Pat Walsh (rugby league footballer)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pat Walsh was an pioneer Australian representative rugby union and rugby league player, a dual code international. He represented the Wallabies in 3 Tests in 1904 and the Kangaroos in the first tour of Great Britain in 1908-09.
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[edit] Rugby Union Career
Born in Newcastle, New South Wales he played rugby for the Norwood and Carlton clubs as a forward. In 1904 he represented Northern Districts and New South Wales against the visiting British side before making his Wallaby debut. He in all three Tests of 1904 against the touring British.
He was disappointed to be left out of the national side selected to tour New Zealand in 1905 and left Australia to play with an Auckland club in 1906. He was chosen in the Auckland representative side in 1907 and looked set for All Black selection before the prospects of being selected in the pioneer Kangaroo tour of Great Britain lured him back to Australia.
[edit] Rugby League Career
Walsh played for a Newcastle rugby league side in 1908 and gained NSW then National selection for the inaugural Kangaroo Tour.
He played in all three Test matches of the tour as a Front Rower.
He remained in England following an offer from the Huddersfield Club where he played from 1909 to 1911.
[edit] Wartime
Pat Walsh enlisted in the AIF during the Great War and served with the 12th Light Horse in Egypt, Gallipoli and Palestine. He was mentioned in despatches by General Allenby. He contracted a paralysis to his legs and spent the rest of his life on crutches. He died in 1953.
[edit] Sources
- Fagan, Sean (2005) The Rugby Rebellion, RL1908, Sydney
