Born: July 14, 1926 – Palmerston North Died: August 1, 1954 – Wellington Test record: 5 Tests (1948-50) – 0 points Tours: 1947-48 tour of Britain and France, 1948 tour of Australia
Richmond second-rower Clarence ‘Sandy’ Hurndell played five Tests for New Zealand from 1948-50 in the wake of a false start to his Kiwis career.
A rugby union player in Wairarapa, Hurndell moved to Auckland and immediately gained North Island selection. A spot on the Kiwis’ squad for the 1947-48 tour of Britain and France followed, but the 21-year-old suffered a relapse of a head injury en route and was invalided home from Panama.
Hurndell was selected again in 1948 for New Zealand’s tour of Australia, where he played six matches – including both Tests of the drawn series. He scored his only try in a tour-closing win over Newcastle.
Retaining his spot for the 1949 series opener against Australia in Wellington, which the Kiwis won 26-21, Hurndell missed the second Test. But he was back on deck partnering Charlie McBride in the second-row for both Tests against Great Britain in 1950.
Hurndell moved to Wellington but tragically died just four years after last playing for New Zealand, aged 28. The Wellington Rugby League premier men’s best and fairest award is named the Sandy Hurndell Trophy.