About Bill McLennan
Lived 1927 – 2007 (aged 80). Bill McLennan was a New Zealand rugby league player.
William "Ginger" Richard McLennan (5 June 1927 – 21 July 2007) was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in the 1954 and 1957 World Cups.
Playing career Born on the West Coast, McLennan was a miner and represented the West Coast. He played for the Runanga club. He was first selected for New Zealand in 1951. McLennan played in 84 games for the Kiwis, including 28 tests. This included 22 consecutive tests. His total 84 games has been bettered only by Jock Butterfield (99) and Tom Baxter (94).
He was part of the famous Kiwi team that won back-to-back test series against Australia in 1952 (in Australia) and 1953 (in New Zealand).
McLennan was the vice-captain in the 1955-56 tour of Great Britain. He retired after this tour however he made a comeback for the 1957 World Cup.
He was inducted as one of the New Zealand Rugby Leagues "Legends of League" in 2000.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Bill McLennan's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Bill McLennan's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bill McLennan?
New Zealand rugby league footballer
When was Bill McLennan born?
Bill McLennan was born on 5 June 1927 in West Coast Region.
When did Bill McLennan die?
Bill McLennan died on 21 July 2007 in Auckland.
What was Bill McLennan's occupation?
Bill McLennan was a rugby league player.
What nationality was Bill McLennan?
Bill McLennan was New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Bill McLennan (rugby league)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bill McLennan. https://biography.guide/bill-mclennan/
MLA: "Bill McLennan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bill-mclennan/.
Chicago: "Bill McLennan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bill-mclennan/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:25 UTC