Related Research Articles
Rugby league in New Zealand dates to the beginning of the sport in England. New Zealand played an integral role in the history of rugby league football. Of all rugby league nations New Zealand was second only to England to compete in international competition.
Australian rules football in New Zealand is notable as the first colony outside of Australia to take up the sport as early as the 1860s and was home to the first club formed outside Australia in 1876. The sport's official name was changed in 1890 to Australasian Football acknowledge New Zealand's participation and remained for some time even after the country was expelled from the Australasian Football Council. After a half century hiatus of organised competition, it has grown rapidly as an amateur sport. Today there are more than five organised competitions located in various regions across the country including Auckland; Canterbury; Wellington; Waikato; Otago, Queenstown and a four-team national competition with a national draft has been contested at the North Harbour Stadium in Auckland since 2016. The national team, The Hawks, have competed against the AFL Academy and were crowned International champions in 2005.
William Martin Kelly (1892–1975), born in Westport, New Zealand was a rugby league football identity who enjoyed success in New Zealand and Australia as both a player and coach in the first half of the 20th century. He played for Wellington, the Balmain Tigers, New South Wales and for both the New Zealand and Australian national sides. He also had a long coaching career with five different clubs in the NSWRFL in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, and with New Zealand in 1932.
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.
Puti Tipene (Steve) Watene, of Ngāti Maru and Te Arawa, was a New Zealand rugby league footballer and politician. He was the first Māori to captain the New Zealand league side and he is the only person to both represent the New Zealand national rugby league team and become a Member of Parliament. He is the great-grandfather of New Zealand Rugby League player Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
William Thomas Wynyard was a New Zealand rugby football player who was part of the professional rugby league 1907–08 New Zealand rugby tour of Australia and Great Britain.
Louie Ernest Brown was a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. He played at representative level for New Zealand, Other Nationalities and Auckland, as a wing or centre.
Karl Donald Ifwersen (1893–1967) was a New Zealand rugby football player who represented New Zealand in both rugby league and rugby union.
Ernest Linton Button was a New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played representative rugby league (RL) for New Zealand. In doing so he became Kiwi #106. He began his career playing rugby union for the Christchurch rugby club in Christchurch. In 1909 he played for the Canterbury provincial rugby team. After switching to rugby league he played for the City club before representing the Canterbury representative side, and later, moving to the Linwood club.
Arapeta Paurini Wharepapa, or Albert Asher as he was more commonly known, was a New Zealand dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1890s, 1900s, 1910s and 1920s. At representative level Asher played rugby union for New Zealand, North Island and Auckland playing on the Wing and played rugby league at representative level for Australasia, New Zealand, Auckland and the New Zealand Māori rugby league team. One of his brothers, Ernie, was also a rugby league international while another, John, became a Ngati Pukenga and Ngati Pikiao leader, and another brother, Thomas also played representative rugby for Tauranga. Katherine Te Rongokahira Parata was a sister.
Alwin John "Dougie" McGregor (1889–1963) was a dual-code rugby footballer who represented New Zealand in both rugby union and rugby league.
Arthur Reginald Howe Francis, also known by the nickname of "Bolla", was a New Zealand dual-code international rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s, 1910s and 1920s, and rugby union coach of the 1930s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for New Zealand, Auckland, and at club level for Ponsonby RFC. He also played representative level rugby league (RL) for New Zealand and Australasia, as well as at club level for Wigan, as a forward, during the era of contested scrums, and coached club level rugby union (RU) for Grammar RFC.
Rex William Percy was a New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played representative rugby league (RL) for New Zealand in the 1957 World Cup.
Arthur Carlaw was a New Zealand rugby league player who played a role in the establishment of the sport in New Zealand and represented New Zealand.
William Wilson was a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s. He played at representative level for New Zealand, and Wellington, as a Wing, or Loose forward, i.e. number 2 or 5, or, 13, during the era of contested scrums.
Walter Henry Milne was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s. He played at representative level for New Zealand, and Southland, and at club level for Ponsonby, as a forward, during the era of contested scrums.
Daniel Henry Verner Du Vall was a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s. He played at representative level for New Zealand, and Hawke's Bay, as a Centre, i.e. number 3 or 4.
James Clark was a New Zealand rugby league footballer.
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.
Edward Joseph Bennett was a New Zealand rugby league footballer. Bennett played in the second row position. He represented the New Zealand rugby league team in two test matches against England in 1920. In the process he became the 144th player to represent New Zealand. He also played for the Waiuku rugby club, and the Newton Rangers, and Grafton Athletic rugby league clubs. Bennett also represented the Auckland and North Island rugby league teams.
References
- 1 2 John Coffey and Bernie Wood, The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League, Hodder Moa, Auckland, 2007, p. 49.
- ↑ "Aucklanders in England". New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14453. 20 August 1910. p. 9. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ↑ Percy Williams wigan.rlfans.com
- ↑ WILLIAMS, Lionel Percival 1913 - Kiwi #99 nzleague.co.nz
- ↑ "The League Game/Notes and Comments". New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15906. 1 May 1915. p. 4. Retrieved 22 September 2020.