Born: December 5, 1953 – Hawera
Test record: 18 Tests (1975, 1979-83, 1985) – 2 tries (6 points)
Tours: 1975 World Championship Series, 1980 tour of Britain and France, 1982 tour of Australia, 1985 tour of Britain and France

Towering Taranaki second-rower Graeme West became a Kiwis great in an 18-Test career spanning more than a decade and encompassing one of the New Zealand’s finest wins as captain.

Born in Hāwera, West represented North Island in 1974 and received his maiden New Zealand call-up the following season as a 21-year-old during the World Championship Series, debuting at prop in a loss to Australia in Brisbane.

It would be his only Kiwis appearance until 1979, when a successful inter-districts campaign as Central captain led to a Test recall for the home series against Great Britain – as skipper. West led New Zealand from the second-row in the first two Tests.

After coming off the bench for New Zealand in both matches against the touring Australian side in 1980, West was in the starting pack for all five Tests on the Kiwis’ tour of Britain and France at the end of the year, and both home Tests against France in 1981. He was named New Zealand’s Player of the Year in 1981.

West toured Australia and Papua New Guinea in 1982, leading his country and scoring his first Test try in the one-off win over the Kumuls in Port Moresby.

The tough and exquisitely skilled forward was a reserve for the series-opening loss to Australia at Carlaw Park in 1983, but he replaced an injured Mark Graham in the second-row and as captain for the return bout at Lang Park. West marked arguably his best performance for the Kiwis with a try and outstanding leadership in a 19-12 boilover, New Zealand’s first win over Australia in 12 years.

West joined Wigan during the 1982-83 English winter for what would be a long and decorated stay. He captained the club in the 1984 Challenge Cup final loss to Widnes and the win over Hull FC in the 1985 final, widely hailed as the greatest of all Wembley deciders.

The 31-year-old played two more times for New Zealand on the 1985 tour to Britain and France – one tour match and the second Test loss to Great Britain at Central Park – while he retired from Wigan’s first team after the 1987-88 season.

Becoming Wigan’s reserve ‘A’ team player-coach as well making the occasional first-team appearance, West later enjoyed a trophy-laden stint as coach of the all-conquering club in the mid-1990s, including Premiership, Challenge Cup and World Club Challenge success.

West was inducted into the NZRL Legends of League in 2024.