Born: July 31, 1948 – Taumarunui
Died: March 25, 2012 – Rotorua
Test record: 3 Tests (1975) – 2 tries, 6 goals (18 points)
Tours: 1975 World Championship Series

Goalkicking rugby union outside back Tony ‘Tank’ Gordon was fast-tracked into the Kiwis’ 1975 World Championship Series squad, while he later had a memorable three-season tenure as New Zealand’s coach in the late-1980s.

The King Country representative switched to rugby league in 1975 with ARL club Maritime, for whom he led the competition that year with 181 points – including 15 tries – to earn Kiwis selection at the end of the year for the European leg of the World Championship Series.

Gordon debuted off the bench in a 12-all draw against France, scored a try and kicked a goal in a 27-12 loss to England after again starting as a reserve, and notched a try and five goals in a 25-24 defeat to Wales in his sole Test start on the wing.

Later playing for Mangere East and having player-coach stints with Surfers Paradise in Queensland and Central in the Bay of Plenty competition, Gordon built his coaching reputation at the helm of Bay of Plenty and Northern Districts in the mid-1980s.

Gordon came from the clouds to be chosen as Graham Lowe’s Kiwis replacement in 1987. His first assignment – a tour of Papua New Guinea and Australia – culminated in a famous 13-6 Test win over the latter at Lang Park.

Gordon’s charges secured a World Cup final berth with a tense 12-10 win against Great Britain in Christchurch in 1988, but New Zealand’s 25-12 loss to Australia in a sold-out Eden Park decider was bitterly disappointing.

The Kiwis were swept 3-0 at home by Australia in 1989, while the tour of Britain and France featured a 2-1 series defeat to Great Britain and was marred by off-field incident. Gordon was replaced by Bob Bailey in 1990.

Gordon coached Kiwi Colts against Great Britain in 1990 and had mixed stints in England with London Crusader and Hull FC, before returning home to assist Bay of Plenty Stags in the Lion Red Cup and coach the Coastline Mariners representative side. He passed away in Rotorua in 2012 after a long illness, aged 63.