and the Provincial Association Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union ( PBRFU ). In his first year at Poverty Bay, he was in 1949 in the neuseelänsische national team ( All Blacks ) was appointed. He was the first national player of the province of Poverty Bay. His international debut was White on September 3, 1949 against Australia in Wellington, New Zealand. The game lost the All Blacks with 6:11. White then ran until 1956 in all 22 consecutive internationals on and missed so that no single during his national career. In addition to the Bledisloe Cup matches against Australia were among the countries game series against the British and Irish Lions in 1950 and against South Africa ( Springboks ) in 1956 and a European tour against England, France, Ireland, Scotland and Wales 1953/54, to do so. The All Blacks won the series against the touring Lions in New Zealand with three wins and a draw. On the European tour New Zealand won all matches except against France and Wales.
His biggest triumph was winning the international game series against the touring Springboks in New Zealand. Until today this is also one of the biggest successes of the All Blacks. Even then, New Zealand and South Africa were the two best rugby teams in the world. The All Blacks won three of four games. It was the first defeat of the Springboks in an international game series ever. In the first and third countries game White each scored a try. Due to a violent kick in the back of a South African players during the fourth game, White had to be replaced due to injury. After that he never played again for the All Blacks, although he still aground one year for his club and his province.
After an active rugby he became involved on the board of Old Boys and Poverty Bay and as a local politician in Gisborne. He was the mayor of the city for two terms. Rugby union of Poverty Bay chooses to Whites honor the best players of the first game day of the regional club championship every year with the Tiny White Medal.