All Black Don McIntosh dies

All Black Don McIntosh dies

Don McIntosh, one of the oldest surviving All Blacks, died last Thursday at the Levin Home for War Veterans.

He was 94. He had a private funeral in Levin.

Don played a total of 13 games for the All Blacks including four test matches – two at home against South Africa in 1956 and two tests on the tour of Australia in 1957, scoring a total of three tries. 

The South African tour in 1956 was described as brutal. Don made his test debut in the 10-6 win against South Africa at Carisbrook in 1956 and three weeks later played in the 8-3 loss to the tourists at Athletic Park. Earlier in the tour they beat Wellington 8-6 at the same ground.

The All Blacks were unbeaten on the 1957 Australian tour, retaining the Bledisloe Cup with wins in Sydney (25-11) and Brisbane (22-9).

Don played for the Petone club and became the first player to reach 100 games for Wellington. He played 120 matches in total for Wellington, many as captain, including matches against a touring Springbok team in 1956 and a British Lions team in 1959.

He captained Wellington to win the Ranfurly Shield over Canterbury in 1956 and was in the team that beat Waikato for the shield in 1953.

The current oldest living All Black is Brian Steele, 96.