Born: April 6, 1932 - Utui, Vava'u, Tonga
Died: January 25, 1996 -
Test record: 22 Tests (1952-57, 1960) - 3 tries, 15 goals (39 points)
Tours: 1951-52 tour of Britain and France, 1955-56 tour of Britain and France, 1956 tour of Australia, 1957 World Cup, 1960 World Cup
The patriarch of one of New Zealand rugby league's most famous and prolific families, goalkicking centre/five-eighth Bill Sorensen represented the Kiwis from 1951-60 - including 22 Test appearances.
Brother Dave (1971-72), nephews Kurt (1975-89) and Dane (1975-85) Sorensen - who both join Bill as NZRL Legends of League inductees - and grandson Scott Sorensen (2022-24) followed him into the black-and-white jersey.
Born in Tonga, Ponsonby tyro Sorensen was just 19 when chosen to tour with the 1951-52 Kiwis to Britain and France. He debuted for New Zealand against Castleford and played one Test on tour, against British Empire.
Sorensen began a lengthy tenure as New Zealand's Test five-eighth in the 1953 series victory against Australia, occupying the pivot role in the 1954 series against Great Britain and at the inaugural World Cup later that year, against France in 1955 and on the 1955-56 tour of Britain and France, where he played in five of the six Tests.
With West Coast's George Menzies emerging, Sorensen moved to centre for the 1956 series in Australia - scoring a try in the SCG opener - as New Zealand went down 3-0.
Sorensen played all three matches at the 1957 World Cup and scored a try in the Kiwis' loss to France and kicked seven goals in their win over Great Britain. He subsequently retired from international football but was persuaded to make a one-off comeback for the 1960 World Cup, where he played against Great Britain and France.
A New Zealand Mฤori rep against the 1954 and '58 Lions, Sorensen played for Auckland against Australia in 1961 and Great Britain in 1962. He then had a player-coach stints with NSW country clubs Glenn Innes and Wamoon, before returning to Auckland with the Glenora club and finally hanging up the boots in 1969.
Sorensen was a long-serving New Zealand selector and coach Auckland in the late-1970s, steering the province to wins over Australia, France and Great Britain in the space of three weeks during the 1977 World Cup.
A NZRL life member, he was inducted into the Legends of League in 2000 - four years after he passed away, aged 83.