George Skudder dies

Former All Blacks wing George Skudder, a major in the New Zealand Army and uncle of three more All Blacks, has been farewelled in his home town of Te Puke, Bay of Plenty. Skudder was 73. His nephews Nehe Milner-Skudder, Tanerau Latimer and Ben Atiga all followed their uncle into the All Blacks jersey. Schooled at Te Aute College in Hawke’s Bay, the fleet-footed wing was a 21-year-old third-year Hamilton Teachers’ College student when picked for his solitary test, against Wales at Eden Park in 1969. He replaced the injured Grahame Thorne and made an immediate impact, breaking through JPR Williams’ attempted tackle for the All Blacks’ first try in their 33-12 win. Injuries hampered Skudder’s career in the ensuing years. Skudder scored 38 tries in 67 first-class games for Waikato, New Zealand Maori and the All Blacks.