During World War II he joined the Royal New Zealand Navy and served as a stoker on HMNZS Achilles.

[5] After the war, Blanchard worked for the New Zealand Railways Department and played as hooker for Sydenham.

Blanchard was selected to go on the 1955–56 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain and France.

[8] In the 2002 Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours, he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby league and the community.

[6] Blanchard died on New Year's Day, 2013, aged 88, survived by his wife, Lyndsay, and their five children.