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Sandy McNicol

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Sandy McNicol
Birth nameAlasdair Lindsay Robert McNicol
Date of birth(1944-06-15)15 June 1944
Place of birthLower Hutt, New Zealand
Date of death20 April 2017(2017-04-20) (aged 72)
Place of deathNoosa, Queensland, Australia
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight107 kg (236 lb)
SchoolWhangarei Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1970–73 Wanganui
Stadoceste Tarbais
34 (12)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1970–71

1973
Combined Services
New Zealand
6

0


(0)

Alasdair Lindsay Robert "Sandy" McNicol (15 June 1944 – 20 April 2017) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A prop, McNicol represented Wanganui at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks.

Playing career

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McNicol represented Wanganui at a provincial level, and played for the All Blacks in 1973, as a replacement on the 1972–73 tour of Britain, Ireland, France and North America. He played five games for the All Blacks during the latter part of that tour, but did not appear in any test matches.[1]

McNicol had a military background and later worked as a teacher. In 1973 he informed the New Zealand Rugby Union that he would be unavailable for selection to play against the touring South African side, owing to his objecting to apartheid. This resulted in his receiving death threats.[2]

He later moved to France and played for Stadoceste Tarbais, who were French champions in 1973.[3] He spent three years in Tarbes.

Later years

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McNicol had dementia.[3] He took his own life on 20 April 2017.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Knight, Lindsay. "Sandy McNicol". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Midweek fixture: former All Black takes his own life". New Zealand Herald. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b Cleaver, Dylan (24 March 2016). "Rugby and dementia: let's keep talking – players deserve it". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 May 2017.