Eric Watkins

Eric L. Watkins (born 18 March 1880 in Akaroa and died 14 August 1949 in Lower Hutt) was a New Zealand rugby footballer who represented New Zealand in both rugby union and rugby league.

Eric Watkins
Personal information
Full nameEric Leslie Watkins
Born(1880-03-18)18 March 1880
Akaroa, New Zealand
Died14 August 1949(1949-08-14) (aged 68)
Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Playing information
Rugby union
PositionHooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1900–06 Wellington 40
1907 Wanganui
Total 40 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1905 New Zealand 1 0 0 0 0
Rugby league
PositionHooker
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1907–08 New Zealand 1 0 0 0 0

Early years

Watkins attended Wellington College and was a surveyor by profession. This job often took him around the country.[1]

Rugby Football

Watkins started playing rugby union for the Wellington College Old Boys' Club. He represented Wellington from 1900 to 1906 and the North Island in 1904 and 1906. Watkins was part of the Wellington sides that both won the Ranfurly Shield in 1904 and lost it in 1905. In 1907, when his work took him north to Raetihi, Watkins played in the local competition and represented Wanganui.[1]

Watkins was selected for the All Blacks in 1905 for a test match against Australia. The match occurred while "The Originals" were in transit to Great Britain and thus unavailable for selection but was still given test match status by the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Rugby League

In 1907 Watkins joined the professional All Blacks in their tour of Great Britain and Australia. Like all other members of the touring party,[2] Watkins received a life ban from the New Zealand Rugby Union. Watkins suffered a serious injury while training and did not play in Britain.[3] While in Australia Watkins played in one test match.

Like five other members of the touring party Watkins is buried at Karori Cemetery.[4]

References
  1. John Haynes From All Blacks to All Golds: Rugby League's Pioneers, Christchurch, Ryan and Haynes, 1996. ISBN 0-473-03864-1
  2. "The All Golds". Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  3. Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League ISBN 1-86971-090-8
  4. Relatives and Teams to remember Original All Golds Archived 12 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine NZRL Press Release, 10 October 2007
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