Born: July 22, 1934 - Auckland
Died: March 27, 2015 - Auckland
Test record: 13 Tests (1954-56, 1958-60, 1962-63) - 5 tries, 1 goal (17 points)
Tours: 1955-56 tour of Britain and France, 1959 tour of Australia, 1960 World Cup, 1963 tour of Australia
Brilliant Marist and Auckland winger Neville Denton played 13 Tests for New Zealand from 1954-63.
Denton was barely when he represented North Island against the 1954 Lions at stand-off, before being selected in New Zealand's squad for the inaugural World Cup later that year. His only appearance at the tournament was as a makeshift fullback in a 34-15 loss to Australia in Marseille, playing opposite the great Clive Churchill.
Selected for the Kiwis' 1955-56 tour of Britain and France, Denton scored tries in his first three appearances against York, Halifax and Yorkshire, but injury restricted him to just three more games.
Denton's next opportunity at international level came in 1958, featuring on the wing in both Tests of the drawn series against Great Britain on home soil. He toured Australia the following season and played in all three Tests - scoring two tries in the dead-rubber victory at the SCG - as well as bagging a hat-trick against Queensland.
The 26-year-old scored a try in the series-opening win over France in 1960 and played in New Zealand's World Cup losses to Great Britain and Australia later that year. But, along with Ron Ackland and Gary Phillips, Denton pulled out of the Kiwis' 1961 tour of Britain and France when the NZRL refused a request for larger tour allowances.
Denton returned to the New Zealand fold for the series against the 1962 Lions, kicking a goal in the first Test and scoring a try in the second as the Kiwis carved out a 2-0 sweep. He also scored three tries in Auckland's tour-closing 46-13 win over the Brits.
The speedster toured Australia again in 1963 and scored tries in six consecutive appearances - including a hat-trick against Riverina and the Kiwis' only try in the series opener against Australia, which would be his last Test outing. Injury ruled Denton out of the second Test team.
Denton continued to play for Marist until 1969, the last three seasons as player-coach. He also coached Mangere East and was Auckland's coach when the province toppled Australia in 1971.