11 Mar 2012

Former All Black Richard 'Tiny' White dies

12:23 pm on 11 March 2012

Richard "Tiny" White, a former All Black and mayor of Gisborne, has died, aged 86.

Mr White died in Gisborne on Saturday after several weeks of illness.

Regarded as one of the country's greatest rugby forwards, Mr White was one of the pillars of the All Blacks' famous victory over the Springbok in 1956 - the first time New Zealand had beaten South Africa in a series.

He played 30 games for the All Blacks, and his 23 consecutive tests as lock included all five on the tour of Britain and France in 1953-54.

For his home team of Poverty Bay, he notched up 133 matches in first-class rugby between 1946 and 1957.

Mr White later served two terms as the mayor of Gisborne.