Born: January 26, 1944
Died: October 2019
Test record: 1 Test (1971) – 0 points
Tours: 1971 tour of Britain and France

Versatile Auckland back Mike McClennan featured at fullback in a famous New Zealand victory over Australia in his only Test appearance, before carving out an outstanding legacy as a coach in both hemispheres.

McClennan made his senior debut for Richmond in 1964 but switched to Ponsonby the following season, playing in the club’s Fox Memorial-winning 1967 campaign and finishing as the ARL’s top tryscorer in 1969 and ’70. He was on the wing for Auckland’s 1969 win over Australia and at fullback in a loss to Great Britain in 1970.

In his first season with Mt Wellington, the 27-year-old ousted West Coast’s Don Ladner for the New Zealand No.1 jersey for the one-off Test against Australia in 1971 at Carlaw Park, with the home side powering to a 24-3 victory. He enjoyed another victory against Australia three days later as Auckland prevailed 15-14, but John O’Sullivan was preferred at fullback in the Test side on the Kiwis’ ‘Grand Slam’ tour later that year – McClennan played 11 minor matches in Britain and France.

McClennan moved into coaching and guided Mt Albert to five Fox Memorial championships from six grand finals during the 1980s. He took over at Northcote in 1989 and snared another Fox Memorial title before taking the reins at English heavyweights St Helens in early-1990.

Under McClennan, the Saints reached the 1991 Challenge Cup final (a 13-8 loss to Wigan) and won the 1992-93 Premiership. He subsequently coached Tonga’s historic 1995 World Cup campaign – including the iconic 25-24 loss to the Kiwis at Warrington – and was an assistant to Mark Graham at the Warriors in 1999-2000.

McClennan’s son, Brian, represented Auckland at five-eighth and went on to have highly successful stints in charge of the Kiwis (2005-07) and Leeds (2008-10), before coaching the Warriors in 2012.