Alister Atkinson
Encyclopedia
Alister James Atkinson (1924/25-2002) was a New Zealand rugby league
player who represented his country
in the 1954 World Cup
. His position of preference was at Loose Forward.
player and represented the Canterbury Rugby Union in 1945 and 1946.
After switching codes, Atkinson became a Linwood Keas player in the Canterbury Rugby League
competition and a Canterbury and South Island
representative. Atkinson was a reserve for New Zealand in 1950 and first played for the New Zealand Kiwis in 1951. Atkinson toured Great Britain and France in 1951–52 and 1955–56 and Australia in 1952. Overall he played in 24 tests for the Kiwis, including being the vice captain of the squad in the inaugural Rugby League World Cup
. 23 of those appearances were consecutive, until he missed the third test against Great Britain
in the 1955 series.
Atkinson was also a sprinter, being fast enough to compete on the cash sprinting circuit which existed at that time.
between 1968 and 1976 and served as a provincial selector and the New Zealand Kiwis manager for the 1974 home series against Great Britain. In 1976 Atkinson chaired the Canterbury board of control.
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...
player who represented his country
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...
in the 1954 World Cup
1954 Rugby League World Cup
The first Rugby League World Cup was held in France in 1954 and officially known as the "Rugby World Cup". The prime motivators behind the idea of holding a rugby league world cup were the French, who were short of money following the seizing of their assets by the rugby union in World War II.The...
. His position of preference was at Loose Forward.
Playing career
Atkinson started his career as a 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...
player and represented the Canterbury Rugby Union in 1945 and 1946.
After switching codes, Atkinson became a Linwood Keas player in the Canterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League is the regional body that administers rugby league in Canterbury, New Zealand. CRL manages local competitions from senior level down to age group competitions. Canterbury Rugby League also manages the Canterbury rugby league team which represents the region in New Zealand...
competition and a Canterbury and South Island
South Island rugby league team
The South Island rugby league team represents the Southern Zone in the Albert Baskerville Trophy. The Zone represented the Southland, Otago, West Coast, Canterbury and Tasman districts. They are nicknamed the Scorpions...
representative. Atkinson was a reserve for New Zealand in 1950 and first played for the New Zealand Kiwis in 1951. Atkinson toured Great Britain and France in 1951–52 and 1955–56 and Australia in 1952. Overall he played in 24 tests for the Kiwis, including being the vice captain of the squad in the inaugural Rugby League World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
. 23 of those appearances were consecutive, until he missed the third test against Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
in the 1955 series.
Atkinson was also a sprinter, being fast enough to compete on the cash sprinting circuit which existed at that time.
Later years
Atkinson was a member of the Canterbury board of controlCanterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League is the regional body that administers rugby league in Canterbury, New Zealand. CRL manages local competitions from senior level down to age group competitions. Canterbury Rugby League also manages the Canterbury rugby league team which represents the region in New Zealand...
between 1968 and 1976 and served as a provincial selector and the New Zealand Kiwis manager for the 1974 home series against Great Britain. In 1976 Atkinson chaired the Canterbury board of control.