David Lory Blanchard (4 September 1924 – 1 January 2013) was a New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league football player who played representative rugby league (RL) for New Zealand national rugby league team, New Zealand in the 1954 Rugby League World Cup, 1954 World Cup and coached them at the 1970 Rugby League World Cup, 1970 World Cup. He also played for Hull FC in England during World War II.

Early years

Blanchard was born in Roxburgh, New Zealand, Roxburgh on 4 September 1924, the son of David Blanchard and Doris Elizabeth Blanchard (née Lory) of Ettrick, New Zealand, Ettrick, and grew up in Otago. He made his rugby union first class debut for North Otago Rugby Football Union, North Otago in 1939, aged 15. During World War II he joined the Royal New Zealand Navy and served as a stoker on HMNZS Achilles (70), HMNZS ''Achilles''."Blanchard gave lifetime's service to sport"
stuff.co.nz, 5 January 2013; Retrieved 22 September 2014. After the war, Blanchard worked for the New Zealand Railways Department and played as hooker for Sydenham. He was a Canterbury Rugby Union, Canterbury representative in 1947–48.

Playing career

Blanchard then switched codes to rugby league. He had played for the Linwood Keas and represented Canterbury rugby league team, Canterbury and the South Island rugby league team, South Island.Coffey, John. ''Canterbury XIII'', Christchurch, 1987 He represented New Zealand national rugby league team, New Zealand national team between 1951 and 1956, including at the 1954 Rugby League World Cup, 1954 World Cup. Blanchard was selected to go on the 1955–56 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain and France. He had played altogether in 63 matches, including sixteen test matches, for the Kiwis.

Coaching career

He retired in 1963, becoming a Canterbury selector. Blanchard became a New Zealand selector between 1967 and 1972, convening the panel between 1969 and 1972. Blanchard coached New Zealand national rugby league team, New Zealand on three occasions; between 1966 and 1967, in 1969 and between 1970 and 1972, including at the 1970 Rugby League World Cup, 1970 World Cup. He coached Linwood in the Canterbury Rugby League competition. Between 1973 and 1975 Blanchard was President of the Canterbury Schoolboy Board of Control. He also served two years on the Canterbury Rugby League board. In 1990, he returned to coaching and led the New Zealand Universities' side until 1993.

Honours and awards

Blanchard was inducted into the New Zealand Rugby League's Legends of League in 2000. In the 2002 Birthday Honours (New Zealand), 2002 Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours, he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby league and the community. He was made a life member of the New Zealand Rugby League in 2008.

Death

Blanchard died on New Year's Day, 2013, aged 88, survived by his wife, Lyndsay, and their five children.

References

External links

Search for "Lory Blanchard" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blanchard, Lory 1924 births 2013 deaths Canterbury rugby league team players Canterbury rugby union players Hull F.C. players Linwood Keas players Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit New Zealand national rugby league team coaches New Zealand national rugby league team players New Zealand rugby league administrators New Zealand rugby league coaches New Zealand rugby league players New Zealand rugby union players North Otago rugby union players People from Roxburgh, New Zealand Royal New Zealand Navy personnel of World War II Rugby league hookers Rugby league players from Otago Rugby union players from Otago Rugby league props Rugby union hookers