Charlie Seeling
Encyclopedia
Charles Edward "Bronco" Seeling (born 14 May 1883 in Wanganui
, New Zealand
, died 29 May 1956 in Stalybridge
, England
) was a New Zealand
international rugby football
player of the early 20th century. He played in the forwards for the original All Blacks, appearing in 11 tests.
Seeling then signed with English rugby league
club, Wigan
in 1910. From then until 1913 he scored 54 tries for Wigan and appeared in three consecutive championship finals. Seeling went on to make over 200 first grade appearances for the club over thirteen years, playing as captain for three of them. Noted British rugby writer, E. H. D. Sewell, wrote of Seeling: "Search where one may, a better forward than Seeling does not exist."
Seeling's son, Charlie Jr. also played rugby league, becoming captain of Dewsbury
. He spent the rest of his life in Britain, dying in 1956 at the age of 73 in a car accident.
In 1996 Seeling was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
as well as the international Rugby League Hall of Fame
. In 2001 he was inducted as one of the NZRL Legends of League.
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, died 29 May 1956 in Stalybridge
Stalybridge
Stalybridge is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside in Greater Manchester, England, with a population of 22,568. Historically a part of Cheshire, it is east of Manchester city centre and northwest of Glossop. With the construction of a cotton mill in 1776, Stalybridge became one of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
international rugby football
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
player of the early 20th century. He played in the forwards for the original All Blacks, appearing in 11 tests.
Seeling then signed with English 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...
club, Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
in 1910. From then until 1913 he scored 54 tries for Wigan and appeared in three consecutive championship finals. Seeling went on to make over 200 first grade appearances for the club over thirteen years, playing as captain for three of them. Noted British rugby writer, E. H. D. Sewell, wrote of Seeling: "Search where one may, a better forward than Seeling does not exist."
Seeling's son, Charlie Jr. also played rugby league, becoming captain of Dewsbury
Dewsbury Rams
Dewsbury Rams RLFC is a professional rugby league club based in the West Yorkshire town of Dewsbury. They are arguably most famous for becoming Champions in 1972-73 after finishing the regular season in 8th place. In the playoffs they beat Featherstone away, Warrington away, and then Leeds in the...
. He spent the rest of his life in Britain, dying in 1956 at the age of 73 in a car accident.
In 1996 Seeling was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
The New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame is an organisation commemorating New Zealand's greatest sporting triumphs. It was inaugurated as part of the New Zealand sesquicentenary celebrations in 1990. Some 160 members have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception representing a wide...
as well as the international Rugby League Hall of Fame
Rugby League Hall of Fame
The Rugby League Hall of Fame is an International Hall of Fame that was combined and continually has additions from the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame, British Rugby League Hall of Fame, Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII and the...
. In 2001 he was inducted as one of the NZRL Legends of League.