Quick Facts
Biography
David Lory Blanchard (4 September 1924 – 1 January 2013) was a New Zealand rugby league player and coach who represented his country in the 1954 World Cup and coached them at the 1970 World Cup.
Early years
Blanchard was born in Roxburgh, New Zealand and grew up in Otago. He made his rugby union first class debut for 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. After the war, Blanchard worked for the New Zealand Railways Department and played hooker for Sydenham. He was a Canterbury representative in 1947–48.
Playing career
Blanchard then switched codes to rugby league. He played for the Linwood Keas and represented Canterbury and the South Island. He represented New Zealand between 1951 and 1956, including at the 1954 World Cup.
Blanchard was selected to go on the 1955–56 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain and France.
He played 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 on three occasions; between 1966 and 1967, in 1969 and between 1970 and 1972, including at the 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.
Blanchard was inducted into the New Zealand Rugby League's Legends of League in 2000. He was made a life member of the New Zealand Rugby League in 2008.
Death
Blanchard died suddenly on New Year's Day, 2013, aged 88, survived by his wife, Lyndsay, and their five children.