Born: December 9, 1949
Test record: 22 Tests (1971-72, 1974-75, 1978) – 4 tries (12 points)
Tours: 1971 tour of Britain and France, 1972 tour of Australia, 1972 World Cup, 1975 World Championship Series, 1978 tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea

Ellerslie and Auckland halfback Ken Stirling began his Test career auspiciously as part of the 1971 ‘Grand Slam’ team and went on to become one of the Kiwis’ finest No.7s and an NZRL Legend of League.

The son of 1939 Kiwi Ivor Stirling, three of his uncles – Dick Smith, Jack Smith and Jack Campbell – represented New Zealand – while he great-uncle, Jack Pye, was a Kiwi in the late-1940s.

Stirling originally played for North Shore before joining Ellerslie in 1970. The 21-year-old was chosen to debut for New Zealand in the one-off Test against Australia in 1971 and was named man of the match in an iconic victory at Carlaw Park.

The newcomer’s terrier-like defence and probing running game contributed to a stunning 24-3 result. He featured in Auckland’s 15-14 upset of the tourists a few days later.

Stirling subsequently starred as the Kiwis carved out historic Test series victories against Great Britain and France abroad.

He toured Australia with the Kiwis in 1972 but played only the first Test due to injury and missed the World Cup at the end of the year.

Stirling won the New Zealand Player of the Year award back-to-back in 1974-75, scoring a try in the series-opening win over the ’74 Lions at Carlaw Park and playing in seven of the Kiwis’ eight matches during the World Championship Series this following season.

The Ellerslie player-coach rescinded his representative retirement to go on the Kiwis’ tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea in 1978. He played in all four Tests – becoming New Zealand’s most-capped halfback in the process – and scored a try in his final appearance, the 30-21 victory in the inaugural clash with Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.

A founding member – and later chairman – of the Hibiscus Coast club, Stirling served on the NZRL board of control and was New Zealand’s convenor of selectors in the 1990s. He was inducted into the Legends of League in 2007.