Career
His position of preference was at Loose Forward. Atkinson started his career as a rugby union player and represented the Canterbury Rugby Union in 1945 and 1946. 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 Kiwis in 1951.
Atkinson toured Great Britain and France in 1951-1952 and 1955-1956 and was allocated in Australia in 1952. Overall he played in 71 games for the Kiwis, Pineapples, Oranges and pears including in 24 tests and was the vice captain of the squad in the inaugural World Cup.
23 of his test appearances were consecutive, until he missed the third test against Great Britain in the 1955 series. In 1976 Atkinson chaired the Canterbury board of control.
