Born: August 15, 1942
Test record: 10 Tests (1969-71) – 2 tries (6 points)
Tours: 1963 tour of Australia, 1967 tour of Australia, 1970 World Cup, 1971 tour of Britain and France

A Kiwi tourist to Australia as a young Wellington half in 1963, Gary Woollard later became a New Zealand Test regular at five-eighth after moving to Auckland.

The Miramar playmaker represented Wellington against Australia as a teenager in 1961 and went across the Tasman two years later as Bill Snowden’s halfback understudy. He debuted for New Zealand in a win over Southern Division, the first of six appearances (no Tests) Woollard made on the tour.

Fading out of national contention in subsequent seasons, Woollard played for Wellington against South Africa (1963) and Great Britain (1966) but toured Australia again in 1967 after joining Auckland club Mount Albert. Again he played six matches – all at five-eighth this time – without cracking the Test team.

Woollard earned a belated Test debut against Australia in 1969, replacing Trevor Patrick at five-eighth. New Zealand won 18-14 at Carlaw Park. Three days later he helped inspire Auckland to a 15-14 upset of the world champions.

After playing all three of New Zealand’s 1970 World Cup internationals in England, Woollard played a prominent part in the ‘Grand Slam’ achievements of 1971.

Woollard was at five-eighth for New Zealand’s momentous 24-3 defeat of Australia at a muddy Carlaw Park and, in a repeat of two years earlier, backed up for Auckland to feature in a 15-14 win over the green-and-golds three days later at the same ground.

Ruled out of the first Test against Great Britain by a thigh injury, Woollard returned off the bench as the Kiwis sealed a momentous series win in the second clash in Castleford and was back at stand-off for the third Test loss at Leeds. He started in all three Tests in France but retired from national duty after the tour.

Woollard returned to Wellington and was later player-coach with the St George club in the capital.