Eddie Lumsden
Encyclopedia
Eddie Lumsden is an Australian former rugby league
player. He was a winger with the St. George Dragons
during their eleven-year premiership winning run from 1956 to 1966, playing in nine grand finals.
. After just four games he was ruled ineligible on the grounds he didn’t reside in the area.
Lumsden is one of four brothers who all played for Country
. Jack Lumsden played for Manly and Australia. Eddie Lumsden's twin, Richie, and his other brother, Ray, were both "bush footballers".
to score a century of tries. He reached this milestone in his 100th game during the 1963 season.
300 and a job with the water board. In his debut Sydney season in 1957 represented for both Sydney firsts and New South Wales
in 1957. He was a regular selection in the Australia national team from 1959 to 1963 earning 15 Test caps. He played against France in 1961; Great Britain in the 1962 Ashes
series; New Zealand New Zealand
in 1963; with his last Test appearance against South Africa in 1963.
On the 1959-60 Kangaroo tour
he played in all six Tests and 21 minor tour matches scoring 25 tries in total, topping both the try-scoring list and tally for most matches played by an Australian on the tour.
, Lumsden is a Freemason.
In February 2008, Lumsden was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL
and ARL
to
celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.
In 2010 he was named on the wing in Kurri Rugby League Club's team of the century.
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. He was a winger with the St. George Dragons
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
during their eleven-year premiership winning run from 1956 to 1966, playing in nine grand finals.
Early life and pedigree
Lumsden moved from Kurri Kurri in 1955 to play with ManlyManly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
. After just four games he was ruled ineligible on the grounds he didn’t reside in the area.
Lumsden is one of four brothers who all played for Country
City vs Country Origin
City vs Country is an annual Australian rugby league football match that takes place in New South Wales between City and Country representative sides. The City side represents the Sydney metropolitan area...
. Jack Lumsden played for Manly and Australia. Eddie Lumsden's twin, Richie, and his other brother, Ray, were both "bush footballers".
St George career
Lumsden played 166 games for St George between 1957 to 1966 appearing in nine Grand Final victories in each of those years except 1960. He scored 136 tries and 17 goals for 442 points for the Dragons. He was the competition's leading try scorer in 1958 (18 tries) and 1962 (21 tries). He was the second post-war player after Ian MoirIan Moir
Ian Moir was an Australian rugby league player, a champion wing three-quarter of the 1950s for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He made eight Test appearances for the Australian national representative side and represented in four World Cup matches in two World Cups and in 14 Kangaroo tour...
to score a century of tries. He reached this milestone in his 100th game during the 1963 season.
Playing style
Big, gangling and fast, Lumsden was an edgy player, hyperactive and intense who seemed to take three stuttering steps instead of one. His scampering style made him difficult to tackle and he combined elusiveness with a good fend and hip-bump.Representative career
In 1956 Lumsden represented for Country seconds and while playing for Country he was seen by St. George. He was offered £Pound (currency)
The pound is a unit of currency in some nations. The term originated in England as the value of a pound of silver.The word pound is the English translation of the Latin word libra, which was the unit of account of the Roman Empire...
300 and a job with the water board. In his debut Sydney season in 1957 represented for both Sydney firsts and 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...
in 1957. He was a regular selection in the Australia national team from 1959 to 1963 earning 15 Test caps. He played against France in 1961; Great Britain in the 1962 Ashes
Rugby League Ashes
The Ashes is the name given to the trophy awarded to the winner of a best-of-three series of rugby league football test series between Great Britain and Australia...
series; New Zealand 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...
in 1963; with his last Test appearance against South Africa in 1963.
On the 1959-60 Kangaroo tour
Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France. The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain and a number of tour matches...
he played in all six Tests and 21 minor tour matches scoring 25 tries in total, topping both the try-scoring list and tally for most matches played by an Australian on the tour.
Post football
He retired from the game after the Dragons eleventh consecutive premiership in 1966. After working as a wine merchant he enjoyed business success managing, then buying and selling hotels. He became a rugby league selector in 1977 for Country and NSW, spending 23 years in the position, and 14 years as an Australian selector. Like his St. George skipper, Ken KearneyKen Kearney
Ken "Killer" Kearney was an Australian rugby footballer – a dual-code international player – and a rugby league coach. He represented the Wallabies in seven Tests and the Kangaroos in thirty-one Test matches and World Cup games. He captained Australia in nine rugby league Test matches in 1956 and...
, Lumsden is a Freemason.
In February 2008, Lumsden was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
and ARL
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
to
celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.
In 2010 he was named on the wing in Kurri Rugby League Club's team of the century.