Jim Gleeson (rugby)

James Collins Gleeson^[1] was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.

Early years[]

He was born in New Zealand on December 22, 1882. His parents were Margaret and Patrick Gleeson. He had 2 sisters and 1 brother (Catherine Treston Gleeson, Margaret Gleeson, Michael Lynch Gleeson, and Patrick Spellman Gleeson). He married Erema Philomena Harding and they had 3 children. Jim was a lawyer by trade who had studied law at Sydney University.^[2]

Rugby football[]

Gleeson was a rugby union scrum-half from the Hawkes Bay.^[2]

Rugby league[]

He was selected as one of the professional All Blacks on the 1907–1908 tour of Great Britain and Australia. However his major role on the tour was managerial, serving as treasurer and assisting Albert Baskiville with day-to-day administration duties.^[2] He was also part of the tours Management Committee and he usually spoke at the after match functions on behalf of the team. Despite these commitments Gleeson still participated in some matches, usually at halfback but occasionally on the wing.

When the tour finished Gleeson opted to stay behind in England and complete his legal studies at the Inns of Court. After he completed his studies he returned to New Zealand where he, along with Edward Tyne, helped establish the Hawke's Bay Rugby League in 1911.^[2] He later served on the New Zealand Council of the New Zealand Rugby League.

References[]