Lou Petersen
Encyclopedia
Louis Charles Petersen was a dual-code
rugby football
er who represented New Zealand
in rugby union and rugby league
.
in World War I
and it was here that he developed his football skills, playing for the "Trench team".
and in 1919 was first selected to represent Canterbury. He made the South Island side in 1919, 1920 and 1921.
In 1922 Petersen was called up to the All Blacks and he played in eight games for New Zealand, although he did not appear in any Test matches.
In 1924 Marist Old Boys became locked in a dispute with the Canterbury Rugby Union and quit, instead fielding rugby league
and soccer teams. Petersen followed the club, taking up rugby league.
in 1926.
Petersen was part of the 1926-1927 tour of Great Britain that was marred by strike and he was one of seven players suspended for life by the New Zealand Rugby League
on his return. The ban was lifted in 1962, one year after Petersen's death.
Dual-code rugby internationals
A dual-code rugby international is a rugby footballer who has played at the senior international level in both rugby league and rugby union.Rugby league started as a breakaway version of rugby in Northern England and in New Zealand and Australia in 1908 and consequently a number of the top-class...
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 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...
in rugby union and rugby league
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...
.
Early years
Petersen served with the New Zealand Expeditionary ForceNew Zealand Expeditionary Force
The New Zealand Expeditionary Force was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight for Britain during World War I and World War II. Ultimately, the NZEF of World War I was known as the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and it was here that he developed his football skills, playing for the "Trench team".
Rugby union career
Petersen began his career with the Marist Old Boys club in ChristchurchChristchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and in 1919 was first selected to represent Canterbury. He made the South Island side in 1919, 1920 and 1921.
In 1922 Petersen was called up to the All Blacks and he played in eight games for New Zealand, although he did not appear in any Test matches.
In 1924 Marist Old Boys became locked in a dispute with the Canterbury Rugby Union and quit, instead fielding 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...
and soccer teams. Petersen followed the club, taking up rugby league.
Rugby league career
Petersen made an immediate impact and was one of six Marist Old Boys players who were selected to represent New Zealand that season. In total Petersen played in three Test matches for his country in rugby league. He captained Cantebury in 1925 and played for the South IslandSouth 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...
in 1926.
Petersen was part of the 1926-1927 tour of Great Britain that was marred by strike and he was one of seven players suspended for life by the New Zealand Rugby League
New Zealand Rugby League
The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year....
on his return. The ban was lifted in 1962, one year after Petersen's death.