About Ivan Vodanovich
Lived 1930 – 1995 (aged 65). Ivan Vodanovich was a New Zealand rugby union player.
Ivan Matthew Henry Vodanovich (8 April 1930 – 2 September 1995) was a New Zealand rugby union player, coach and administrator. He played three tests for the All Blacks in 1955. Vodanovich was All Blacks coach from 1969 to 1971.
As then coach and chief selector of the New Zealand team, he gained some notoriety for warning that the first test of the British Lions 1971 tour of New Zealand could be "another Passchendaele" for the Lions if they continued to play negative rugby as they had in a preliminary match against Canterbury. The Lions went on to record a rare series win 2–1.
In the 1992 Queen's Birthday Honours, Vodanovich was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to rugby.
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
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Ivan Vodanovich's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Ivan Vodanovich?
New Zealand rugby union player (1930–1995)
When was Ivan Vodanovich born?
Ivan Vodanovich was born on 8 April 1930 in Whanganui.
When did Ivan Vodanovich die?
Ivan Vodanovich died on 2 September 1995 in Wellington.
What was Ivan Vodanovich's occupation?
Ivan Vodanovich was a rugby union player.
What nationality was Ivan Vodanovich?
Ivan Vodanovich was New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ivan Vodanovich. https://biography.guide/ivan-vodanovich/
MLA: "Ivan Vodanovich." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ivan-vodanovich/.
Chicago: "Ivan Vodanovich." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ivan-vodanovich/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:12 UTC