Birth nameWilliam Stuart Scott Freebairn
Date of birth (1932-01-12) 12 January 1932
Place of birthNew Plymouth, New Zealand
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight73 kg (161 lb; 11 st 7 lb)
SchoolFeilding Agricultural High School
Occupation(s)Pharmacist
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1952–1962 Manawatu 84 (159)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1953–1954 New Zealand

William Stuart Scott "Stu" Freebairn (born 12 January 1932) is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He was a wing threequarter known for his speed, evidenced by having competed in long jump and relay events in national athletics championships.[1]

He played for the Feilding Yellows at club level and Manawatu at provincial level, representing the province in 84 games in which he scored 53 tries.[2]

Selected for the All Blacks at the age of 21, Freebairn played 14 matches on their 1953–54 New Zealand rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland, France and North America.[3] On the tour he scored 30 points (10 tries), but he was unable to make the test team due to the presence of the incumbents Ron Jarden and Morrie Dixon.[2]

After the tour, Freebairn was unavailable for rugby during the 1954 season while concentrating on his pharmacy studies. Although returning after his studies still a young man and continuing to play well for Manawatu and in All Blacks trials, he never regained selection to the All Blacks.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Manawatū legend Freebairn proud of how life turned out for him". Manawatū Standard. 3 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Stu Freebairn All Blacks profile". allblacks.com.
  3. ↑ "1950s All Blacks gather in Palmerston North for Rugby Jamboree". Manawatū Guardian. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2023.

Bibliography

  • Palenski, R., Chester, R., and McMillan, N., (2005). The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand Rugby (4th ed.). Auckland: Hodder Moa Beckett. ISBN 1-86971-026-6


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