Born: June 21, 1933
Died: November 30, 2015
Tests: 17 Tests (1961-65) – 1 try, 47 goals (97 points)
Tours: 1961-62 tour of Britain and France, 1963 tour of Australia, 1965 tour of Britain and France

Continuing the line of prolific goalkicking fullbacks from Auckland in the post-World War II that had featured the likes of Warwick Clarke and Des White, Ponsonby’s Jack Fagan scored 289 points in 53 games for New Zealand.

Late-blooming Fagan was a tryscorer in Auckland’s win over France in 1960 and played for the National Coaching School against Australia in 1961. He made a spectacular start to a 17-Test tenure in the latter season.

The fullback spot was vacant after incumbent Gary Phillips pulled out of the Kiwis’ 1961-62 tour of Britain and France over pay allowances. Fagan strong form early in the tour saw him selected in the team for the series opener at Leeds, where he kicked seven goals in New Zealand’s 29-11 over Great Britain.

Fagan kicked two goals in the second-Test loss, missed the decider against Great Britain and the first Test against France, then returned for the second clash against France in Perpignan and kicked four goals in a 23-2 victory.

He top-scored on the tour with 125 points.

An injury to Tony Smith in the 1962 series opener against Great Britain resulted in a recall for Fagan, who landed six goals in New Zealand’s 27-8 win at Carlaw Park in the second clash.

Phillips returned for the series opener on the 1963 tour of Australia, but Fagan reclaimed the fullback role for the remaining two Tests, slotting two goals as the Kiwis took out the second Test in Brisbane.

Fagan was a key figure as New Zealand swept France 3-0 at home in 1964, racking up 15 points (one try, six goals) in the first Test and slotting six goals in the second Test. He played in both Tests of the drawn home series against Australia in 1965, booting two goals in each.

Struggling for goalkicking form early on the 1965 tour of Britain and France, the veteran lost his Test spot to Roger Tait for the series opener against Great Britain. But he was recalled for the second and third Tests – kicking three goals in each, including a face-saving 9-all draw in the dead-rubber – and lined up in all three matches of a dismal whitewash at the hands of France.

Fagan finished the tour with 68 points, six shy of Tait as the Kiwis’ top scorer, while he wound up with 97 Test points after managing only one goal in the series against France.

A broken arm in 1966 saw Fagan hang up the boots, but he went into coaching with Mt Albert and Auckland University. He later held roles with the NZRL Judiciary, the New Zealand Kiwis Association and the NZRL Museum board.

Fagan was made a life member of NZRL in 2015, just months before his death, aged 82.