Born: 9 August, 1920 – Bulls
Died: 30 April, 1994 – Katikati
Test record: 1 Test (1946) – 1 try (3 points)

Auckland prop Bruce Graham pulled on the black-and-white jersey just once, but he holds a cherished place in Kiwis folklore thanks to a match-winning try in a historic Test.

After coming to Auckland from Marton, Graham played for North Shore then served in the New Zealand Army in the South Pacific during World War II. He debuted for Auckland in 1946, playing against the touring Great Britain team and earning a call-up for New Zealand’s first Test match in seven years.

The one-off clash with the Lions was locked at 8-all in the latter stages when Graham followed up Warwick Clarke’s penalty goal attempt. The kick rebounded off the post and into the arms of Graham, who plunged over to give the Kiwis a momentous 13-8 upset victory over the ‘Indomitables’.

Graham was a Kiwis triallists in 1947 and ’48, but missed out on the squads that tour Britain and Australia, respectively.