Robert Handcock (rugby union)
Robert Alexander Handcock (6 April 1874 – 27 January 1956)[1][2] was a New Zealand rugby union player who represented the All Blacks in 1897. His position of choice was forward. Handcock did not play in any test matches as New Zealand did not play their first until 1903.
| Birth name | Robert Alexander Hancock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 6 April 1874 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 27 January 1956 (aged 81) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 76 kg (168 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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He was born in Auckland in 1874.
He died in Auckland in 1956.
Career
Although he was listed as a forward Handcock mainly played as a Hooker.[3][4]
He initially played for the Grafton club but then switched to the Parnell club.[4] It was here Handcock made the Auckland provincial side debuting in 1896. He made 3 appearances.[3]
In those three games and after appearing in the inaugural North against South Island match Handcock was selected for an 11-match tour of Australia.[3][4]
He played in eight of the matches where he scored three tries.[3]
He had a 6-year absence from first-class rugby until 1903, where he made one final appearance for the Auckland union.[3]
Although he had an unusual playing career in those days it wasn't uncommon to have more caps for their country than a provincial side.
References
- "the 1,109 New Zealand ALL BLACKS from 1884 - GAGE to MYNOTT :: FamilyTreeCircles.com Genealogy". www.familytreecircles.com. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- "PECK of Taita - Family Tree". ngairedith.tribalpages.com. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- "Stats | allblacks.com". stats.allblacks.com. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- Chester, Rod; McMillan, Neville; Palenski, Ron (1987). The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugby. Auckland, New Zealand: Moa Publications. p. 75. ISBN 0-908570-16-3.