Sandy McNicol

Alasdair Lindsay Robert "Sandy" McNicol (15 June 1944 – 20 April 2017) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A prop, McNicol represented Wanganui at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks.

Sandy McNicol

Birth name	Alasdair Lindsay Robert McNicol
Date of birth	15 June 1944
Place of birth	Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Date of death	20 April 2017 (aged 72)
Place of death	Noosa, Queensland, Australia
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	107 kg (236 lb)
School	Whangarei Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop All Black No. 722 Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1970–73 Wanganui Stadoceste Tarbais 34 () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1970–71 1973 Combined Services New Zealand 6 0 (0)

Playing career

McNicol represented Wanganui at a provincial level, and played for the All Blacks in 1973, as a replacement on the 1972–73 tour of Britain, Ireland, France and North America. He played five games for the All Blacks during the latter part of that tour, but did not appear in any test matches.[1]

McNicol had a military background and later worked as a teacher. In 1973 he informed the New Zealand Rugby Union that he would be unavailable for selection to play against the touring South African side, owing to his objecting to apartheid. This resulted in his receiving death threats.[2]

He later moved to France and played for Stadoceste Tarbais, who were French champions in 1973.[3] He spent three years in Tarbes.

Later years

McNicol had dementia.[3] He took his own life on 20 April 2017.[2]

References

1. Knight, Lindsay. "Sandy McNicol". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
2. "Midweek fixture: former All Black takes his own life". New Zealand Herald. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
3. Cleaver, Dylan (24 March 2016). "Rugby and dementia: let's keep talking – players deserve it". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 May 2017.