'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.

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.