Sel Belsham
Selwyn Eric Belsham (28 September 1930 – 11 March 2016) was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand at the 1957 World Cup. His position of preference was at Halfback. He also played cricket for Auckland.
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Selwyn Eric Belsham | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 26 September 1930 Auckland, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 11 March 2016 (aged 85) Queensland, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Halfback | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cricket information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Wicket-keeper | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1953/54–1958/59 | Auckland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First-class debut | 6 March 1954 v Fiji | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last First-class | 24 January 1959 v Northern Districts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricketArchive, 26 March 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
His brother Vic was also a New Zealand national rugby league team representative. Vic later became a referee, controlling his brother's team in the 1957 World Cup.[2] Their father Alf represented Auckland in rugby union.
Sporting career
Rugby league
An Auckland representative, Belsham played for the Richmond club in the Auckland Rugby League competition.[3] He represented the North Island on three occasions, in 1955, 1956 and 1957.[3]
Belsham represented the New Zealand national rugby league team, playing 10 consecutive test matches between 1955 and 1957. He was first selected for the 1955 tour of Great Britain and France, but began the trip with a broken collarbone, suffered in New Zealand. He played in only two games during the England leg of the trip before making his test debut in the first test against France.[3]
Belsham played for the Rest of the World against Australia after the 1957 World Cup.[4] His final test match was for New Zealand against a combined Great Britain-France side.[3]
Cricket
Belsham played six first-class cricket matches for Auckland as a wicket-keeper, taking 13 catches and four stumpings. With the bat, he scored 105 runs at an average of 11.66 and a high score of 41.[5]
Death
Belsham died in Queensland, Australia, on 11 March 2016.[6]
References
- "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- Neutral refs have always been a sticky issue Sunday Star-Times, 30 November 2008
- "RIP Sel Belsham Kiwi 367". nzrl.co.nz. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- Belsham, Selwyn Eric 1955 - 57 - Kiwi #367 Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine nzleague.co.nz
- Sel Belsham at CricketArchive (subscription required)
- "Belsham, Selwyn Eric". Gold Coast Bulletin. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.