Vic Belsham Explained

Vic Belsham
Birth Name:Victor Colin Belsham
Birth Date:1925/1926
Death Place:Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Module:
Embed:yes
Club1:Point Chevalier
Teama:Auckland
Teamb:New Zealand
Yearbstart:1948
Refereecomp1:World Cup
Refereeyear1start:1957
Refereeappearances1:3
Refereecomp2:Other Internationals
Refereeyear2start:1958
Refereeyear2end:1960
Refereeappearances2:4
Source:[1] [2]

Victor Colin Belsham (1925/1926 – 4 June 2006) was a New Zealand rugby league player and referee who represented New Zealand.[3] [4] [5] [2] His position of preference was at . His brother, Sel, also played for the New Zealand national rugby league team, including in one match that was controlled by Vic.[6] He was also prominent in cricket and squash.[7]

Rugby league career

From the Point Chevalier club, Belsham became an Auckland representative and was selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team tour of Australia in 1948. He was the understudy to Abbie Graham and did not play a match.[8]

After retirement Belsham became a referee to gain experience for coaching. He enjoyed it however and remained as a referee. Belsham controlled three matches at the 1957 World Cup and also controlled four Test matches between New Zealand, France and Great Britain. In 1958 Belsham controlled the inaugural Auckland Rugby League grand final.[9] He is one of only four New Zealanders to play for New Zealand and referee a test match.[10]

Cricket career

Belsham was also a cricketer and played twice for Auckland and once for the Auckland Colts between 1952 and 1959.[11]

Squash career

In later life, Belsham became involved in squash. For his involvement he was made a life member of both Qsquash (Queensland) and Squash Australia.[12] The "Vic Belsham Trophy" is awarded to the winner of trans-tasman matches.

In the 1986 Queen's Birthday Honours Belsham was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for "service to the sport of squash".[13]

Belsham died on 4 June 2006 in Brisbane aged 80.[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 11 January 2022.
  2. Web site: Referee Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  3. Web site: Roll of Honour at nzrl.co.nz. https://archive.today/20120714044737/http://nzrl.co.nz/roll-of-honour.aspx. dead. 14 July 2012. nzrl.co.nz. 31 December 2011. 1 January 2012.
  4. Web site: Past Kiwis → B at nzrl.co.nz. nzrl.co.nz. 31 December 2011. 1 January 2012. dead. https://archive.today/20121220111311/http://nzrl.co.nz/past-kiwis/past-kiwis-caps-B.aspx. 20 December 2012.
  5. Web site: Profile at nzleague.co.nz. nzleague.co.nz. 31 December 2011. 1 January 2012.
  6. News: Kilgallon . Steve . Neutral refs have always been a sticky issue . 4 April 2024 . Sunday Star Times . Newsbank . 30 November 2008.
  7. News: Coffey . John . Top league referee . 4 April 2024 . The Press . Newsbank . 17 June 2006.
  8. http://www.nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=B&id=316 Belsham, Victor Colin 1948 – Kiwi #316
  9. Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009., p. 170.
  10. https://web.archive.org/web/20120317202156/http://www.nzrl.co.nz/media/63553/in%20touch%20nov%20dec%202011.pdf In Touch
  11. https://cricketarchive.com/Players/325/325355/Other_matches.html Other Matches played by Vic Belsham
  12. http://qsquash.com/historyactive.php History
  13. Web site: Victor Colin Belsham. 2020-09-18. Australian Honours Search Facility, Dept of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
  14. News: League: Former Kiwi player dies. 8 June 2006. The New Zealand Herald. 26 November 2011.

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