LEWIS HUDSON – KIWI #552

A prolific scorer for Linwood and a versatile backline performer at representative level, Lewis Hudson played Test football in New Zealand in 1979-80 and toured Australia and Papua New Guinea with the Kiwis in 1982.

Hudson played senior football for Linwood for the first time in 1974 – the beginning of a long tenure at the club that garnered the unique dual achievement of 100 tries and 1,000 points in the premier grade, featuring at centre, wing and fullback – and debuted for Canterbury the following season. He also spent the 1976-77 English winter at Warrington.

A regular at centre for his province, Hudson was a late replacement in the New Zealand line-up for revered veteran Dennis Williams ahead of the second Test against the 1979 Lions, which Great Britain won 22-7 in Christchurch. He was retained at centre for the 18-11 victory in the third Test in Auckland six days later.

Hudson made his last Test appearance off the bench in a 27-6 loss to the 1980 Australian tourists at Carlaw Park.

After playing for South Island against New Zealand in 1982, Hudson joined the Kiwis touring squad and turned out against Auckland, Central Queensland (starring with three tries and six goals), Northern Division, and in Papua New Guinea, Highland Zone (scoring a try and eight goals) and Island Zone.

Hudson last represented Canterbury (finishing with 190 points in 24 appearances) and South Island (60 points in 10 appearances) in 1983 and was the CRL premiership’s top goalkicker in 1983 and ’84.

LEWIS HUDSON
NEW ZEALAND (1979-80, 1982)
3 Tests – 0 points
5 tour matches – 4 tries, 18 goals (48 points)
-1982 Kiwis tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea