Billy Mitchell (rugby)

Billy Mitchell
Personal information
Full name William James Mitchell
Born (1890-11-28)28 November 1890
Melbourne, Australia
Died 2 June 1959(1959-06-02) (aged 68)
Christchurch, New Zealand
Playing information
Weight 82 kg (181 lb)
Rugby union
Position Wing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1909–1910 Cantebrury 9
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1910 New Zealand 2 1 0 0 3
Rugby league
Position fullback, wing, stand-off
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
St Albans
Federal
Total 0 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1911–1920 New Zealand 5
1912–19?? Canterbury
Coaching information
Representative
Years Team Gms W D L W%
Canterbury
Source: RLP

William James "Billy" Mitchell (28 November 1890 – 2 June 1959) was a New Zealand rugby footballer who represented his country in both rugby union and rugby league.

Early years

Mitchell was born in Melbourne, Australia before moving to New Zealand where he worked for the New Zealand Railways Department.

Rugby union career

Mitchell played rugby union for the Merivale club in Christchurch and represented the province nine times in 1909 and 1910.[1] He was selected to be part of the All Blacks tour of Australia in 1910 and played in five matches, including the second and third Test matches.[1]

Rugby league career

In 1911 Mitchell, along with three other players from the Merivale club, moved to Sydney and played for the North Sydney Bears.[2] He was then enticed north by the Queensland Rugby League. At the same time the New Zealand rugby league side was touring Australia and he was invited to join the touring party.[3] Mitchell played in four matches, becoming a dual-code rugby international.

Mitchell then returned to Christchurch and represented Canterbury in its first ever match in 1912.[3] Mitchell toured Australia twice more with New Zealand, in 1913, and as captain in 1919. He played in his final match for New Zealand in 1920.[4] He played for the St Albans and Federal clubs in the Canterbury Rugby League competition.[3]

Later years

Mitchell later served as a coach of the Canterbury side and a national selector.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Billy Mitchell allblacks.com
  2. John Coffey and Bernie Wood, The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League, Hodder Moa, Auckland, 2007, p. 43.
  3. 1 2 3 Coffey, John. Canterbury XIII, Christchurch, 1987. p.14
  4. MITCHELL, WILLIAM JAMES 1911, 1913, 1919 – 20 – KIWI #68 nzleague.co.nz
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, November 28, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.