Henry (Harry) Roberts

All Blacks ID: #10

Harry Roberts has a special place in the history of national representatives for two reasons. When the first New Zealand team ever assembled, in 1884, played a preliminary match against Wellington just before touring Australia he scored the opening try. So he can be regarded as the first tryscorer in All Black rugby, even if, strictly speaking, it would be another 20 years or more before the famous team nickname would be bestowed.

Roberts was followed into the New Zealand side by his son, Teddy, also a halfback, when he was chosen for the All Blacks to tour North America in 1913. The Roberts pair thus are All Black rugby's first father-son representatives. Two other sons, Harry jnr (1909) and Len (1920) also represented Wellington whilst a grandson, Bruce, appeared for a New Zealand XV 1944.

A halfback but capable of playing anywhere in the backline, Harry Roberts was praised by his contemporaries for a tigerish ability despite being of only a light physique.

He played for Wellington between 1883 and 1889 and also appeared for Canterbury in 1887-88. He made the New Zealand team for the 1884 tour as part of the four men Wellington quota, making seven appearances in all, five as halfback, two as centre.

In 1886 he played twice for Wellington against the touring New South Welshmen, who were then known as the Cornstalks. In the first match he scored a try in the 7-0 win.

A man of considerable entreprenaurial skills, Roberts, who had played for Canterbury against the tourists, took it on himself to organise his own team of players drawn from Wellington and Wairarapa when the Wellington union declined to have a return match against a touring Great Britain side in 1888. Known as H Roberts XV, the side lost to the tourists 4-1.

As was his son, Harry Roberts was a competent cricketer who represented Wellington in the summer sport. His first class record for Wellington was 224 runs in 12 matches, average 10.18 and a highest score of 42 and 13 wickets at average cost of 13.15. http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/profile.asp?ABID=739

Henry Roberts (1862 – 1 January 1949) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A halfback, Roberts represented Wellington and Canterbury at a provincial level, and was a member of the first New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in 1884. He played seven matches for the All Blacks, none of them internationals.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Roberts_(rugby_union)

• Residence: Taumaranui
• Residence: Taumaranui
• Residence: Taumaranui

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GEDCOM Source

"FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (https://www.familysearch.org)

GEDCOM Source

GEDCOM Source

"FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (https://www.familysearch.org)

GEDCOM Source

GEDCOM Source

"FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (https://www.familysearch.org)

GEDCOM Source

GEDCOM Source

"FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (https://www.familysearch.org)

GEDCOM Source