Born: February 15, 1938 - Auckland
Died: December 13, 1992 - Auckland
Test record: 8 Tests (1959-61, 1963) - 1 goal, 1 field goal (3 points)
Tours: 1959 tour of Australia, 1963 tour of Australia
Auckland fullback Gary Phillips played eight Tests for the Kiwis from 1959-63 and went on two tours of Australia.
The Ellerslie 21-year-old was first chosen for New Zealand for the 1959 tour of Australia and wore the No.1 jersey in all three Tests, as well as kicking five goals in a win over Brisbane and scoring a try in a victory against Queensland - opposing the great Clive Churchill in both.
The following season, after joining Eastern United, Phillips played in two matches at the 1960 World Cup - the 21-15 loss to Australia in Leeds and the 9-0 win over France in Wigan.
Phillips slotted the match-winning field goal in the 1961 series-opening victory over Australia and slotted a goal in the second Test loss, while he scored a try in Auckland's tour-closing win over the green-and-golds. He was named New Zealand Player of the Year but withdrew from the tour of Britain and France later that season when the NZRL turned down a request for bigger tour allowances.
Business commitments kept Phillips out of the 1962 series against Great Britain, but he kicked four goals in Auckland's win over the Lions. Returning for the Kiwis' 1963 tour of Australia, he scored 16 points in a victory over North Coast prior to playing in the first Test.
But Phillips aggravated a knee injury in the 7-3 loss to Australia at the SCG and made only a brief return against Central Queensland in Rockhampton. The talented attacking custodian never played again.