Born: March 10, 1930 Died: February 26, 2012 Test record: 9 Tests (1955-57) – 1 try (3 points) Tours: 1955-56 tour of Britain and France, 1956 tour of Australia, 1957 World Cup
Richmond back-rower Jim Riddell was a regular in the New Zealand forward pack during the mid-1950s.
Riddell made his Kiwis debut in the second Test against France in 1955, a series-levelling 11-6 win at Carlaw Park. He played 12 matches on the tour of Britain and France at the end of the year, including two Tests against the latter.
Nine appearances on the 1956 tour of Australia included partnering Cliff Johnson in the second-row of all three Test matches, with New Zealand losing the series 3-0.
The following season Riddell went to Australia again as part of New Zealand’s World Cup squad. He featured at lock in a 14-10 loss to France in Brisbane and scored a try in a 29-21 win over Great Britain in Sydney. He also played in the post-tournament Test against a combined France-England team.
Riddell represented Auckland in wins against the American All Stars in 1953, and France in 1955 and ’60 – scoring a try in all three victories. He later had player-coach stints with NSW country clubs Grenfell and Narrandra.