Lachlan Grant (rugby player)

Lachlan Grant

Birth name	Lachlan Ashwell Grant
Date of birth	4 October 1923
Place of birth	Temuka, New Zealand
Date of death	27 April 2002
Place of death	Timaru, New Zealand
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	89 Kg
School	Timaru Boys' High School
Occupation(s)	Farmer
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Lock Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) – Temuka () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1941-1953 South Canterbury () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1947, 1949 New Zealand 4 0

Lachlan "Goldie" Grant (4 October 1923 - 27 April 2002) was a New Zealand Rugby union player. Grant was born in Temuka and is regarded as the town's finest rugby product. Grant played at Flanker or Lock during his career and represented South Canterbury Rugby Football Union at provincial level and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks.

Early Life and Pre-war Career

Grant was born in Temuka, New Zealand and received his education at Clandeboye School and Timaru Boys' High School. He played his junior rugby at the Temuka Rugby Club. Grant received a call up to the South Canterbury provincial team as a 17 year old in 1941 before leaving to serve with the Divisional Cavalry in World War II.

Post-war Career

Returning from the war Grant played for Temuka and South Canterbury. However, it was not too long before higher honours beckoned including appearances for the Hanan Shields Districts (1946), NZ trials and finally the All Blacks tour to Australia in 1947.

Grant played a total of 23 games for the All Blacks including 4 test matches making his international debut on 14 July 1947 against Australia in Brisbane aged 23. He also captained the All Blacks on two occasions and scored 4 tries during his All Blacks career.

Grant was captain of the 1950 South Canterbury team which won the Ranfurly Shield against Wairarapa 17-14, scoring two tries and successfully converting a penalty from halfway.

Later Life

After his retirement Grant served on Temuka Rugby Club committee and was South Canterbury RFU president in 1976.