Herb Gilbert

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Herb Gilbert


caption =
birthname = Herbert Gilbert
nickname =
dateofbirth = 18 September, 1888
placeofbirth = Gulgong, New South Wales
dateofdeath = 3 January, 1972
placeofdeath =
height =
weight =
ru_position = Wing /Centre three-quarter
ru_amateuryears =
ru_amateurclubs = South Sydney RU Club
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = Australia
ru_nationalyears = 1910
ru_nationalcaps = 3
ru_nationalpoints =
ru_ntupdate =
ru_clubyears =
ru_proclubs =
ru_clubcaps =
ru_clubpoints =
ru_clubupdate =
super14 =
super14years =
super14caps =
super14points =
ru_currentclub =
super14update =
ru_province = New South Wales
ru_provinceyears = 1910
ru_provincecaps =
ru_provincepoints =
ru_provinceupdate =
ru_sevensnationalyears =
ru_sevensnationalteam =
ru_sevensnationalcomp =
ru_sevensupdate =
ru_coachclubs =
ru_coachyears =
ru_coachupdate =
rl_position = Centre three-quarter
sooyears = 1911-1920
sooteam = New South Wales
soocaps = 8
soopoints = (9)
sooupdate =
sooteam pre-1980 = yes
rl_nationalteam = Australia
rl_nationalyears = 1911-1920
rl_nationalcaps = 7
rl_nationalpoints = (8)
rl_ntupdate =
rl_amateuryears =
rl_amateurclubs =
rl_amupdate =
rl_clubyears = 1911-12 & 1915
1912-15
1916
1917-20
1921
rl_proclubs = South Sydney Rabbitohs
Hull
Eastern Suburbs
Western Suburbs
St. George Dragons
rl_clubcaps = 23

14
50
8
rl_clubpoints = (24)

(18)
(69)
(3)
rl_clubupdate =
rl_coachclubs = St. George Dragons
rl_coachyears = 1921-1924
rl_coachupdate =
other = yes
occupation = Railways
family =
spouse =
children = Herb Jr, Jack, Bob
relatives =
school =
university =

Herb Gilbert 1888 - 1972 was an Australian rugby league and rugby union player - a dual code rugby international. He represented the Wallabies in 3 Tests in 1910 and the Kangaroos in 7 Tests from 1911 to 1920, his last two as Captain. He is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century [ [http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/02/22/Controversy_reigns_as_NRL_releases_top_100_players Century's Top 100 Players] ]

Rugby union career

He was born in Gulgong, New South Wales and moved to Sydney, playing rugby union in the South Sydney district.

Gilbert was selected for New South Wales in 1910 against Queensland then the New Zealand Maoris. That same year he made his Wallaby Test debut playing in all three Tests against the All Blacks in 1910 in which the Wallabies were undefeated.

Rugby league career

Gilbert later crossed over to the professional code, joining the South Sydney Club in 1910. He represented New South Wales in 1911 and was chosen for the 1911-1912 Kangaroos tour of England.Gilbert made his International league debut in the First Test at Newcastle in November 1911, becoming the 16th ever Australian dual code international. He played in all three Tests on tour, heading the tour's try-scoring list with 20 tries.

From 1912 to 1915 he played in England for the Hull Club, captaining the Humbersiders to Challenge Cup victory in 1914.

After the outbreak of the Great War, the three-quarter returned to Australia, where he rejoined South Sydney. In 1916, Gilbert joined Eastern Suburbs. He was a member of that club's City Cup winning side before joining the Western Suburbs Magpies in 1917. He played with them until 1920, helping to transfer them from a struggling side to a competitive outfit.

Gilbert returned to the Australian test team as Captain in the 2nd test of the Lions' 1920 tour of Australia. All four of Australia's illustrious three-quarter line of Dick Vest, Harold Horder, Viv Farnsworth and Gilbert scored tries in Australia's 21-8 victory.

With the Ashes already won, Australia lost to Great Britain in the 3rd Test of the series with Gilbert captaining his country for his 2nd and final occasion.

In 1921, at age 33, Gilbert signed on as foundation captain-coach of the newly-formed St George Dragons club. He retired as player at the end of that season but coached the club until 1924. Three of Gilbert's sons all played for St. George with Herb Junior and Jack playing in the Dragons' maiden Grand Final victory in 1941.

Post playing

Herb Gilbert was a state and national selector from 1925 to 1937; his working career was with the New South Wales Railways; in his later years he was doorman at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Herb died in 1972 - aged 84.

In 2004 he was named by Souths in their "South Sydney Dream Team", [ [http://www.souths.com.au/history/viewclublegends.asp?ArticleID=842 South Sydney Dream Team] from the official South Sydney website.] , consisting of 17 players and a coach representing the club from 1908 through to 2004.

In February 2008, Gilbert was named in the list of Australia's "100 Greatest Players" (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia. [cite web|publisher="NRL & ARL"|title=Centenary of Rugby League - The Players |url=http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/the-players.aspx?cat=3&list=true |accessdate=2008-02-23|date=2008-02-23]

Playing record

* "Club:" Souths(1911-12 & 1915) 23 games, 6 tries, 3 goals; Hull, England 1912-1915; Easts (1916) 14 games, 6 tries; Wests (1917-1920) 50 games, 23 tries; St George (1921) 8 games, 1 try.
* "Representative:" Australia (1911-12 & 1919-1920) 7 Tests, and New South Wales (1911-20) 8 appearances.

ources

* Whiticker, Alan (2004) "Captaining the Kangaroos", New Holland, Sydney

References