Bert Laing

Last updated

Bert Laing
Bert Laing.png
Personal information
Full nameHenry Bircher Laing
Born3 August 1893
Norfolk Island, Australia
Died25 April 1963(1963-04-25) (aged 69)
New Zealand
Playing information
Height168 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Weight78.2 kg (12 st 4 lb)
Position Stand-off
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1919–22 City Rovers (ARL)2572025
1922–30 Devonport United 6521503169
Total9028523194
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1919–26 Auckland 13104038
1922Auckland Province12006
1919–1925 New Zealand 120204
1921–22 Australasia 103009
1926North Island11003
Coaching information
Representative
YearsTeamGmsWDLW%
1922 Devonport United 1471650
1934 1936 Devonport United 552572345
1938 Manukau 23151765

Henry Bircher "Bert" Laing [1] (1893-1963) was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand and Australasia. His brother, Albert, was also a New Zealand international. [2]

Contents

Playing career

Laing, a standoff from Auckland, represented New Zealand between 1919 and 1925 and was the team's captain in 1925. [1] However he never played in a Test match for New Zealand, due to the team usually playing New South Wales and Queensland during this period.

The 1919 New Zealand team to tour New South Wales and Queensland. Bert Laing is in the back row, second from the right. The 1919 New Zealand rugby league team to tour Australia.png
The 1919 New Zealand team to tour New South Wales and Queensland. Bert Laing is in the back row, second from the right.

In 1921 he was the only New Zealander selected to represent Australasia during the 1921–22 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain. [3] He scored one try and played in ten matches on tour but was not selected for any of the three Test matches. [4]

Laing played for the City Rovers from 1919 to 1922 but transferred to Devonport United during the 1922 season. During the 1920s he played some matches with his younger brother Julius for Devonport. He retired at the end of the 1926 season but came out of retirement to play 2 matches for Devonport in 1927 and then four more matches in 1930. Another of his brothers, Albert Laing debuted for Devonport in late 1931 and also went on to play for New Zealand.

Coaching career

Bert coached the North Shore Albions from 1934 to 1936, and the Manukau seniors in 1938.

Death

Bert Laing died on April 25, 1963. He was cremated at Purewa Cemetery and his ashes were returned to his family. [5]

Related Research Articles

Tony Kemp is a New Zealand former rugby league test representative and former coach of the New Zealand Warriors. He is a commentator for Māori Television's coverage of the Auckland Rugby League competition and also serves as the Football Manager for the New Zealand Rugby League.

Fletcher Roy Christian is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. A centre, he captained New Zealand in the sport. Christian also captained the New Zealand Māori rugby league team.

Victor Colin Belsham was a New Zealand rugby league player and referee who represented New Zealand. His position of preference was at stand-off. His brother, Sel, also played for the New Zealand national rugby league team, including in one match that was controlled by Vic. He was also prominent in cricket and squash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Con Sullivan</span> Australia & NZ international rugby league footballer

Con Sullivan (1886–1964) was a New Zealand international rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s for various Australasian representative sides.

The 1925 New Zealand rugby league season was the 18th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.

James Scott Haig was a Scottish-born New Zealand rugby footballer who represented New Zealand in both rugby league and rugby union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alphonsus Carroll</span> NZ dual-code international rugby footballer

Alphonsus "Fonse" John Carroll was a New Zealand dual-code international rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s, who represented New Zealand in both codes. He played at both Prop and Hooker.

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

Albert Edward Cooke was a New Zealand dual-code international rugby footballer of the 1920s and 1930s, who represented for New Zealand in both rugby union and rugby league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim O'Brien (rugby, born 1897)</span> NZ international dual-code rugby player

Andrew James O'Brien (1897–1969) was a New Zealand rugby footballer who represented New Zealand with the All Blacks and in rugby league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lou Petersen</span> New Zealand rugby footballer (1897–1961)

Louis Charles Petersen was a dual-code rugby footballer who represented New Zealand in rugby union and rugby league.

Thomas Allen "Scotty" McClymont was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s, and coached in the 1920s through to the 1950s. He represented New Zealand.

Harvey Norwood Gavin Kreyl was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s. He played at representative level for New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Woodward (rugby league)</span> New Zealand rugby league footballer

Francis "Frank" William Woodward (1885−1941) was a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He played at representative level for New Zealand, Australasia, Auckland and Rotorua, and at club level for Balmain, as a centre, or stand-off, i.e. number 3 or 4, or, 6.

Graham Kennedy also known by the nickname of "Ginger", was a New Zealand rugby league footballer and coach who represented New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alf Townsend</span> New Zealand rugby league footballer

Alfred Charles Townsend was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s. He played for New Zealand in 1928, as a Hooker during the era of contested scrums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bert Avery</span> NZ international rugby league footballer (1895–1966)

Herbert "Bert" Avery (1895–1966) was a New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played representative rugby league (RL) for New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Lang (New Zealand rugby league)</span> New Zealand rugby league footballer

John Henry Lang was a New Zealand rugby league footballer.

Arthur Thompson "Tom" Haddon was a New Zealand rugby league player. He was Kiwi number 136 after playing two tests for New Zealand against Australia in 1919.

Albert Laing was a rugby league player who represented New Zealand in 1932 against England becoming Kiwi #217. He played club rugby league for Devonport United from 1931 to 1934 and made 4 appearances for Auckland, and 1 for the North Island.

References

  1. 1 2 LAING, Henry Bircher (Bert) 1919, 1921, 1925 - Kiwi #113 Archived 23 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine nzleague.co.nz
  2. LAING, Albert 1932 - Kiwi #217 Archived 23 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine nzleague.co.nz
  3. John Coffey, Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008. Huia Publishers. p. 73. ISBN   978-1-86969-331-2.
  4. New Zealand Kangaroos - Not Extinct! rl1908.com
  5. "Purewa Cemetery and Crematorium". Purewa Cemetery and Crematorium. Retrieved 27 April 2021.