Born: September 26, 1930 – Auckland
Died: March 11, 2016 – Queensland
Test record: 10 Tests (1955-57) – 2 tries (6 points)
Tours: 1955-56 tour of Britain and France, 1956 tour of Australia, 1957 World Cup

Richmond halfback Sel Belsham played 10 consecutive Tests for New Zealand during the mid-1950s.

After playing in Auckland’s win over France in 1955, Belsham was selected to tour Britain and France with the Kiwis at the end of the year. He played only two games on the English leg of the tour – scoring a try against Leeds – while recovering from a broken collarbone.

The 25-year-old played eight matches in France, however, including all three Tests of the 2-1 series loss.

Belsham toured Australia with the Kiwis in 1956, opposing the great Keith Holman in the Test series – which Australia won 3-0 – and scoring a try in the 12-9 loss in the SCG opener.

He went back across the Tasman in 1957 for the World Cup, where he was refereed by his brother, 1948 Kiwi representative Vic, in New Zealand’s loss to Australia. Sel also featured in the defeat to France and upset of Great Britain.

Belsham had the distinction of playing halfback in the Rest of the World side that played world champion Australia at the conclusion of the tournament, while two weeks later he scored a try in his final Test appearance, a clash with a combined Great Britain-France team.

The multitalented Belsham also represented Auckland as a wicketkeeper in six first-class cricket matches between 1954 and ’59.