Born: July 28, 1948
Died: July 29, 2018
Test record: 21 Tests (1969-72, 1975) – 15 tries (45 points)
Tours: 1971 tour of Britain and France, 1972 tour of Australia, 1972 World Cup, 1975 World Championship Series

Phillip Orchard played 21 Tests on the flank for New Zealand from 1969-75, equalling fellow New Zealand Team of the Century winger Tom Hadfield’s then-record of 15 tries. His total of 40 tries in all matches for the Kiwis remains a record.

The Bay of Plenty rep starred for the Ngongotaha Chiefs alongside his three brothers, 18-Test prop Robert, Eddie and John.

After dotting down for North Island Colts against Australia in 1969, Orchard scored a 40-metre try on Test debut – an 18-14 upset of the world champs at Carlaw Park – by crashing through the tackles of legendary duo Graeme Langlands and Ron Coote. It was the first of a remarkable 10 touchdowns in his first seven internationals for the Kiwis.

Orchard was a tryscorer in the 1970 home series opener against Great Britain but was dropped before the third Test and was left out of the World Cup squad later in the year.

After missing the famous 24-3 win over the green-and-golds midway through 1971, Orchard played a key role in the Kiwis’ ‘Grand Slam’ success later that year. He scored a try in the first Test against Great Britain at Salford, then bagged a double in the series-sealing victory in the second Test at Castleford.

Orchard’s stellar finishing was a feature of New Zealand’s subsequent foray in France, crossing for a hat-trick at Perpignan and a brace at Carcassonne as the Kiwis again wrapped up the series inside two Tests.

Difficult to contain with his 90kg frame, big thighs and ample speed, Orchard finished the tour with the stunning, record-shattering total of 27 tries in just 19 appearances.

Orchard moved to Wellington in 1972 and became a prolific scorer for the St George club and a regular for his new province. The strong, tough winger was a Kiwis mainstay for the away series against Australia and the equally disappointing World Cup campaign that year, scoring two tries in a 20-9 loss to France.

He stood down from representative football for the next two years but returned to play all eight of New Zealand’s 1975 World Championship matches (one of only four players to do so), adding another three tries to his Test tally – including a memorable match-winner in a gutsy 13-8 result against Wales at Carlaw Park.

Orchard also crossed in the return clash with Wales, a 25-24 loss in a spiteful Swansea affair, to draw level with the legendary Hadfield on 15 tries in his final Test appearance for the Kiwis (their record was eclipsed by Hugh McGahan during the 1980s).

Orchard, also a New Zealand Māori regular, returned to the Bay of Plenty after hanging up the boots and was inducted to the NZRL Legends of League in 2001, along with Jock Butterfield and Charlie Seeling.

Six years later he ousted the likes of O’Hara, long-time wing partner Mocky Brereton, Vern Bakalich, Brian Reidy, Sean Hoppe and Lesley Vainikolo to be named in the NZRL Team of the Century alongside Hadfield; the pair passed away within months of each other in 2018.

Orchard was also named in the Wellington Rugby League Team of the Century in 2012.