Test record: 0 Tests Tours: 1987 tour of Papua New Guinea and Australia
George Lajpold was a stalwart for Randwick, Wellington and Central Districts, before representing Cook Islands in the 1986 Pacific Cup led into a watershed ’87 season – and Kiwis selection.
Lajpold played for a New Zealand XIII line-up against a Queensland side featuring State of Origin megastars Wally Lewis, Allan Langer and Gene Miles at Carlaw Park, with the home side going down narrowly, 18-14.
He impressed sufficiently at fullback in that game to win selection in the Kiwis’ squad for a short tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea, playing his sole international match in the No.1 jumper in a 44-12 defeat of Northern Rivers at Lismore.
Fate intervened, however, suffering a concussion in the match. His trip ended before the Test phase of tour – including New Zealand’s famous 13-6 triumph over Australia at Lang Park.
Lajpold did get a couple of cracks at the Kangaroos, though, turning out for Central Districts against Australia in 1985, and kicking three goals in Wellington’s 28-10 loss to the ’89 tourists, when he and Charlie McAlister teamed up in the centres against Maroons guns Peter Jackson and Dale Shearer.
Lajpold was named in the Wellington Team of the Century in 2012, was voted in as a Randwick life member in 2016 and has been heavily involved in coaching and administration in his home region and in Canterbury since his playing days ended in the mid-1990s.
