Eric Watkins
Encyclopedia
Eric L. Watkins was a New Zealand
rugby football
er who represented his country in both rugby union
and rugby league
.
and was a surveyor
by profession. This job often took him around the country.
for the Wellington College
Old Boys' Club. He represented Wellington from 1900 to 1906 and the North Island in 1904 and 1906. Watkins was part of the Wellington sides that both won the Ranfurly Shield
in 1904 and lost it in 1905. In 1907, when his work took him north to Raetihi
, Watkins played in the local competition and represented Wanganui.
Watkins was selected for the All Blacks
in 1905 for a test match against Australia
. The match occurred while "The Originals" were in transit to Great Britain and thus unavailable for selection but was still given test match status by the New Zealand Rugby Union.
Like five other members of the touring party Watkins is buried at Karori Cemetery.
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...
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:...
er who represented his country in both 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 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...
.
Early years
Watkins attended Wellington CollegeWellington College (New Zealand)
Wellington College is a state secondary school for boys in Mount Victoria in Wellington, New Zealand.-History:Wellington College opened in 1867 as Wellington Grammar School in Woodward Street, though Sir George Grey gave the school a deed of endowment in 1853. In 1874 it opened at its present...
and was a surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
by profession. This job often took him around the country.
Rugby Football
Watkins started playing 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...
for the Wellington College
Wellington College (New Zealand)
Wellington College is a state secondary school for boys in Mount Victoria in Wellington, New Zealand.-History:Wellington College opened in 1867 as Wellington Grammar School in Woodward Street, though Sir George Grey gave the school a deed of endowment in 1853. In 1874 it opened at its present...
Old Boys' Club. He represented Wellington from 1900 to 1906 and the North Island in 1904 and 1906. Watkins was part of the Wellington sides that both won the Ranfurly Shield
Ranfurly Shield
The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies...
in 1904 and lost it in 1905. In 1907, when his work took him north to Raetihi
Raetihi
Raetihi is a town in the central North Island of New Zealand. It is located at the junction of State Highways 4 and 49, 11 kilometres west of Ohakune. The 2006 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings recorded its population as 1,035. This constitutes a decrease of 3.4% or 36 people since...
, Watkins played in the local competition and represented Wanganui.
Watkins was selected for the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
in 1905 for a test match against Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
. The match occurred while "The Originals" were in transit to Great Britain and thus unavailable for selection but was still given test match status by the New Zealand Rugby Union.
Rugby League
In 1907 Watkins joined the professional All Blacks in their tour of Great Britain and Australia. Like all other members of the touring party, Watkins received a life ban from the New Zealand Rugby Union. Watkins suffered a serious injury while training and did not play in Britain. While in Australia Watkins played in one test match.Like five other members of the touring party Watkins is buried at Karori Cemetery.