William_Freebairn

Stu Freebairn

Stu Freebairn

Rugby player

William Stuart Scott "Stu" Freebairn (born 12 January 1932) is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He was a wing threequarter known for his speed, evidenced by having competed in long jump and relay events in national athletics championships.[1]

Quick Facts Birth name, Date of birth ...

He played for the Feilding Yellows at club level and Manawatu at provincial level, representing the province in 84 games in which he scored 53 tries.[2]

Selected for the All Blacks at the age of 21, Freebairn played 14 matches on their 1953–54 New Zealand rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland, France and North America.[3] On the tour he scored 30 points (10 tries), but he was unable to make the test team due to the presence of the incumbents Ron Jarden and Morrie Dixon.[2]

After the tour, Freebairn was unavailable for rugby during the 1954 season while concentrating on his pharmacy studies. Although returning after his studies still a young man and continuing to play well for Manawatu and in All Blacks trials, he never regained selection to the All Blacks.[1]

References

  1. [1]
    "Manawatū legend Freebairn proud of how life turned out for him". Manawatū Standard. 3 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  2. [2]
    "Stu Freebairn All Blacks profile". allblacks.com.
  3. [3]
    "1950s All Blacks gather in Palmerston North for Rugby Jamboree". Manawatū Guardian. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2023.

Bibliography

  • Palenski, R., Chester, R., and McMillan, N., (2005). The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand Rugby (4th ed.). Auckland: Hodder Moa Beckett. ISBN 1-86971-026-6


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