William Wynyard (rugby league)

Billy Wynyard
Personal information
Full name William Thomas Wynyard
Playing information
Rugby union
Position Centre

Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Auckland
Rugby league
Position Wing, Centre

Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1909–?? North Shore
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1907–08 New Zealand 3 0 0 0 0
1908–?? Auckland
Source: [1]

William "Billy" T. Wynyard was a New Zealand rugby football player who was part of the professional rugby league 1907–08 New Zealand rugby tour of Australia and Great Britain. He was the brother of Richard Wynyard.[1]

Early years

Wynyard was from a sporting family that included three uncles that were part of the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team that conducted a rugby union tour of Great Britain. One of these three, Tabby Wynyard, went on to represent New Zealand on their 1893 tour of Australia. Richard followed the family tradition, becoming a noted rugby player and a civil servant clerk by trade.[2]

Rugby football career

Living in Devonport, Wynyard was part of the North Shore Rugby Club. He won Auckland selection later than his brother Richard did, but by 1907 was firmly established in the Auckland side.[2]

Rugby league career

Wynyard was selected to be part of the professional All Blacks 1907–08 tour of Australia and Great Britain. He was one of the last two players selected, along with Charlie Dunning, and joined the squad late during the first Australian leg of the tour. Wynyard became a valuable member of the squad, scoring six tries, however injury meant he had to wait until the squad returned to Australia to make his test debut, playing in the first ever trans-Tasman test which was the debut match of the Australia national rugby league team. He played in all three test matches against Australia.

Unlike many of the touring party Wynyard opted not to return to a professional contract in Britain and instead stayed in New Zealand to help establish rugby league. He, along with his brother, helped found the North Shore Albions Rugby League Club – which broke away from the North Shore Rugby Club.

Later years

When the New Zealand Rugby League was formed on 25 April 1910 Wynyard was elected to the New Zealand Council. He served as a New Zealand selector between 1910 and 1919.[3]

Wynyard later became the President of the New Zealand Rugby League and was made the organisations first life member.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 John Haynes From All Blacks to All Golds: Rugby League's Pioneers, Christchurch, Ryan and Haynes, 1996. ISBN 0-473-03864-1
  3. ↑ Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.24.
  4. ↑ Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League ISBN 1-86971-090-8
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