Born: October 16, 1911 – Molteno, South Africa
Died: July 31, 1990 – Auckland
Test record: 0 Tests
Tours: 1938 tour of Australia

South Africa-born Manukau five-eighth Walter Brimble toured Australia alongside younger brother Wilfred with the New Zealand side in 1938. The pair’s older brother, Ted, was a Kiwi in one Test in 1932.

Arriving in New Zealand with his family in 1915 after two years in Hawaii, Walter played rugby union for Manukau Rovers – Ted’s former club before switching to league – from 1932-36 and represented Auckland B.

He switched codes in 1936 with Manukau and won selection for Auckland in 1937. Following his appearance for North Island in 1938, he was picked in the New Zealand squad to tour Australia. He would play in seven of the nine matches, pairing up in the halves with Wilfred five times (no Tests were played).

A clever, elusive five-eighth, Brimble scored tries in his first two matches for the Kiwis – wins over NSW and North Coast – and played subsequent matches against Queensland (the only game he lost), Toowoomba, NSW Group 4, Newcastle and Sydney Firsts.

Brimble represented Auckland later that year and played for Manukau against the visiting Sydney club team, star-studded Eastern Suburbs. He joined brothers Ted and Wilfred at Newton Rangers in 1940 but returned to Manukau the following season.