Born: August 15, 1950
Test record: 8 Tests (1970-71) – 0 points
Tours: 1970 World Cup, 1971 tour of Britain and France

Richmond centre Bernie Lowther’s Test career was brief but eventful, with the lure of Sydney football ending his involvement with the Kiwis after just two seasons.

Lowther was just 19 when he scored a try in Auckland’s win over NSW Country in 1970 and earned a Kiwis call-up at centre for the series opener against Great Britain at Carlaw Park, won 19-15 by the Lions. After a mixed debut, he missed the second Test with the mumps but was recalled on the wing for the third as the tourists completed a cleansweep.

He subsequently featured in all three of New Zealand’s matches at the 1970 World Cup.

The strapping three-quarter featured in the Kiwis’ stunning 24-3 defeat of Australia at Carlaw Park in 1971, as well as Auckland’s upset of the visitors at the same ground just three days later. He played in the first two Tests against Great Britain as the Kiwis sealed a historic series win, but a knee injury ruled him out of the remainder of the tour.

Lowther spent the next five seasons in the NSWRL premiership, scoring 27 tries in 56 games for Canterbury-Bankstown (1972-74) and 14 tries in 41 games for South Sydney (1975-76). He was the Berries’ top tryscorer in 1973 with 13 and crossed four times in a match against Penrith in 1974 but missed the club’s run to the grand final in the latter campaign.

Moving to Queensland, Lowther played four seasons with Easts in the BRL competition before coaching Ipswich Brothers.