#3. Colin Meads (New Zealand)
One of the legends of a golden era of amateur rugby, powerful lock Meads’ international career with New Zealand spanned an impressive 14 years between 1957 and 1971.
During that time, he won 55 caps and played a major part in series wins over all the major Test nations, as well as the British Lions. Meads has received a number of honours for his contribution to the game, which includes being inducted into the International Hall of Fame and the New Zealand Sporting Hall of Fame.
He was then in 1999 voted the Player of the Century at an NZRU awards dinner.
Did you know? Despite his fame and iconic status in New Zealand, Meads remains a humble sheep farmer who is typified by a bygone era in New Zealand and rugby
![](https://www.ruck.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Colin-Meads.jpg)