Anthony Cottrell (rugby union)

Anthony Ian "Beau" Cottrell CBE (10 February 1907 – 10 December 1988) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A hooker and prop, Cottrell represented Canterbury at a provincial level and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1929 to 1932. He played 22 matches for the All Blacks including 11 internationals.[1] He went on to serve as a member of the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union.[2]

Anthony Cottrell
Birth nameAnthony Ian Cottrell
Date of birth(1907-02-10)10 February 1907
Place of birthWestport, New Zealand
Date of death10 December 1988(1988-12-10) (aged 81)
Place of deathChristchurch, New Zealand
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight80 kg (180 lb)
SchoolChrist's College
Occupation(s)Barrister and solicitor
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker and prop
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1928–34 Canterbury 39 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1929–32 New Zealand 11 (0)

During World War II, Cottrell served as an officer with the New Zealand 20th Battalion. He was taken prisoner-of-war during the First Battle of El Alamein in July 1942, when he was wounded going to the assistance of a wounded man in his platoon.[3]

Cottrell was later an active Rotarian and served as a district governor. In the 1968 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the community.[4] In 1977, Cottrell was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ Luxford, Bob. "Beau Cottrell". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Cottrell repatriated". Auckland Star. 30 September 1944. p. 3. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  3. ^ Glue, W.A.; Pringle, D.J.C. (1957). Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45: 20 Battalion and Armoured Regiment. Wellington: War History Branch, Department of Internal Affairs. p. 280. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  4. ^ "No. 44486". The London Gazette. 1 January 1968. p. 42.
  5. ^ Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 108. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.