All Blacks great Colin Meads dies, aged 81

CAREER OF ALL BLACKS LEGEND COLIN MEADS WHO HAS DIED FROM CANCER, AGED 81.

OVERVIEW

All Blacks debut: v NSW, Sydney (May 18, 1957)

Test debut: v Australia, Sydney (May 25, 1957)

Last Test: v British and Irish Lions, Auckland (Aug 14, 1971)

All Blacks matches: 133 (55 Tests)

INTERNATIONAL CAREER

* Made his Test debut against Australia in 1957 as a flanker, one of just eight Tests when he did not play lock.

* Captained the All Blacks for the first time on the tour of Britain in 1963-64, a 23-9 victory over Combined Services.

* In New Zealand’s 14-3 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield in 1967, became the second All Blacks player to be sent off in a Test match.

* Named to lead the All Blacks in a Test for the first time in his final series against the Lions in 1971.

* Ended his international career following the 14-14 draw against the Lions at Eden Park, which gave the combined side a 2-1 series victory – their first and only series win over the All Blacks.

HONOURS

* Named New Zealand Player of the Century in 1999.

* Awarded several domestic honours by New Zealand’s government, culminating in being made a New Zealand Distinguished Companion of Merit in 2001, an honour which was redesignated as a knighthood in 2009.

* In 2006, New Zealand’s amateur provincial competition was renamed as the Heartland Championship with the winners awarded the Meads Cup.

* Inducted into New Zealand’s Sports Hall of Fame. Also named in World Rugby’s Hall of Fame in 2014.

* Honoured by his home town of Te Kuiti with a statue unveiled during the 2017 Lions tour.

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