Hard man dropped by All Blacks for being too dirty dies
All Blacks legend Stan “Tiny” Hill has died at the age 92.
Hill, who played at lock or loose forward, made his All Blacks debut against the Wallabies in 1955, making 19 appearances and captaining the side twice. He played against the touring Springboks in 1956 and the Lions in 1959.
Born in New Plymouth, he also represented Canterbury and Counties at provincial level.
Hill spent his working life in the New Zealand Army and served in the J Force in Japan in 1948-49.
After retiring as a player, Hill was a selector for New Zealand Army, Canterbury and the All Blacks.
Hill was regarded as one of the toughest players of his era and was famously dropped for the second test against the Springboks in 1956 for being “too physical” against the South African forwards when playing for Canterbury.
“One of the props jumped in the lineout and he punched me,” Hill told 1 NEWS earlier this year.
“I gave this bloke two and dropped him and I walked away.
“They had the binoculars on me and saw that and said, ‘we can’t have that dirty bugger in the side,’ so they dropped me.”
His most treasured rugby memory was when Canterbury took the Ranfurly Shield off Wellington in 1953. Later, when the army transferred him to the North Island, he played for Counties until 1962.
Hill, who lived in Rolleston, was the patron of the Rolleston Rugby Club.
Last month, Hill attended the club’s senior prize giving and was a regular visitor to the club.
In 1996, Hill was made a member of the Order of the British Empire.
Hill’s death comes less than two months after the death of fellow All Black legend Sir Brian Lochore.