Born: January 2, 1935 - Ōpōtiki
Died: Sydney, Australia
Test record: 18 Tests (1961-66) - 3 tries (12 points)
Tours: 1961 tour of Britain and France, 1963 tour of Australia, 1965 tour of Britain and France
Bay of Plenty front-rower Sam Edwards, who spent most of his international career in Auckland, was an engine-room mainstay for the Kiwis for six years in the 1960s.
Born in Ōpōtiki, Edwards was still in his home region when he represented New Zealand Māori against France in 1960 went on the Kiwis' 1961 tour of Britain and France. He played in all six Tests (among 22 appearances), scoring tries in the series-opening upset of Great Britain at Headingley and the loss in the Station Road decider.
As a fearsome front-row combination with Maunga Emery continued to develop, Marist (Auckland) acquisition Edwards tangled with Great Britain again in 1962 - this time on home soil as New Zealand carved out a 2-0 series win. Edwards again dotted down in the 19-0 first Test win a Carlaw Park.
Edwards played in two Tests on the 1963 tour of Australia, featured once against France at home in 1964 and lined up in the Kiwis' series-levelling victory over Australia at Carlaw Park in 1965. At the end of the latter year, he played in all three Tests against Great Britain and the third Test against France on his second tour there.
The 31-year-old wound up an 18-Test, 57-game Kiwis tenure with two home Test appearances against Great Britain in 1966.