John Bond (rugby league) explained

John Bond
Fullname:John Edward Bond[1]
Birth Date:10 December 1931
Birth Place:Kaiapoi, New Zealand
Death Place:Christchurch, New Zealand
Club1:Papanui
Year1start:1947
Year1end:1958
Club2:Marist
Year2start:1962
Year2end:1964
Club3:Kaiapoi
Year3start:1965
Year3end:1969
Teama:Canterbury
Yearastart:1951
Yearaend:1955
Teamb:South Island
Yearbstart:1953
Yearbend:1958
Teamc:New Zealand
Yearcstart:1953
Yearcend:1956
Appearancesc:7
Triesc:1
Goalsc:7
Fieldgoalsc:0
Pointsc:17
Coachteam1:Kaiapoi
Coachyear1start:1965
Coachyear1end:1969
Source:[2] [3]
New:yes

John Edward Bond (10 December 1931 – 10 March 2024) was a New Zealand rugby league footballer and coach. He played for New Zealand at the 1954 World Cup.[2] [3]

Early life and family

Bond was born 10 December 1931 in Kaiapoi, the son of Roy Bond, a professional sprinter and rugby league player who represented Canterbury and the South Island.[4] He married Noeline Eunice Jones, and the couple went on to have four children.[4]

Playing career

A goal-kicking prop, Bond played in the Canterbury Rugby League competition. His career spanned 22 years starting in his debut in 1947 as a 15-year-old with Papanui. He also represented Canterbury and the South Island during this period.

Bond made his debut for the New Zealand national rugby league team in 1953, kicking a goal in his debut against Australia. Bond went on to play in twenty two matches for New Zealand, including seven test matches. Bond was part of the New Zealand squad at the inaugural World Cup in 1954. He later toured Britain and France in 1955-56 and Australia in 1956.[5]

Bond retired in 1958 but, after a three-year retirement, he returned with Marist in 1962. In 1965, he took over as the player-coach of Kaiapoi. He retired again in 1969.[5]

Later life and death

Bond was predeceased by his wife, Noeline, in 2002.[6] He died in Christchurch on 10 March 2024, at the age of 92.[4]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=B&id=351 BOND, John Edward - 1953 - 56
  2. Web site: Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  3. Web site: Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  4. News: NZ rugby league mourns original World Cup Kiwi John Bond . Tony . Smith . 16 March 2024 . . 16 May 2024.
  5. Coffey, John. Canterbury XIII, Christchurch, 1987.
  6. Web site: Death search: registration number 2002/14380 . Births, deaths & marriages online . Department of Internal Affairs . 16 May 2024.