Dave Watson (rugby league)

Dave Watson

Personal information
Full name	David Thomas Watson
Born	24 May 1966 (1966-05-24) (age 45)
Playing information
Position	Fullback, Centre, Stand-off
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
	Waitara Bears (TRL)
	Manukau Magpies
1990–1991	Hull KR
1991–1992	Halifax
1992–1995	Bradford Northern
1994	Cronulla Sharks	9	0	0	0	0
1995	Sydney Tigers	2	0	0	0	0
1996	Gold Coast	16	6	0	0	24
1997	South Queensland	13	1	0	0	4
1998–1999	Sheffield Eagles	45	4	0	0	16
	Total	85	11	0	0	44
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
198?–1993	Taranaki
198?–1991	Auckland
1986–1990	New Zealand Māori
1989–1993	New Zealand	15	6	0	0	24
Source: RLP

David Thomas Watson (born 24 May 1966) is a New Zealand former rugby league player who represented his country in the 1980s and 1990s.

Playing career

Watson began his career playing for the Waitara Bears in the Taranaki Rugby League before moving north and playing in the Auckland Rugby League competition.^[1] Watson joined the Manukau Magpies and in 1986 won the ARLs most improved back award.

In 1990 he signed with Hull KR for the 1990/91 season. He returned to England the next winter to play for the Halifax RLFC. While playing for Halifax Watson tested positive for cannabis and received a three month ban.^[2] In 1992 he began an association with Bradford Northern that lasted three seasons.^[3]

In 1993 Watson returned to Taranaki and played in the North Island Second Division.^[4] This made him eligible to participate in the Kiwi trials that year and he was selected for the series against Australia.

In 1994 Watson began playing in the Australian competition, spending time with the Cronulla Sharks, Sydney Tigers, Gold Coast Chargers and South Queensland Crushers.

In 1998 he returned to England, joining the Sheffield Eagles. In 1998 Watson, along with fellow 1989 Kiwi Whetu Taewa, was part of the Sheffield Eagles side that upset Wigan to win the Challenge Cup.^[5]

Representative career

Watson was a Taranaki and Auckland representative before being selected to represent New Zealand Māori in the 1986 Pacific Cup.^[6] He again represented the Māori against Great Britain in 1990.^[7]

Watson was selected for the New Zealand Kiwis in 1989. He went on to make 15 appearances for the Kiwis, his last being in the 1993 test series against Australia.^[8]

References

1. ^ Taranaki Grand Final Countdown rleague.com, 11 July 2003
2. ^ Watson back on the case for Bradford Northern The Independent, 31 October 1992
3. ^ Team-by-Team Guide to the Stones Bitter Championship The Independent, 29 August 1992
4. ^ Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1993, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1993. p.p.173-174
5. ^ John Coffey, Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008. Huia Publishers. pp. 300. ISBN 1869693310, 9781869693312. http://books.google.com/books?id=nklWo8vw-iIC&printsec=frontcover. 
6. ^ John Coffey, Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008. Huia Publishers. pp. 245. ISBN 1869693310, 9781869693312. http://books.google.com/books?id=nklWo8vw-iIC&printsec=frontcover. 
7. ^ John Coffey, Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008. Huia Publishers. pp. 261. ISBN 1869693310, 9781869693312. http://books.google.com/books?id=nklWo8vw-iIC&printsec=frontcover. 
8. ^ Watson, David Thomas 1989 - 91, 1993 - Kiwi #612 nzleague.co.nz

Persondata
Name	Watson, Dave
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	24 May 1966
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death