Born: June 13, 1907 – Westport Died: August 26, 1966 – Devonport Test record: 2 Tests (1936) – 0 points Tours: 1938 tour of Australia
West Coast forward Bill McNeight was the in the New Zealand pack for the 1936 home series against England and captained the Kiwis to Australia two years later.
The former Buller and South Island rugby union rep switched codes in 1936, enjoying a rapid rise that saw him play for South Island against England that year and feature in both Tests against the tourists.
Transferring from Greymouth Marist to Newton Rangers in Auckland in 1937, McNeight was chosen to skipper New Zealand on the tour across the Tasman in 1938.
No Tests were scheduled, but McNeight led the Kiwis in seven of their nine matches, scoring a try in a tour-opening loss to NSW and featuring in a win over NSW two days later, as well as a draw with a strong Sydney line-up to close out the trip.
McNeight fought for New Zealand with distinction during World War II.