Alister James Atkinson (1925-2002) was a New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played representative rugby league (RL) for New Zealand in the 1954 World Cup.[1] His position of preference was at Loose forward.[2]
After switching codes, Atkinson became a Linwood Keas player in the Canterbury Rugby League competition and a Canterbury and South Island representative. Atkinson was a reserve for New Zealand in 1950 and first played for the New Zealand national rugby league team in 1951.[4] Atkinson toured Great Britain and France in 1951–52 and 1955–56 and Australia in 1952. Overall, he played in 71 games for the Kiwis, including in 24 tests, and was the vice captain of the squad in the inaugural World Cup.[5] 23 of his test appearances were consecutive, until he missed the third test against Great Britain in the 1955 series.[6]
Atkinson was also a sprinter, being fast enough to compete on the cash sprinting circuit which existed at that time.[7]
