One Of The Country's Finest Props

Thank you to the Oamaru Mail for use of this photo

A former SKC 1st XV and All Blacks captain, Kevin Skinner, passed away yesterday morning in Auckland.  Kevin played in the College 1st XV side in 1943 and took on the captain's role in 1944.  He was 21 when he debuted for the All Blacks during a test against South Africa in Cape Town and went on to play 61 matches, including 18 tests, and captained the national side in 6 matches (2 tests) before retiring in 1954.  He came out of retirement briefly for the final 2 tests against the touring Springboks who were dominating the series.  Kevin's return saw a new sense of strength and power in the team and New Zealand took it's first series win over the Springboks.    

Kevin is regarded as one of the country's finest props and our thoughts are with his friends and family at this time.