Jack McLean (rugby)

Jack McLean

Personal information
Full name	John Kenneth McLean
Born	(1923-10-03)3 October 1923 Thames, New Zealand
Died	30 July 2005(2005-07-30) (aged 81) Thames, New Zealand
Playing information
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	13 st 0 lb (83 kg; 182 lb)
Rugby union
Position	Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1947–48 Taumarunui 1948–50 Thames United Total 0 0 0 0 0 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1947–48 King Country 1948–50 Auckland 1947–49 New Zealand 2 0 0 0 0
Rugby league
Position	Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1950–56 Bradford Northern 221 261
Source: [1]

John Kenneth McLean (3 October 1923 – 30 July 2005) was a New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played two rugby union tests for New Zealand before switching codes and playing rugby league for Bradford Northern, as a wing.

Background

Jack McLean was born in Thames, New Zealand, and he died aged 81 in Thames, New Zealand. He was a well known and loved local rugby icon but was also a teacher at Thames High School from 1956 to 1983. He was known as an avid reader and his athletic achievements are still on record in the Thames High School hall and the new gymnasium is named in his honour.

Rugby union career

A wing three-quarter, McLean represented Auckland and King Country at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1947 to 1949. He played five matches for the All Blacks including two internationals, both of which were against Australia.[2]

Rugby league career

Bradford Northern

McLean was a member of the Bradford Northern's table topping side and championship finalists of 1952, and a Yorkshire Cup winner in 1954, he scored 63 tries in 46 games in the 1951–52 season, and is the top try scorer of all time with Bradford Northern (now named the Bradford Bulls).[3]

Championship final appearances

McLean played on the wing in Bradford Northern's 6–13 defeat by Wigan in the Championship Final during the 1951–52 season at Leeds Road, Huddersfield on Saturday 10 May 1952.[4]

References

1. "Statistics at en.espn.co.uk (RU)". en.espn.co.uk. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
2. King Country RFU. "Jack McLean". New Zealand Rugby. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
3. "Team of the Century at bradfordbulls.co.uk". bradfordbulls. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
4. "1951–1952 Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2012.

External links

• Search for "McLean" at rugbyleagueproject.org
• J McLean Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)
• The Millennium Masters – Backs
• Team Of The Century
• King Country All Blacks – John McLean
• Photograph "Jack McLean – Jack McLean, a Kiwi wingman, was one of the greatest wingmen to play for Bradford. He scored 261 tries in 221 games including an incredible 63 tries in the 1951/52 season. – 01/01/1952" at rlhp.co.uk
• Photograph "Jack McLean scores – Jack McLean scores against Halifax at Thrum Hall in the Championship Semi final of 1953. Halifax went on to win a tight affair by 18-16. – 02/05/1953" at rlhp.co.uk
• Photograph "Bill Seddon races away – Bill Seddon, Northern's Kiwi centre, races away in this game against Featherstone with Jack McLean in support. – 05/11/1955" at rlhp.co.uk
• Photograph "Joe Phillips makes a break – Joe Phillips, the attacking Kiwi full back, who played for Bradford Northern between 1950 and 1956 amassing a massive 1,463 points including 661 goals. He once score 14 goals in a single game against Batley in 1952. – 01/01/1955" at rlhp.co.uk
• Photograph "Bradford Northern after winning the Yorkshire Cup – Trevor Foster with the Cup Winning side. Trevor holds the cup and is flanked by Ken Traill and Bob Jenkins – 31/10/1953" at rlhp.co.uk