100 Greatest All Blacks: Ron Jarden

Ambition is part of every top-level All Black's arsenal. It wraps up all those qualities like determined, driven, organized and even a hint of the demonic.

All those descriptions filter through accounts of Ron Jarden who was an extraordinarily single-minded man in his family, business and sporting life.

The All Blacks, golf, Admiral's Cup yachting, sharebroker and public service-Jarden did the lot and was then gone at the ridiculously early age of 47.

That brief list of achievements suggests Jarden was a natural whose skills allowed him to succeed at most levels. He accepted he was born with great speed but had to work extremely hard to make that work for him as a left wing.

Five mornings a week, whatever the weather, Jarden spent 90 minutes practicing a list of skills he knew he had to perfect to succeed at the top level, topped off by a strenuous fitness regime.

That dedication took Jarden to an admiring audience around the world in a five year career including victory in the infamous 1956 tests series against the Springboks, before he quit. Gone at 26, retired, never to play a single game again.

It was no issue for Jarden as he felt he had proved himself in rugby and could do little more.

It was time to shift on to other pursuits and repay his employers who had given him time to pursue his All Black dream.

"I have no regrets about the decision to retire so early," Jarden said.

Outside his considerable business interests and acumen, Jarden played golf, squash, tried gliding and then discovered the joys of sailing.

Statistics
Date of birth: 14 December 1929
Position: Left wing
Test debut: 23 June 1951 v Australia at Sydney
Final test: 1 September 1956 v South Africa at Auckland
Matches: 37
Tests: 16
Province: Wellington
Test tries: 7
Test points: 42