Born: November 20, 1925 - Auckland
Died: February 6, 2003 - Dunedin
Test record: 17 Tests (1948-53) - 2 tries, 1 goal (8 points)
Tours: 1947-48 tour of Britain and France, 1951-52 tour of Britain and France, 1952 tour of Australia
Auckland hooker George Davidson was a mainstay of the New Zealand pack in the post-WWII period, featuring momentous series wins over Great Britain and Australia among 17 Test appearances.
The Marist star represented Auckland as a teenager and received his first Kiwis call-up for the 1947-48 tour of Britain and France as hooker back-up to Bob Aynsley. He played 13 games and made his Test debut in the second Test loss to France in Bordeaux.
Davidson replaced Aynsley at hooker for the second Test against Australia at Carlaw Park (a 13-10 defeat) in 1949 and took a stranglehold on the spot the following season, playing in both Tests of New Zealand's 2-0 home series victory over Great Britain.
The 25-year-old featured in the one-off Test win over Les Chanticleers in 1951, before embarking on his second tour of Britain and France in 1951-52. This time he played in six Tests - all three against Great Britain, the one-off clash with Wales, the series opener against France and the tour closer against British Empire - among 26 appearances.
Davidson shone on the 1952 tour of Australia, where he tangled with respected hooker Kevin Schubert in four matches. He scored a try in a 26-15 win over NSW and the record-breaking 49-25 victory over Australia in the second Test at The Gabba. The Kiwis clinched a historic series win via a 19-9 result in the SCG decider.
As well as representing Auckland against Australia and American All Stars in 1953, Davidson enjoyed a fond farewell from the international arena that year via New Zealand's 2-1 home series win over Australia. He scored another try in the 25-5 victory in the first Test in Christchurch and held his own against tough St George rake Ken Kearney.
Davidson finished an admirable career at Mt Albert, where he had played as a junior.