James Baird

James Alexander Steenson Baird (17 December 1893 — 7 June 1917) was a New Zealand international rugby union player and New Zealand Expeditionary Force soldier. He died aged 23 in World War I.

Biography Baird was born in Dunedin, where he attended Caversham School.

Rugby union A centre three-quarter, Baird played his club rugby with Dunedin club Zingari-Richmond and had made only two representative appearances for Otago the year he won an All Blacks call up in 1913. He was a replacement player for Eric Cockroft in the side to play Australia at Carisbrook, selected over others as he was already in Dunedin. The All Blacks won 25–13 and he kept his place for the third Test in Christchurch, but had to pull out with a hand injury. He didn't play any rugby in 1914 due to illness.