Born: December 23, 1924 – Auckland
Died: January 2, 1987 – Auckland
Test record: 10 Tests (1947-48, 1950-52) – 1 try (3 points)
Tours: 1947-48 tour of Britain and France, 1948 tour of Australia, 1951-52 tour of Britain and France

Auckland halfback/five-eighth Des Barchard played 52 games for New Zealand – including 10 Test matches – and toured Britain and France twice during the period following World War II. He also later coached New Zealand.

The nephew of 1930 New Zealand rep Len Barchard, he represented Auckland in rugby union and earned Kiwis selection for the 1947-48 tour of Britain and France in his first season with Marist.

Barchard debuted for his country against Swinton and played 18 games on tour, including a sole Test against France – the 11-7 victory in the series opener in Paris.

Touring Australia in 1948, the young playmaker featured in both Tests – a win in Sydney and a loss in Brisbane – at halfback with Jimmy Haig ruled out of the trip by injury.

Barchard himself was injured in 1949 and missed a rematch with the Australians on home soil, but he returned alongside Haig at five-eighth for the 1950 home series against Great Britain, which New Zealand won 2-0. He scored a try in the 16-10 win in the Christchurch opener.

Making a second tour of Britain and France in 1951-52, Barchard played the second Test against Great Britain – a 20-19 loss at Station Road at halfback – but Haig, George Menzies and Cyril Eastlake occupied the halves positions in the other matches of the series.

Nevertheless, Barchard added to his Test tally in the win over Wales, both losses to France and the clash with British Empire.

Barchard finished his club career with Howick – later becoming a life member as a founding player – while he coached the Kiwis to the 1968 and 1972 World Cups, for a record of six losses from six Tests.