Born: c. 1921 Died: deceased Test record: 2 Tests (1946-47) – 0 points Tours: 1947-48 tour of Great Britain and France
Second-rower Arthur Gillman played two Tests among 14 matches for New Zealand from Addington and Hokitika in the years immediately after World War II.
A regular for Canterbury during the first half of the 1940s, the former Christchurch Boys’ High School 1st XV player represented South Island in the win over North Island and against Great Britain in 1946 before being named in the line-up for the one-off Test against the Lions – New Zealand’s first Test team in nine years. The Kiwis won 13-8 at Carlaw Park.
The police officer transferred to the West Coast later that season and won selection for his new province.
Gillman secured a place in the Kiwis’ 1947-48 squad to tour Britain and France, scoring a try against Castleford and playing in the series-opening victory over France in Paris among 13 appearances abroad.
A shoulder injury suffered in a 1948 club match halted Gillman’s career.