Career
He was a curiosity in that he played a match for the New Zealand All Blacks in 1960. Stapleton was a strong bulky winger and he played 16 test matches for Australia between 1951 and 1958, touring New Zealand with the Wallabies in 1952, 1955 and 1958. He played many games for the NSW Waratahs and was outstanding in Sydney club rugby, playing a record 236 games for Street George and scoring 144 tries.
In 1960, the All Blacks stopped in Australia for warmup matches on their way to a tour of South Africa.
Depleted by injuries, the All Blacks were short of players for the match against Queensland and Stapleton was invited to don the black jersey. He did so to become the 613th player to be selected as an All Black.
Another Australian, Maurice Graham, of NSW, also played in that match, at fullback.
