Jack Harris (rugby union)

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Jack Harris
Full nameJack Hardy Harris
Date of birth(1903-04-26)26 April 1903
Place of birth Christchurch, New Zealand
Date of death19 May 1944(1944-05-19) (aged 41)
Place of deathItaly
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight73 kg (161 lb)
School Christchurch Boys' High
Occupation(s)Wool clerk
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1923–29 Canterbury 39 ()
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1925 New Zealand

Jack Hardy Harris (26 April 1903 — 19 May 1944) was a New Zealand international rugby union player. [1]

Contents

Biography

Born in Christchurch, Harris was a Canterbury representative fullback and came close to selection to the invincible 1924–25 All Blacks squad, losing out to an uncapped George Nēpia following the trials. He toured New South Wales with a second string All Blacks side in 1925 and scored a drop goal which secured their 4–0 win over the Waratahs in the second of three "internationals" (these fixtures were retrospectively considered Wallabies matches). In the 1927–28 season, Harris was a member of Canterbury's first Ranfurly Shield-winning side. [2]

Harris, a wool clerk, was mobilised with 3rd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, during World War II. He was later posted as a cadet officer to the 4th Battalion. On 19 May 1944, Harris died of wounds received while on active service in Italy. [3] [4]

See also

References

  1. "The All Blacks legend who died at war: The untold story of George Hart". NZ Herald . 2 May 2019.
  2. "Jack Harris". NZ Rugby Stats.
  3. "Obituary". The Press . 30 May 1944.
  4. "Jack Hardy Harris". Auckland War Memorial Museum.