Bill King (New Zealand rugby league) explained

Bill King
Fullname:William Henry King
Birth Place:New Zealand
Club1:Sydenham
Year1start:1913
Year1end:??
Teama:Canterbury
Teamb:New Zealand
Yearbstart:1919
Appearancesb:1
Triesb:0
Goalsb:0
Fieldgoalsb:0
Pointsb:0
Source:[1]
New:yes

William Henry King[2] was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand.

Playing career

King was the second oldest of four brothers who all played for Sydenham; Tom, Frank and Bert. Usually a loose forward, King could play in the backs when required.

He started his career playing rugby union for the Sydenham Rugby Club before switching to rugby league halfway through the inaugural Canterbury Rugby League season in 1913.[3]

King served in the New Zealand Army during World War I.

After the war King returned to the Canterbury team. He was selected for New Zealand in 1919, playing in the first Test against Australia. He withdrew from New Zealand's 1919 tour of Australia due to business reasons.[3]

Later years

King was a temporary headmaster at Halswell School sometime between 1937 and 1939.[4]

King coached the Sydenham juniors after his retirement.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  2. http://nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=K&id=130 KING, WILLIAM HENRY 1919 - KIWI #130
  3. Coffey, John. Canterbury XIII, Christchurch, 1987.
  4. Book: Strange, Glyn . 1989 . Many Hearts Make A School: A History of Halswell School, 1864-1989 . Christchurch . Halswell School 125th Jubilee Committee . 39.