Keith Roberts (rugby league) explained

Keith Roberts
Fullname:Norman Keith Roberts[1]
Birth Date:28 January 1932
Birth Place:New Zealand
Death Place:Ohoka, New Zealand
Weight:64kg
Club1:Marist (CRL)
Year1start:19??
Year1end:1956
Club2:Papanui (CRL)
Year2start:1957
Year2end:62
Club3:Unknown (NSWCRL)
Teama:Canterbury
Yearastart:1953
Yearaend:1960
Teamb:South Island
Yearbstart:1954
Yearbend:60
Appearancesb:5
Teamc:New Zealand
Yearcstart:1955
Yearcend:60
Appearancesc:13
Triesc:3
Goalsc:0
Fieldgoalsc:0
Pointsc:9
Coachteam1:Papanui (CRL)
Coachteam2:Unknown (NSWCRL)
Coachteama:Canterbury
Coachyearastart:1962
Coachyearaend:19??
Source:[2] [3]
New:yes

Norman Keith Roberts (28 January 1932 – 11 March 2015) was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in the 1960 World Cup.[2]

Playing career

Roberts played for Marist in the Canterbury Rugby League competition. He debuted for Canterbury in 1953 and the South Island in 1954. In 1955 he was first selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team for a tour of Great Britain and France. He was chosen for New Zealand Māori in 1956 but withdrew due to injury. He moved to Papanui in 1957 and later became their player-coach.

He captained Canterbury between 1958 and 1960.[4] He was part of the Kiwis tours of Australia in 1956 and 1959 and in 1960 was part of the World Cup squad. He retired from representative football after the 1960 season having played in thirty five games for New Zealand, including thirteen test matches.

Roberts continued to play for Papanui until he retired in 1962. He then coached Canterbury to a victory over Auckland in 1962. Roberts was later a player-coach in the New South Wales Country before returning to again coach Canterbury. He was later a New Zealand Schoolboys selector and coach.[4]

He died at Ohoka on 11 March 2015, aged 83.[5] [6]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=R&id=366 ROBERTS, Norman Keith - 1955 - 60
  2. Web site: Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  3. Web site: Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  4. Coffey, John. Canterbury XIII, Christchurch, 1987.
  5. Web site: A time to remember.... New Zealand Warriors. 11 November 2015. 29 January 2016.
  6. News: Norman Roberts obituary. 12 March 2015. The Press. 7 February 2016.