Charlie Pearce

Charlie Pearce

Personal information
Full name	Charles James Pearce
Playing information
Weight	91 kg (14 st 5 lb)
Rugby union
Position	Back row
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1903–1906	Canterbury
Rugby league
Position	Second-row, Hooker
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1913	Addington
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1907–1913	New Zealand	8
1908	Wellington
1912–1913	Canterbury
Coaching information
Representative
Years	Team	Gms	W	D	L	W%
1925	New Zealand
Source: RLP

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

Rugby Football

Pearce originally played rugby union for the Christchurch Albion and represented Canterbury between 1903 and 1906.^[2] In 1906 Pearce was also selected for the South Island team. He was a butcher by trade.^[3]

Rugby League

Like Albion team-mates, Joseph Lavery and Hubert Turtill, Pearce was selected for the professional All Blacks 1907-1908 tour of Australia and Great Britain. All the members of the touring party received a life ban from the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Pearce played in several test matches while on tour, including the first ever rugby league test match on 1 January 1908, and captained the side in the third test match against Australia. Pearce's versatility was put to good use during the tour and he played everywhere in the pack, including hooker, and even played a match at centre. After the tour Pearce remained in New Zealand and went on to captain the Canterbury rugby league team. He toured Australia in 1909 and 1913, playing in a total of eight test matches. He played for Addington in the Canterbury Rugby League competition.^[4]

Pearce later served as a selector for the New Zealand side and was appointed the second official "coach" of the New Zealand team, during the 1925 season. He was made a life member of the New Zealand Rugby League in 1920.^[5]

References

1. ^ PEARCE, Charles James 1907 - 08, 1913 - Kiwi #16 nzleague.co.nz
2. ^ John Haynes From All Blacks to All Golds: Rugby League's Pioneers, Christchurch, Ryan and Haynes, 1996. ISBN 0473038641
3. ^ Coffey, John. Canterbury XIII, Christchurch, 1987. p.11
4. ^ Lion Red 1988 Rugby League Annual, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1988. p.p.160-167
5. ^ Coffey, John. Canterbury XIII, Christchurch, 1987.

Preceded by Jim Rukutai

Coach New Zealand Kiwis 1925

Succeeded by Ernest Mair

Persondata
Name	Pearce, Charlie
Alternative names
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