Frank Wilson (New Zealand rugby union)

Frank Reginald Wilson (28 May 1885 – 19 September 1916) was a New Zealand rugby union player who represented his country in 1910.

Frank Wilson

Birth name	Frank Reginald Wilson
Date of birth	(1885-05-28)28 May 1885
Place of birth	Auckland, New Zealand
Date of death	19 September 1916(1916-09-19) (aged 31)
Place of death	Somme, France
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Weight	74 kg (164 lb)[1]
School	Auckland Grammar School
Occupation(s)	Schoolteacher[1]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing All Black No. 166 Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1906–10 Auckland 22 () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1910 New Zealand 0 (0)
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Military career
Buried	Dernancourt
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	New Zealand Army
Years of service	1915–1916
Rank	Second Lieutenant
Unit	New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Battles/wars	Battle of the Somme

Wilson was educated at Ponsonby School and then Auckland Grammar School, where he was a member of the 1st XV in 1900.[2] A wing three-quarter, Wilson represented Auckland at a provincial level.[3] He was called into the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, to tour Australia in 1910 because of Donald Cameron's withdrawal. He played a game against Wellington before he departed for Australia where he scored his only points for the All Blacks. He played in the first game in Australia but received an injury and did not appear again.[2]

An all-round sportsman, Wilson was considered one of Auckland's fastest sprinters. He also captained the Ponsonby Cricket Club, as well as being a well-known swimmer and tennis player.[2]

In World War I, Wilson enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in March 1915 and embarked for service overseas in August that year. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in August 1916, and was wounded in action during the Battle of the Somme on 17 September 1916. He died as a result of his wounds two days later.[1] He was buried in the Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension.[4]

References

1. "Wilson, Frank Reginald - WW1 12/2616 - Army". Archives New Zealand. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
2. Chester, Rod; McMillan, Neville; Palenski, Ron (1987). The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugby. Auckland: Moa Publications. p. 177. ISBN 0-908570-16-3.
3. Knight, Lindsay. "Frank Wilson". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
4. "Casualty Details: Wilson, Frank Reginald". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 19 December 2015.