Jim Gleeson (rugby)

James Collins "Jim" Gleeson[1] was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.

Jim Gleeson
Personal information
Full nameJames Collins Gleeson
Playing information
Rugby union
PositionScrum-half
Rugby league
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1907–08 New Zealand 3 0 0 0 0

Early years

Gleeson was a lawyer by trade who had studied law at Sydney University.[2]

Rugby football

Gleeson was a rugby union scrum-half from the Hawkes Bay.[2]

Rugby league

He was selected as one of the professional All Blacks on the 1907–1908 tour of Great Britain and Australia. However his major role on the tour was managerial, serving as treasurer and assisting Albert Baskiville with day-to-day administration duties.[2] He was also part of the tours Management Committee and he usually spoke at the after match functions on behalf of the team. Despite these commitments Gleeson still participated in some matches, usually at halfback but occasionally on the wing.

When the tour finished Gleeson opted to stay behind in England and complete his legal studies at the Inns of Court. After he completed his studies he returned to New Zealand where he, along with Edward Tyne, helped establish the Hawke's Bay Rugby League in 1911.[2] He later served on the New Zealand Council of the New Zealand Rugby League.

References
  1. GLEESON, James Collins 1907 – 08 – Kiwi #8 Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine nzleague.co.nz
  2. John Haynes From All Blacks to All Golds: Rugby League's Pioneers, Christchurch, Ryan and Haynes, 1996. ISBN 0-473-03864-1
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