Albert Asher
Encyclopedia
Arapeta Paurini Wharepapa, or Albert Asher as he was more commonly known, (born 3 December 1879 in Tauranga
– died 8 January 1965 in Auckland
) was a New Zealand
dual-code international rugby union
and professional rugby league
footballer of the 1890s, 1900s, '10s and '20s. At representative level Asher played rugby union for New Zealand, North Island, and Auckland
playing on the Wing and played rugby league at representative level for Australasia, New Zealand
, Auckland
and the New Zealand Māori rugby league team
. His brother, Ernie, was also a rugby league international.
, playing for Tauranga against Rotorua. Eighteen months later he played against Auckland, becoming the youngest senior representative on record. Asher moved to Auckland, joining the City club and he made his Auckland debut in 1898. He won a cap for New Zealand against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground
on 15 August 1903, scoring a try. While Asher only played in one Test match he played in 11 games for the All Blacks and scored 53 points.
In 1904, while working with the fire brigade, he had suffered a leg injury that kept him from meeting the 1904 British team that were touring New Zealand and he subsequently missed touring Great Britain with the Original All Blacks. After two years out of the game Asher again represented Auckland in 1907, before changing codes.
due to a broken ankle. In May 1908 he led the first New Zealand Māori rugby league team
to New South Wales, where they are credited with financially saving the New South Wales Rugby League
. At the time it was reported in New Zealand that they were accidental converts to rugby league
, expecting to meet rugby union teams in Sydney, but this has since proved to be false. The team twice defeated New South Wales
and also defeated Australia in one "Test".
On their return Asher represented Auckland
in their second match ever, against Wellington.
In 1909 Asher was invited to tour Australia with the 1909 New Zealand side but again declined, opting to remain in Auckland and organise the 1909 New Zealand Māori tour of Australia which was set for later in the year. During the year Asher again represented Auckland and played for the new City Rovers club which had been formed to compete in the new Auckland Rugby League
.
In 1910 Asher played for City in the first official week of the Auckland Rugby League competition. On 25 June Asher was sent off by referee Jack Stanaway, the brother of Alex. The rest of the City side walked off in support of Asher. Asher became the first player to face the ARL judiciary, who cautioned him. Asher then travelled to Sydney, where he was part of the Australasian side that played two matches against the 1910 Great Britain team
. Asher, who was known for leaping over players – leading to his nickname Opai, clashed with another known leaper, Billy Batten
. Asher came into contact with Batten's knee in a mid air collision and was carried from the ground, requiring stitches before he returned.
Asher was to play against the Lions three more times once they reached New Zealand in July. Asher lined up against them for New Zealand Māori
, Auckland
and New Zealand. This was Asher's only cap for New Zealand. He finished the season by being part of the City side that won the inaugural competition, being awarded the Myers Cup.
Asher again played for New Zealand in 1913, however no Test matches were played.
Asher continued to play for City until after the First World War.
between 1921 and 1943, the home of the Auckland Rugby League
.
Tauranga
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
– died 8 January 1965 in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
) was a New Zealand
New Zealanders
New Zealanders, colloquially known as Kiwis, are citizens of New Zealand. New Zealand is a multiethnic society, and home to people of many different national origins...
dual-code international rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1890s, 1900s, '10s and '20s. At representative level Asher played rugby union for New Zealand, North Island, and Auckland
Auckland Rugby Football Union
The Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland Region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Its colours are navy blue and white in a hoop design. Auckland's top representative team have won New Zealand's top provincial rugby competition 16 times, more than...
playing on the Wing and played rugby league at representative level for Australasia, New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
, Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
and the New Zealand Māori rugby league team
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
. His brother, Ernie, was also a rugby league international.
Rugby union career
Asher was only 11 years old when he played his first senior representative game of rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, playing for Tauranga against Rotorua. Eighteen months later he played against Auckland, becoming the youngest senior representative on record. Asher moved to Auckland, joining the City club and he made his Auckland debut in 1898. He won a cap for New Zealand against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
on 15 August 1903, scoring a try. While Asher only played in one Test match he played in 11 games for the All Blacks and scored 53 points.
In 1904, while working with the fire brigade, he had suffered a leg injury that kept him from meeting the 1904 British team that were touring New Zealand and he subsequently missed touring Great Britain with the Original All Blacks. After two years out of the game Asher again represented Auckland in 1907, before changing codes.
Rugby league career
Asher declined the offer to tour with the 1907–1908 New Zealand professional rugby team1907–1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Australia and Great Britain
The 1907–1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Australia and Great Britain was a tour made by a group of New Zealand rugby footballers who played matches in Australia, Ceylon, England and Wales between 1907 and 1908. Most of the matches were played under the rules of the Northern Union, what is today...
due to a broken ankle. In May 1908 he led the first New Zealand Māori rugby league team
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
to New South Wales, where they are credited with financially saving the New South Wales Rugby League
New South Wales Rugby League
The New South Wales Rugby League is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby League. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League until 1984 when forward thinking marketing managers decided...
. At the time it was reported in New Zealand that they were accidental converts to rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
, expecting to meet rugby union teams in Sydney, but this has since proved to be false. The team twice defeated New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
and also defeated Australia in one "Test".
On their return Asher represented Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
in their second match ever, against Wellington.
In 1909 Asher was invited to tour Australia with the 1909 New Zealand side but again declined, opting to remain in Auckland and organise the 1909 New Zealand Māori tour of Australia which was set for later in the year. During the year Asher again represented Auckland and played for the new City Rovers club which had been formed to compete in the new Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
.
In 1910 Asher played for City in the first official week of the Auckland Rugby League competition. On 25 June Asher was sent off by referee Jack Stanaway, the brother of Alex. The rest of the City side walked off in support of Asher. Asher became the first player to face the ARL judiciary, who cautioned him. Asher then travelled to Sydney, where he was part of the Australasian side that played two matches against the 1910 Great Britain team
1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand
The 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand was the first international tour of the Great Britain national rugby league team, "The Lions". They played the second ever Ashes series against Australia before travelling to Auckland to take on New Zealand...
. Asher, who was known for leaping over players – leading to his nickname Opai, clashed with another known leaper, Billy Batten
Billy Batten
William "Billy" Batten, was an English rugby league footballer of the early 20th century. He played at , and for Great Britain, England, Hunslet, and Hull, and was one of the new game's first superstars...
. Asher came into contact with Batten's knee in a mid air collision and was carried from the ground, requiring stitches before he returned.
Asher was to play against the Lions three more times once they reached New Zealand in July. Asher lined up against them for New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
, Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
and New Zealand. This was Asher's only cap for New Zealand. He finished the season by being part of the City side that won the inaugural competition, being awarded the Myers Cup.
Asher again played for New Zealand in 1913, however no Test matches were played.
Asher continued to play for City until after the First World War.
Later years
After retirement Asher became the custodian of Carlaw ParkCarlaw Park
Carlaw Park was a multi-purpose stadium in Parnell, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand.-History:The stadium's grandstands and terraces were built in 1916, and it became the home of rugby league in Auckland from 1921...
between 1921 and 1943, the home of the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
.