Born: July 29, 1925 – Auckland
Died: June 4, 2006 – Brisbane
Test record: 0 Tests
Tours: 1948 tour of Australia

Vic Belsham played four tour matches at five-eighth and centre for the Kiwis in Australia in 1948 before becoming an international referee.

The Point Chevalier player featured in his specialist stand-off position in wins over NSW Country, Northern Division and Central Queensland, and in the centres for a victory against Newcastle. But tour vice-captain Abbie Graham was preferred at five-eighth in the Tests.

Belsham was a non-playing reserve for two Tests against the touring Australians in 1949.

Turning to refereeing, he controlled all three of Australia’s matches at the 1957 World Cup – including their opening clash against a New Zealand team that contained his younger brother, halfback Sel. Belsham subsequently handled the Kiwis’ two-Test home series against Great Britain in 1958 and France in 1960.

Like Sel, Vic also represented Auckland in first-class cricket. But he arguably made his biggest sporting impact in squash after moving to Australia. Belsham was eventually made a life member of the Queensland and Australian squash governing bodies, and was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to the sport in the 1986 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Australia and New Zealand compete for the Vic Belsham Trophy in trans-Tasman squash matches.