Final whistle for Otago rugby hero

Some of the 1963-64 All Blacks pose by the Ellis plaque at Rugby School. From left, Ian Smith,...
Some of the 1963-64 All Blacks pose by the Ellis plaque at Rugby School. From left, Ian Smith, John Major, Dennis Young, Ralph Caulton, Brian Lochore, Colin Meads and Paul Little.
Former Otago All Black Ian ``Spooky'' Smith has died.

Smith, who played nine tests for the All Blacks and 25 games in the black jersey altogether, died in Nelson last Friday. He was 76.

Smith, who was also known as the Gimmerburn Ghost, as he had connections to the Maniototo, first made the All Blacks for the tour of the United Kingdom and France in 1963-64.

The winger went go on to play against Australia, the Springboks and the Lions in the next three years. He played 37 games for Otago.

The former King's High School pupil represented North Otago and Southland in his later years having also played for Pirates in Dunedin.

An obituary will follow.

Former All Black coach Peter Burke has died in Taranaki, aged 90.

Burke played 12 matches for the All Blacks in the 1950s and was never on the losing side.

He then coached the All Blacks in 1981, the year of the controversial tour by the Springboks.

Burke coached the All Blacks for just that year.

He was president of the New Zealand Rugby Union in 1994 and made a life member of the union in 2008.

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