William Smith (rugby union)

William Ernest Smith (9 March 1881 – 25 May 1945) was a New Zealand rugby union player. He was educated at Nelson College where he was a member of the 1st XV in 1897.[2] A first five-eighth, Smith represented Nelson at a provincial level, and played only one match for the national side, the All Blacks, in 1905,[3] an international against Australia in Dunedin.[2]

William Smith
Birth nameWilliam Ernest Smith
Date of birth(1881-03-09)9 March 1881
Place of birthWellington, New Zealand
Date of death25 May 1945(1945-05-25) (aged 64)
Place of deathWellington, New Zealand
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight90 kg (200 lb)
SchoolNelson College
Occupation(s)Accountant[1]
Rugby union career
Position(s) First five-eighth
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1900–08 Nelson ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1905 New Zealand 1 (0)

Smith served in the Canterbury Infantry Battalion in World War I and was wounded at Gallipoli.[4][5] He died in Wellington in 1945 and was buried in the soldiers' section of Karori Cemetery.[5]

References
  1. Smith, William Ernest. Burial record, Cemeteries database, Wellington City Council. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  2. Chester, Rod; McMillan, Neville; Palenski, Ron (1987). The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugby. Auckland: Moa Publications. p. 151. ISBN 0-908570-16-3.
  3. Knight, Lindsay. "William Smith". New Zealand Rugby Museum. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  4. "William Ernest Smith". Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 8 July 2022 – via Online Cenotaph.
  5. "Roll of Honour". Evening Post. 26 May 1945. p. 1. Retrieved 17 July 2013.


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