Former Kiwis player and coach Lory Blanchard, 88, has died.
He died suddenly in Christchurch on New Year's Day.
Blanchard played in the front row for New Zealand from 1951-56 and coached the team in 1966-67 and 1970-71. He played 63 games for the Kiwis, including 16 tests.
Blanchard was born in Roxburgh and grew up in Otago but moved to Christchurch after serving as a stoker on the HMS Achilles during World War 2.
A keen lawn bowler and member of the Dallington club (now part of Avon Park), he was a life member of the Linwood rugby league club, served on the Canterbury Rugby League senior, schoolboys' and the New Zealand Rugby League boards, and was inducted into the NZRL's Legends of League hall of fame in 2000.
Blanchard and wife Lyndsay had four daughters and a son.
