Born: March 13, 1923
Died: April 25, 1979
Test record: 14 Tests (1946-52) - 4 tries (12 points)
Tours: 1947-48 tour of Britain and France, 1948 tour of Australia, 1952 tour of Australia
Representing the Kiwis from Ponsonby and Ngaruawahia, Travers Hardwick's 14-Test playing career and stint as national coach saw him inducted into the NZRL Legends of League in 2000.
Hardwick represented Auckland against England in 1946 before earning selection at lock in New Zealand's first Test team in nine years, who upset the tourists 13-8 at Carlaw Park.
He was one of the standouts on the Kiwis' 1947-48 tour of Britain and France, playing in the first two Tests against Great Britain and scoring three tries in the 28-20 victory over Wales.
The 25-year-old played both Tests on the 1948 tour of Australia and both Tests in the 1949 home series against Australia, which both finished in one-all draws.
Moving to Waikato, Hardwick then scored a try in the first Test win over Great Britain in 1950 and was at lock again as New Zealand carved out a shock 2-0 series victory, as well as the one-off win over the 1951 French tourists.
Hardwick's last foray with the Kiwis was on the 1952 tour of Australia (he was unavailable for the previous season's tour of Britain and France), playing in all three Tests of the momentous 2-1 series victory among 11 appearances.
He coached New Zealand MΔori on their 1956 tour of Australia and took the reins of the Kiwis in 1959, including a 2-1 series loss in Australia in 1959, and a 2-0 sweep of France at home and a World Cup campaign in 1960.
Hardwick later served as a New Zealand selector in the early-1970s.