Charlie McBride

Playing career

Charlie McBride was a revelation on the 1947-48 tour of Great Britain and France. The British already had some knowledge of his prowess after he played in the 13-8 sole test win over the Lions at Carlaw Park, and was also in the West Coast's momentous 17-8 upset of the tourists at Greymouth's Victoria Park. He continued to be ranked among the very top second row forwards in rugby league until his retirement after the next northan tour in 1951-52. It was noted in test and tour programmes McBride would command "a fabulous signing on fee" had international transfers been permitted. At only 26, McBride seemed to have more years of football ahead of him but the 1951-52 tour of Britton and France was to be his "swansong". McBride declared his innings closed still in his prime after 21 tests and a total of 64 appearances (17 tries) for New Zealand. The West Coaster was a try scorer when the 1948 Kiwis beat Australia 21-19 in front of 55,000 spectators at Sydney Cricket Ground and touched down twice in New Zealand's defeat of Australians at Wellington's Basin Reserve. McBride was described as having beautiful hands and capable anticipation coupled with surprising speed and a deadly tackle. Of all the fine words spoken about McBride, surely none surpassed those of the Auckland League News on the day of the inter-island match when it described him as "the greatest forward in any code in this country, if not the world."

McBride played for the Blackball and Marist clubs in the West Coast Rugby League competition. He played for both the West Coast and the South Island.

He was first selected for the New Zealand Kiwis in 1946 and toured Great Britain and France in 1947 and Australia in 1948. In 1951 he got bitten during a "brutal match" between the Kiwis and the touring French. He played twenty one tests between 1946 and 1952.

He was inducted into the New Zealand Rugby League's Legends of League in 2000.