John Pullin

John Vivian Pullin (1 November 1941 – 5 February 2021 ) was an England international rugby union player. A hooker, he played club rugby for Bristol Rugby and captained the England national rugby union team for which he played 42 times between 1966 and 1976. He also won 7 full caps for the British & Irish Lions and has the distinction of having beaten the All Blacks with three different sides, England, the Lions and the Barbarians.

Then, in an eighteen-month period, he captained England to victories over South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, the first time a European national captain had ever done this. South Africa were beaten at home 18–9 at Ellis Park in 1972, Australia defeated by 20 points to 3 at Twickenham, and then New Zealand 16–10 in Auckland. Pullin proved to be a talisman for defeating the All Blacks as in the same year, he was also in the Barbarians side that defeated the All Blacks 23–11.

He is the first of four England captains to lead and beat all of the "Big Three" Southern Hemisphere sides: , and . As captain, he had 1 win each against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Death Pullin died on 5 February 2021, aged 79.