Ken Stirling
Encyclopedia
Ken Stirling is a New Zealand
former rugby league
player, coach and administrator who represented his country
in the 1975 World Championship
.
and in 1971 won the Rothville Trophy as player of the year and the Bert Humphries Memorial as most improved back. He made his debut for the New Zealand Kiwis that same year and went on to play in 22 Test matches, scoring four tries. Stirling would have played in more Test matches if it was not for injury, he missed the 1972 World Cup
and retired from international football in 1976 before returning in 1978. In total he played in 43 matches for the Kiwis.
Stirling was an Auckland
representative and won the New Zealand Rugby League
Player of the Year award in 1974.
Stirling was appointed the Kiwis captain in 1974 and continued in the role during the 1975 World Championship
and in 1978.
club and served on their foundation committee.
In 1988 Stirling was elected onto the New Zealand Rugby League
board, serving a four year term. He later served another four year term and was also the convenor of selectors for the national side.
Stirling was inducted into the New Zealand Rugby League
's Legends of League in 2007.
and he is related to former New Zealand cricket captain Daniel Vettori
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
former rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player, coach and administrator who represented his country
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
in the 1975 World Championship
1975 Rugby League World Cup
The 1975 Rugby League World Cup was the seventh staging of rugby league football's World Cup tournament...
.
Playing career
Stirling played for the Ellerslie club in the Auckland Rugby LeagueAuckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
and in 1971 won the Rothville Trophy as player of the year and the Bert Humphries Memorial as most improved back. He made his debut for the New Zealand Kiwis that same year and went on to play in 22 Test matches, scoring four tries. Stirling would have played in more Test matches if it was not for injury, he missed the 1972 World Cup
1972 Rugby League World Cup
The sixth Rugby League World Cup was held in France in October and November of 1972. Australia started as the favourites to retain the trophy they had won just two years previously. New Zealand had beaten all three of the other nations in 1971 and France were expected to be tough opponents on their...
and retired from international football in 1976 before returning in 1978. In total he played in 43 matches for the Kiwis.
Stirling was an Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
representative and won the New Zealand Rugby League
New Zealand Rugby League
The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year....
Player of the Year award in 1974.
Stirling was appointed the Kiwis captain in 1974 and continued in the role during the 1975 World Championship
1975 Rugby League World Cup
The 1975 Rugby League World Cup was the seventh staging of rugby league football's World Cup tournament...
and in 1978.
Later years
After retirement Stirling coached Ellerslie. In 1982 Stirling helped found the Hibiscus Coast RaidersHibiscus Coast Raiders
The Hibiscus Coast Raiders are a rugby league club based on the Hibiscus Coast, New Zealand. They compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition and between 2000 and 2005 were also involved in the Bartercard Cup competition.-History:...
club and served on their foundation committee.
In 1988 Stirling was elected onto the New Zealand Rugby League
New Zealand Rugby League
The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year....
board, serving a four year term. He later served another four year term and was also the convenor of selectors for the national side.
Stirling was inducted into the New Zealand Rugby League
New Zealand Rugby League
The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year....
's Legends of League in 2007.
Family
Stirling's father, Ivor, also represented New Zealand in rugby league. His sister, Glenda, represented New Zealand in swimming at the 1968 Summer Olympics1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
and he is related to former New Zealand cricket captain Daniel Vettori
Daniel Vettori
Daniel Luca Vettori ONZM is a cricketer for the New Zealand cricket team. He is the eighth player in Test history to take 300 wickets and score 3,000 runs. He is the youngest player to have represented New Zealand in Test cricket, having made his debut in 1996–97 at the age of 18...
.