Born in Motueka Bill Clark was educated at Mapua School and Nelson College where he played in the 1st XV in 1948. He also represented Nelson at 4th grade level. Moving to Wellington in 1949 he played 3rd grade for Victoria University, graduating to the seniors in 1950 and also representing Wellington twice that season. He became a Wellington regular in 1951 and retained his place until his retirement in 1958.

Clark’s first national representation came in 1951 when he toured Australia with New Zealand Universities, whom he continued to represent until 1956. After appearances for the North Island and in New Zealand trials that year he was chosen for the 1953-54 All Black tour of Britain, France and North America. His 19 tour appearances included the four tests in the British Isles and he was regarded at the team’s best loose forward.

Bill Clark appeared in the first two tests against Australia in 1955 and was recalled for and played well in the last three internationals against the Springboks in 1956. He was also in the New Zealand Universities side that surprised with a mid week win against the South Africans. Injuries curtailed his playing after that season and he retired in 1958, unable to tour South Africa with the 1960 All Blacks as he had hoped.

On retiring he coached the Victoria University seniors 1960-61 and was president of the NZ Universities Rugby Football Council from 1970-83. Whilst president of Victoria University RFC 1977-79 he was involved with the formation of the Old Greens Club, an organisation to encourage and assist Victoria University rugby. He was made a life member of his club in 1979. His father, J R Clark, captained Golden Bay-Motueka and represented the South Island in 1926 whilst his brother Tony represented Wellington and New Zealand Universities.

Just over 6’1” (1.85m) in height Bill Clark had a listed playing weight of 13 stone (82kg), though many thought that was overstated. A distinctive figue in his white headgear he had exceptional pace, a good rugby brain and a rare talent for being in the right place at the right time. His anticipation enabled him to capitalise on the expert centre kicks of long time club and All Black team mate Ron Jarden.

Profile by Bob Luxford
for the New Zealand Rugby Museum.

FULL NAME

William Henry Clark

BORN

Saturday, 16 November 1929 in Motueka

DIED

Thursday, 3 June 2010 in Nelson

PHYSICAL

1.86m, 82kg

POSITION

Flanker

LAST SCHOOL

Nelson College

RUGBY CLUB
(First made All Blacks from)

Victoria University

PROVINCE

Wellington

ALL BLACK DEBUT

Saturday, 31 October 1953
v Southern Counties at Hove
aged 23 years, 349 days

INTERNATIONAL DEBUT

Saturday, 19 December 1953
v Wales at Cardiff
aged 24 years, 33 days

LAST TEST

Saturday, 1 September 1956
v South Africa at Auckland
aged 26 years, 290 days

ALL BLACK TESTS

9 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK GAMES

15 (0 as Captain)

TOTAL ALL BLACK MATCHES

24 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK TEST POINTS

9pts (3t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK GAME POINTS

12pts (4t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)

TOTAL ALL BLACK POINTS

21pts (7t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK NUMBER

549

The All Black Games that Clark played.
(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced

Click on the date to be taken to the Match Card

1953

 31 Oct vs Southern Counties at Hove 24-0  

 11 Nov vs Oxford University at Oxford 14-5  

 14 Nov vs Western Counties at Bristol 11-0  

 17 Nov vs Llanelli at Llanelli 17-3  

 21 Nov vs Cardiff at Cardiff 3-8  

 28 Nov vs South of Scotland at Galashiels 32-0  

 5 Dec vs Leicestershire and East Midlands at Leicester 3-0  

 9 Dec vs South-Western Counties at Camborne 9-0  

 19 Dec vs Wales at Cardiff 8-13  

 26 Dec vs Combined Services at London 40-8  

1954

 2 Jan vs Ulster at Belfast 5-5  

 9 Jan vs Ireland at Dublin 14-3  

 21 Jan vs Newport at Newport 11-6  

 23 Jan vs Neath and Aberavon at Neath 11-5  

 30 Jan vs England at London 5-0  

 13 Feb vs Scotland at Edinburgh 3-0  

 9 Mar vs Victoria (B.C.) at Victoria 39-3  

 13 Mar vs British Columbia Mainland at Vancouver 37-11  

 20 Mar vs California All Stars at San Francisco 20-0  

1955

 20 Aug vs Australia at Wellington 16-8  

 3 Sep vs Australia at Dunedin 8-0  

1956

 4 Aug vs South Africa at Wellington 3-8  

 18 Aug vs South Africa at Christchurch 17-10  

 1 Sep vs South Africa at Auckland 11-5  

Points scored for the All Blacks

t

c

p

dg

pts

vs Southern Counties, 31 Oct 1953

1

-

-

-

3

vs Oxford University, 11 Nov 1953

1

-

-

-

3

vs Western Counties, 14 Nov 1953

1

-

-

-

3

vs Wales, 19 Dec 1953

1

-

-

-

3

vs Combined Services, 26 Dec 1953

1

-

-

-

3

vs Ireland, 9 Jan 1954

1

-

-

-

3

vs Australia, 20 Aug 1955

1

-

-

-

3

Totals

7

0

0

0

21

Test Record by Nation

P

W

D

L

t

c

p

dg

pts

Australia

2

2

-

-

1

-

-

-

3

England

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Ireland

1

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

3

Scotland

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

South Africa

3

2

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

Wales

1

-

-

1

1

-

-

-

3

Totals

9

7

0

2

3

0

0

0

9