Adam Lile

Last updated

Adam Lile
Personal information
Born29 December 1885
Waitara, Taranaki, New Zealand
Died4 September 1954 (aged 69)
New Plymouth, New Zealand
Playing information
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight89 kg (14 st 0 lb)
Rugby union
Position Back row
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
Wellington
Rugby league
Position Loose forward
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1907–1909 New Zealand 32(6)90027
1908 Wellington 20000
1908 Taranaki 10000
Source: [1]

Adam "Addie" Lile (1885-1954) was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain. [1]

Contents

Early years

Originally from Taranaki, Lile enlisted in the Army for the South African War but was sent home from South Africa when it was discovered that he was only 15. [2] Lile remained in the Army and became an Artillery man.

Rugby union career

Lile played rugby union for the Oriental club in Wellington alongside Albert Baskiville and was a Wellington representative. Lile was widely regarded as being one of the top 30 players in the country during the 1907 season and he won North Island selection that year. [3]

Rugby league career

Lile was selected by Baskiville to be part of the professional All Blacks 1907-1908 tour of Australia and Great Britain. As a result, he received a life ban from the New Zealand Rugby Union. During the tour his background as a soldier proved useful as he often led the team in training drills. While on tour Lile played in three test matches and scored two tries in all tour games.

On his return from the tour Lile was instrumental to the foundation of the Taranaki Rugby League. The team met with immediate success and in the 1909 season defeated both Wellington and Auckland, despite both teams featuring many of his fellow tourists. Lile was the Taranaki player-coach in both the 1908 and 1909 seasons.

Lile was part of the 1909 New Zealand tour of Australia, playing in all three test matches.

Legacy

Lile has a street named after him, Adam Lile Drive, in New Plymouth. [4]

The Taranaki Rugby League club trophy is also named the "Lile Shield" in his honour. [2]

In 2008 he was named in the Taranaki Rugby League Team of the Century. [5]

Personal life

Adam Lile was born in 1885, the son of Adam Lile (Lisle) and Eliza Dandy. He had 7 siblings. In 1910 he married Ida Alberta Fleet. They had two children, Joyce Ngaere Lile in 1911 and Addie Bernard Lile in 1914.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert Henry Baskerville</span> NZ international rugby league footballer

Albert (Bert) Henry Baskerville was a Wellington postal clerk, a rugby union forward, author of the book "Modern Rugby Football: New Zealand Methods; Points for the Beginner, the Player, the Spectator" and a pioneer of rugby league.

William "Massa" Johnston was a New Zealand rugby union and rugby league international. He was part of the 1905 Original All Blacks tour and the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George William Smith (sportsman)</span> NZ dual-code international rugby footballer, track athlete & jockey

George William Smith was a New Zealand sportsman who excelled at track and field as well as both codes of rugby football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lance Todd</span> NZ RL coach and former NZ international rugby league footballer

Lancelot Beaumont "Lance" Todd was a New Zealand-born rugby league footballer and manager of the early 20th century. As a player, he represented New Zealand in 1907 and 1908 and played in England for the Wigan and Dewsbury clubs. He later became the manager at Salford and led the club to three League Championships and one Challenge Cup victory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taranaki Rugby League</span>

Taranaki Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Taranaki region of New Zealand. The TRL are represented by the Taranaki rugby league team. They are in the Mid-Central zone along with the Manawatu Rugby League.

Hercules Richard "Bumper" Wright was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907–1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.

Edward "Hone" Tyne was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Cross (rugby)</span> NZ dual-code international rugby footballer

Tom "Angry" William Cross was a New Zealand rugby footballer who represented New Zealand in both rugby union and rugby league.

Conrad "Con" Augustus Byrne was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.

Daniel Gilchrist was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.

Charlie James Pearce was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.\\

Daniel George Fraser was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain though he did not play in any matches as he was an assistant manager helping Baskiville.

James Barber was a New Zealand rugby footballer who represented New Zealand in rugby league.

The 1908 New Zealand rugby league season was the first season that rugby league had been played in New Zealand. Auckland played Wellington in a two match series that was won by Auckland 1-0. Otago and Southland also participated in a two match series which was drawn 1-all. Auckland and Taranaki then drew a two match series.

George Spencer (1878–1950) was a New Zealand rugby football player who represented New Zealand in both rugby union and rugby league. His brother, John, also was a dual-international.

John Clarence Spencer (1880–1936) was a New Zealand rugby football player who represented New Zealand in both rugby union and rugby league. His brother, George, also was a dual-international.

The 1909 New Zealand rugby league season was the second season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.

Ernest Buckland was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand between 1909 and 1911.

The 1909 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia was a tour by the New Zealand national rugby league team. The New Zealand national rugby league team lost to Australia 1-2 in the three match test series.

Kenneth Brooking "Paddy" George was a New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for City, and representative rugby league (RL) for New Zealand, and Wellington, and at club level for Newtown, as a stand-off.

References

  1. 1 2 "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League ISBN   1-86971-090-8
  3. ↑ John Haynes From All Blacks to All Golds: Rugby League's Pioneers, Christchurch, Ryan and Haynes, 1996. ISBN   0-473-03864-1
  4. ↑ Taranaki Trivia Archived 19 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine Puke Ariki, Accessed 20 August 2009
  5. ↑ "Dream team of century is named". Taranaki Daily News . 14 October 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.