Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | William Richard McLennan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | The Catlins, Otago, New Zealand | 5 June 1927||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 21 July 2007 Auckland, New Zealand | (aged 80)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 101 kg (15 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Prop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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).[citation needed]
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]