Born: August 9, 1923 – Blackwater, West Coast
Died: October 14, 2014
Test record: 3 Tests (1953) – 2 tries (6 points)
Tours: 1952 tour of Australia

West Coast back-rower Bob Neilson toured Australia with the Kiwis in 1952 and starred in New Zealand’s home series victory over its trans-Tasman’s neighbour the following season.

A West Coast rugby union rep, Neilson switched codes with Hokitika in 1947 and represented the province against Great Britain in 1950 and France in 1951, having joined Greymouth Marist in the latter season.

Neilson played five minor matches on the Kiwis’ 1952 tour of Australia, bookending wins over Northern Division, Central Queensland and Central West Queensland (scoring a try) with losses at Newcastle and Toowoomba.

Future NZRL Legends of League Frank Mulcare and Alister Atkinson occupied the second-row spots in the Test side in 1952, but Neilson was chosen to partner Mulcare in 1953 with Atkinson moving to loose forward.

Making his Test debut in the 25-5 series-opening rout of Australia in Christchurch, THE 29-year-old scored a try in the 12-11 triumph at the Basin Reserve and the 18-16 dead-rubber loss at Carlaw Park.

Neilson also represented West Coast against the 1953 Australian tourists and France in 1955.