Don
Clarke

Don Clarke was a giant of New Zealand rugby in the 1950s and 60s.

Don Clarke Bio

Don Clarke was one of the finest fullbacks to ever play the game. In the 1950s and 60s, he was a giant of New Zealand rugby who was known for his phenomenal goal-kicking ability. He sadly passed away in 2002. Don Clarke was inducted into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame in 2021.

Born 10 November 1933, Don Clarke began to represent Waikato at the age of 17. He then spent his entire domestic career with the side (barring the odd exhibition game). The highlight of his domestic career undoubtedly came in 1956, when he helped Waikato record a 14-10 victory over a touring South African side. On top of this, in 1961, he and all four of his brothers featured for Waikato in the same game.

His performance for Waikato against the Springboks meant that Don Clarke became known on the international stage. As a result, he was called up to represent the All Blacks during the same South African tour and he featured in the third test between the sides.

Following this, Don Clarke made regular appearances for New Zealand. Between 1956 and 1964, he played 89 times for the side, including appearances in 31 test matches. During this time, he earned the nickname ‘the boot’ thanks to his metronomic goal kicking. Over the course of his entire career with the All Blacks, Don Clarke scored a whopping 781 points, which was a record at the time of his retirement.

In addition to being a distinguished rugby player, Don Clarke also played first-class cricket for Auckland and the Northern Districts. At his peak, he was a formidable opening bowler.
When he retired from rugby, Don Clarke left New Zealand and moved to South Africa with his family. There, he set up a tree-felling business. In 1997, he then suffered serious injuries in a motor vehicle accident. Sadly, he died in 2002 after a battle with melanoma.