Ron Jarden

As of August 20, 2010

Ronald Alexander Jarden ( born December 14, 1929 in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, † February 18, 1977 in Lower Hutt ) was a New Zealand rugby union player at the position of the outer three- quarter. After hanging up his rugby career, he was a successful businessman in the petroleum industry and chairman of the public service broadcaster in New Zealand.

Rugby

As a student Jarden attended Hutt Valley High School. He then studied at the Victoria University of Wellington, where he joined the New Zealand Rugby Player of the top Victoria University RFC 1949. In the same year he was appointed to the provincial selection of Wellington RFU. Due to his performances in his debut season one years later he was elected for the selection of teams in the North Island and the New Zealand Barbarians.

Jarden 1951 toured with the national team of New Zealand universities in Australia. On the tour, the Uni- selection of New Zealand have won all seven games. After that he remained in Australia to the New Zealand national team ( All Blacks ), in the squad, he was nominated to join them on tour in Australia. With the All Blacks, he managed the Bledisloe Cup against the Australian national team ( Wallabies ) recover in a series about three matches since New Zealand won all three. Jarden played in two of the three matches against the Wallabies, scoring two tries in the second game. The third international game he had an injury to stay outside. On the tour, he scored in his six missions total of 88 points, including 38 points alone ( six trials and ten increases) against Central West of New South Wales. This was a world record that would remain until 1974.

For his athletic achievements, he was honored for New Zealand sportsman of the year 1951. The following year, he played in two home internationals against Australia, and successfully defended the Bledisloe Cup with the All Blacks, despite a 9:14 defeat in the first international match.

In 1953 he won the Ranfurly Shield with Wellington against the Waikato RU. In the game, he scored by a try and two penalty kicks all 9 points for his team. The Ranfurly Shield was able to defend five games Wellington long before you even got him in the same year at the Canterbury RFU. In the Shield defense against the East Coast RFU Jarden get six attempts, which remained a Shield record for 40 years, which was only broken by John Kirwan.

In 1953 and 1954 he toured with the All Blacks in Europe and played in all five internationals against England, France, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. However, he could put a try in any of the matches, but scored with 15 attempts and 94 points, respectively, most attempts and points his team on the tour, as he was successful in the other games. As the All Blacks against Wales lost, they missed the first Grand Slam in its history. Also, the game against the French was also lost.

Against the re touring in New Zealand Wallabies played Jarden 1955 all three matches in which he scored a try each. Two of the three internationals could win the New Zealanders and thus defend the Bledisloe Cup again.

His greatest triumph in rugby followed a year later when he won the international game series against the touring New Zealand in the South African national team ( Springboks ) for with the All Blacks. It was the first defeat of the Springboks in an international game series ever. The New Zealanders won three of four matches and lost one. Jarden was a key player during this tour because he succeeded in the first international match to intercept a pass in the Springboks and to lay an important attempt by the following 40m sprint. In addition, he also scored a try in the third international match. He could also surprising win against the Springboks with the New Zealand university selection.

Businessman

After this success, Jarden announced with only 26 years of his retirement from rugby, to focus on his work at Shell. He later founded his own company RA Jarden and Company and was director of several companies.

Public service broadcasting

Although he himself was never an active politician, he decided in the New Zealand general election 1975, National Party with its Spitzendkandidat Robert Muldoon support. After the National Party won the elections, Jarden has been appointed chairman of the public- service broadcasters New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation ( NZBC ). Under him we reformed the New Zealand public service broadcasting. The NZBC was dissolved and replaced by three separate entities (two TV stations and a radio institution ).

Private

Ron Jarden married in Wellington on April 4, 1953 Joan Ella Morton with whom he later had two daughters. He also was involved in the New Zealand Music Association and was a curator of the National Art Gallery and the National Museum. He remained active sport preserved and in the 1970s an international competition sailors.

He died on 18 February 1977 at age 47 suddenly of a heart attack at his home in Lower Hutt.