'World class': Rugby world mourns All Blacks great

Dynamic All Blacks halfback and Northland rugby legend Sid Going has died, aged 80.

Going played 29 tests for New Zealand from 1967 to 1977, on top of 57 other matches, including five as captain.

In a post on social media, the Northland Rugby Union said: "It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our province's Sid Going.

"Together, from Te Kao to Mahurangi, from our North Auckland days, and across the country, we will respectfully mourn his passing, but also remember all that he has given to our game of rugby."

Going was born in Kawakawa, north of Whangārei, in 1943, and later attended Northland College and the Church College of New Zealand.

He affiliates to the Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Hine iwi and played for New Zealand Māori from 1965 to 1977.

Going made his All Blacks test debut against Australia at Athletic Park in Wellington on August 19, 1967 – his 24th birthday.

The last of his 29 tests was against the British Lions at Lancaster Park in Christchurch on July 9, 1977, just over a month before he turned 34.

Going scored 10 test tries in his All Blacks career, including a double against France at Eden Park in Auckland in August 1968.

His last test try was scored against the Lions at Athletic Park in his penultimate All Blacks match.

https://twitter.com/RugbyNorthland/status/1791593565484732520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

A profile of Going written for the Northland Rugby Union's golden jubilee in 1970 and reproduced on allblacks.com said he had "proved himself to be a match-winning individualist and at the same time a world class pivot capable of playing the type of game to suit the occasion".

For Northland – known as North Auckland in his time – Going played alongside brothers Ken and Bruce, and they were renowned for their flashy backline moves, including the triple scissor.

Going was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to rugby in 1977.