Born: February 9, 1910 – Wingate, England Died: September 10, 1967 – Gisborne Test record: 1 Test (1932) – 0 points
English-born half Wilf Hassan played one Test for New Zealand against his former countrymen in 1932.
An all-round sporting star at Sacred Heart College, an 18-year-old Hassan made his senior club debut with Marist Old Boys in 1928 and broke into the Auckland team two years later.
In 1931, he scored a try in Auckland Colts’ loss and featured in Combined Marist/Devonport’s win against visiting Sydney club Eastern Suburbs – opposing champion five-eighth Ernie Norman and halfback Viv Thicknesse, respectively.
Hassan faced the touring England team three times in 1932: at halfback for Auckland in a 19-14 loss, at five-eighth in New Zealand 25-14 second-Test loss in Christchurch and at halfback for New Zealand Presidents XIII in Wellington as England ran away with a 59-8 result.
He was omitted in favour of Ted Brimble in the New Zealand line-up for the third Test.
After a brief switch to rugby union in 1934 and a subsequent move to Hamilton, Hassan returned to Auckland and rugby league with Mt Albert in 1935, representing the province for the final time on a southern tour that took in matches against Wellington and Canterbury.
The multitalented Hassan was also the New Zealand springboard diving champion in 1934-35.