Harold Francis Rowe[2] was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907–08 New Zealand rugby tour of Australia and Great Britain.
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Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Francis Harold Rowe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 10 July 1883 Auckland, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 28 October 1958 (aged 75) Auckland, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 77 kg (12 st 2 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Fullback, Centre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Fullback, Wing, Centre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Coaching information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life edit
He was born on July 10, 1883. His parents were Martha Bell and Francis Rowe. In 1914 he married Hilda Laura Norton. Rowe was a qualified accountant.[3] They had at least two children (Harold Norton Rowe, 1914 and Gladys Ruth Rowe, 1917).
Playing career edit
Rugby union career edit
Rowe played Rugby union for the Newton club in Auckland, usually fullback, but also as a wing or centre.[3]
Rugby league career edit
He was selected for the professional All Blacks [4] tour of 1907–1908, in part because of his utility value.[3] Rowe became an invaluable part of the touring team and between 1907 and 1909 he was to play in nine rugby league test matches. In 1908 he played in the first ever trans-Tasman test which was the début match of the Australia national rugby league team. He scored two tries in the second test match against Australia, a game which New Zealand won 11–10 to clinch the series. Rowe finished the tour with ten tries overall, including touring games.[3]
In 1909 he again toured Australia with the New Zealand side.
Like many of the touring party he later returned to England, signing with Leeds in September 1909.[5]
Challenge Cup Final appearances edit
Harold Rowe did not play (Jimmy Fawcett played right wing) in Leeds' 7–7 draw with Hull F.C. in the 1910 Challenge Cup Final during the 1909–10 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield, on Saturday 16 April 1910, in front of a crowd of 19,413, this was the first Challenge Cup Final to be drawn, but played right wing, i.e. number 2, and scored a try in the 26–12 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1909–10 Challenge Cup Final replay during the 1909–10 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Monday 18 April 1910, in front of a crowd of 11,608, this was Leeds' first Challenge Cup Final win in their first appearance.[6]
Coaching edit
In 1919 Rowe coached the Auckland team to play Australia. They went away for a weeks training prior to meeting the Australian side however it made little difference as they were well beaten.[7]
References edit
- ^ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ ROWE, Harold Francis 1907 – 09 – Kiwi #17 Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine nzleague.co.nz
- ^ a b c d John Haynes From All Blacks to All Golds: Rugby League's Pioneers, Christchurch, Ryan and Haynes, 1996. ISBN 0-473-03864-1
- ^ "The All Golds". Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League ISBN 1-86971-090-8
- ^ "History of Leeds Rugby League Club". britishrugbyleague.blogspot.co.uk. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- ^ "Australian Team's Tour". New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17244. 21 August 1919. p. 5. Retrieved 3 February 2024.