Des White

Des White

Personal information
Full name	Desmond Henry White
Born	1927
Playing information
Position	Fullback
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1947–??	Ponsonby
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
	Auckland
1950–56	New Zealand	21	2	47	0	100
Coaching information
Representative
Years	Team	Gms	W	D	L	W%
	Auckland
1961	New Zealand	2	1	0	1	50
Source: RLP

Desmond Henry "Des" White (born 1927) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and 1950s. A record-breaking goal-kicking fullback, he was named amongst the country's finest players of the 20th century. His total for points scored in all matches (61) for the Kiwis is a record 467 (7 tries and 233 goals). He won championships with Auckland's Ponsonby club and his total of 794 points (391 goals and four tries) is the all-time club record.

White played his first senior game with the Auckland Rugby League's Ponsonby club in 1947.

White toured Britain with the New Zealand national team in 1951, playing in the first ever televised match of rugby league at Station Road, Swinton against Great Britain and kicking two goals. During the 1951 French rugby league tour of Australia and New Zealand, White was selected to play for both Auckland and New Zealand at fullback. He later kicked a world record 11 goals (from 14 attempts) against Australia in 1952 when New Zealand won the Test series in Brisbane. On that tour he set another record by scoring 107 points to become the first Kiwi to top the century in Australia. White kicked 18 goals in the series, equalling the world record.

In 1954, while playing for Auckland against Great Britain, he ruptured his spleen when tackled illegally by Doug Greenall. White underwent surgery and was out of the game for two years, missing the first ever World Cup in 1954.

...
Wikipedia