Billy Harrison
Born
William Rapihana Harrison

(1938-06-09)9 June 1938
Died30 December 2021(2021-12-30) (aged 83)
RelativesRata Harrison (brother)
Rugby league career
Playing information
PositionFullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Korodale (WRL)
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1961–≥61 Wellington
New Zealand Māori
1961 New Zealand 2 0 0 0 0
1963 North Island
Source: [1]

William Rapihana Harrison (9 June 1938 – 30 December 2021) was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s. He played at representative level for New Zealand (heritage number 408), and Wellington, at fullback, i.e. number 1.[2][3][4]

Playing career

Harrison played for the Korodale club in the Wellington Rugby League competition, winning premierships in 1960 and 1961 and sharing another in 1963.[5]

Representative career

Harrison was a Wellington and New Zealand Māori representative before he was selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team. He toured on the 1961 tour of Great Britain and France and represented New Zealand in 1961 against Great Britain and France.[1] Due to injury he played in only 10 games on tour, a broken jaw restricted his appearances. Despite this, he replaced the legendary Jack Fagan in the third test against Great Britain and the first test against France. Harrison proved himself to be one of the finds of the tour.[5]

Injury prevented him playing for the Kiwis in 1963 but he was selected for the North Island side against the South Island.[5]

Personal life and death

Harrison was the brother of fellow former international Rata Harrison,[6] and brother-in-law of former Kiwis manager, Manu Diamond. Billy Harrison died on 30 December 2021, at the age of 83, and was buried at Akatarawa Cemetery, Upper Hutt.[7][8]

References

  1. 1 2 "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "Roll of Honour at nzrl.co.nz". nzrl.co.nz. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "Past Kiwis → H at nzrl.co.nz". nzrl.co.nz. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 13 January 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. ↑ "Profile at nzleague.co.nz". nzleague.co.nz. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 Team of the Century - Week 1 Wellington Rugby League
  6. ↑ "New Zealand team to tour England and France". The Press. Vol. 100, no. 29561. 10 July 1941. p. 8. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  7. ↑ "William Harrison obituary". Dominion Post. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  8. ↑ "Death search: registration number 2022/434". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
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