John George Rankin (14 February 1914 – 8 December 1989) was a New Zealand

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

player. A flanker, Rankin represented and, briefly, at a provincial level. He was a member of the New Zealand national side, the

All Blacks The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks ( mi, Ōpango), represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. The team won the Rugby World Cup in 1987 ...

, in 1936 and 1937. He played four matches for the All Blacks including three internationals. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, Rankin served as an officer with the New Zealand forces, being commissioned as a second lieutenant in September 1941. He was a Canterbury selector–coach from 1948 to 1954, and a South Island selector between 1955 and 1957.

References

1914 births 1989 deaths New Zealand rugby union players New Zealand international rugby union players New Zealand military personnel of World War II New Zealand rugby union coaches Rugby union players from Christchurch People educated at Christchurch Boys' High School Canterbury rugby union players Wellington rugby union players Rugby union flankers New Zealand referees and umpires {{NewZealand-rugbyunion-bio-1910s-stub