Half of famous 1950s pair dies after long illness

Bill Clark. Photo / Supplied

Bill Clark, a celebrated All Black loose forward of the 1950s and a participant in the epic 1956 test rugby series against the Springboks, died in Nelson on Thursday, after a long illness aged 80.

A product of Nelson College, where his funeral will take place, Clark in the 1950s was a name synonymous with the great wing of the era, Ron Jarden.

The pair played together at club level with highly successful Victoria University sides and provincially for Wellington. They took part in Ranfurly Shield successes and were All Blacks between 1953 and 1956.

They engineered many tries through a combination developed by Jarden's ability to centre kick accurately and by Clark's ability to anticipate where the ball would land.

Clark became an All Black on the 1953-54 tour of Britain and France, played tests against Australia in 1955 and then in three of the tests in 1956 against the Springboks. The same year, he played for New Zealand Universities, together with Jarden and another old clubmate Brian Fitzpatrick (father of Sean), in a famous win against the tourists at Athletic Park.

Because of injuries, he retired in 1958, having played 24 times for the All Blacks including nine internationals.

Clark remained in rugby, either coaching or in administration with the Varsity club in Wellington. He was manager of the NZ Universities side which in 1977 gained a second major international scalp with a win over the touring Lions.

In his playing days only 1.86m tall and 82kg (which many thought an overstated weight), Clark was much smaller than loose forwards of today. However, he had a sharp rugby brain and good pace.