Jersey Flegg
Encyclopedia
Henry Harry "Jersey" Flegg (6 April 1878 in Bolton, Lancashire 23 August 1960 in North Sydney, New South Wales
) was an English-Australian rugby league
identity. Both a player and administrator, he was a leading figure in the birth of the sport in Australia.
Flegg emigrated to Australia at an early age. He received his nickname 'Jersey' while still at school, after a meeting with the New South Wales
(NSW) Governor
of the time, Lord Jersey, who had bright red hair, similar to his own.
'Jersey' played rugby football
for the Adelphi club and represented New South Wales in the sport before moving to the new rebel code in rugby league
's start up season – 1908.
'Jersey' played a leading role in the establishment of the Eastern Suburbs
club, he chaired the founding meeting, was one of that clubs two delegates to the New South Wales Rugby Football League (NSWRFL) as well as being a club selector. A front row forward with a reputation as a solid defender, Flegg captained the side in its inaugural season, including the club's first match and the NSWRFL's first premiership decider against neighbouring Sydney
club and traditional rival, South Sydney
. Flegg was also selected in a Sydney based representative team during that first season. However, it is in administration that 'Jersey' is best remembered.
In 1909, Flegg was made a New South Wales and Australian selector and in 1929 he was appointed to the position of president of the NSWRFL. In 1941 he became chairman of the Australian Rugby League
Board of Control. At the time of his death in 1960, aged 82, he was still serving in these roles.
A life member of the Australian
, British
and French
Rugby Leagues, Flegg received further recognition when in 1961 the H. Jersey Flegg Cup
was introduced. His contribution to rugby league extended over half a century and during his tenure at the head of the game's administration, rugby league prospered, cementing itself as the dominant football code throughout the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland
.
'Henry "Jersey" Flegg has been allocated Eastern Suburbs player Number 1.
North Sydney, New South Wales
North Sydney is a suburb and commercial district on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Sydney is located 3 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of North Sydney...
) was an English-Australian 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...
identity. Both a player and administrator, he was a leading figure in the birth of the sport in Australia.
Flegg emigrated to Australia at an early age. He received his nickname 'Jersey' while still at school, after a meeting with the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
(NSW) Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the time, Lord Jersey, who had bright red hair, similar to his own.
'Jersey' played 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:...
for the Adelphi club and represented New South Wales in the sport before moving to the new rebel code in 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...
's start up season – 1908.
'Jersey' played a leading role in the establishment of the Eastern Suburbs
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
club, he chaired the founding meeting, was one of that clubs two delegates to the New South Wales Rugby Football League (NSWRFL) as well as being a club selector. A front row forward with a reputation as a solid defender, Flegg captained the side in its inaugural season, including the club's first match and the NSWRFL's first premiership decider against neighbouring Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
club and traditional rival, South Sydney
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
. Flegg was also selected in a Sydney based representative team during that first season. However, it is in administration that 'Jersey' is best remembered.
In 1909, Flegg was made a New South Wales and Australian selector and in 1929 he was appointed to the position of president of the NSWRFL. In 1941 he became chairman of the Australian Rugby League
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...
Board of Control. At the time of his death in 1960, aged 82, he was still serving in these roles.
A life member of the Australian
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...
, British
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
and French
Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII
The French Rugby League Federation is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in France. The Federation was formed during 1934 and since then has organized and governed the French rugby league championship, the Lord Derby Cup and all of the clubs that are contained within those...
Rugby Leagues, Flegg received further recognition when in 1961 the H. Jersey Flegg Cup
Jersey Flegg Cup
The Jersey Flegg Cup was a junior rugby league competition played in New South Wales, contested among teams made up of players aged under 20. The competition was administered by the New South Wales Rugby League and run concurrently with the National Rugby League...
was introduced. His contribution to rugby league extended over half a century and during his tenure at the head of the game's administration, rugby league prospered, cementing itself as the dominant football code throughout the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.
'Henry "Jersey" Flegg has been allocated Eastern Suburbs player Number 1.