Born: November 12, 1906
Died: February 28, 1971
Test record: 8 Tests (1932, 1935-36) – 0 points
Tours: 1930 tour of Australia

One of West Coast’s early rugby league greats, front-rower Jim Calder played eight Tests against England and Australia during the 1930s.

Calder first faced the Englishman in 1928 in West Coast’s 62-13 loss in Greymouth, trialling for New Zealand that year. He played 10 games on New Zealand’s 1930 tour of Australia (no Tests were played), including two matches against NSW and one against Queensland.

A Test debut came at the next opportunity, lining up at prop in all three matches of the home series against England in 1932 against the likes of Joe Thompson and Nat Silcock. He also scored both of a New Zealand XIII’s tries in a 59-8 loss to the tourists.

Calder remained a key member of the New Zealand pack in its next Test series, against the 1935 Australian team at home – tangling with the likes of Ray Stehr and Wally Prigg in three matches.

The tough at uncompromising Nelson Creek, Blackball and Greymouth Marist forward featured in both Tests at the visiting 1936 England side, as well as South Island’s historic match against the tourists in Christchurch.

Calder’s legacy lived on into rugby league’s modern era courtesy of the feats of his grandson, 35-Test Kiwi and Canberra Raiders premiership winner Quentin Pongia.