Richard "Tiny" Alexander White QSO

Queen's Service Order

The Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...

 (born 11 June 1925) was a former New Zealand rugby union

Rugby union

Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

 footballer. He played 23 tests and 55 games for the All Blacks.

Early life

Richard Alexander White was educated at Gisborne Boys' High School

Gisborne Boys' High School

Gisborne Boys' High School is a boys' secondary school situated in Gisborne, New Zealand that was originally founded as a Co-Ed school in 1909 and was known as Gisborne High School. In 1956 the school became Gisborne Boys High School when the original school was split into two single-sex...

 and Feilding Agricultural High School. It was at school that he earned the ironic nickname tiny. White was regarded as tall by 1940's standards.

Rugby career

Richard White played for Poverty Bay. He debuted for the All Blacks in 1949 by playing two tests against Australia and he immediately became an important player for them. He never missed a test match during his career and was only subbed off once in his career. White also played in thirty of the 36 games during the All Blacks 1953–54 New Zealand rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland, France and North America, this number was the most of any player.

White was regarded as being excellent in the lineout. He was also very quick and had "incredible stamina." Terry McLean once remarked that he was "a wonderful player" who "played with matchless vigour, especially in the lineout."

White was forced to retire from rugby at age thirty-two after he received a kick in the back. This along with his farming injuries and an almost paralyzed left hand was too much for him to continue playing. His final game was during the 1956 tour

1956 South Africa rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand

The 1956 South Africa rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand-Tour itinerary:-Australia First Test:-Australia Second Test:-New Zealand First Test:-New Zealand Second Test:-New Zealand Third Test:-New Zealand Fourth Test:...

 by South Africa. The All Blacks won the series 3-1 which was their first ever victory against South Africa in a test series.

Later life

White became mayor of Gisborne from 1977 to 1983. He was also heavily involved in rugby, becoming president of the Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union and continuing to coach some local sides.