Alphonsus Carroll
Encyclopedia
Alphonsus "Fonse" John Carroll (born 20 April 1895 in Tauranga
– died 1 December 1974 in Palmerston North
) was a New Zealand
dual-code international rugby union
and rugby league
footballer of the 1920s, who represented his country in both codes. He played at both Prop and Hooker.
. Carroll was a conscientious objector during World War I
. In his early years Carroll was a race horse trainer, however one of his best horses broke down following the New Zealand Grand National in 1916.
aged 22 in 1917 for the Jackeytown club and first represented Manawatu
in 1919. Carroll was also selected for the North Island in 1919.
Carroll played in 8 games for the All Blacks, being a part of the 1920 tour of Australia, but never played in a Test match. Carroll scored 3 tries and 2 conversions for the All Blacks, totalling 13 points. Carroll continued to play for Manawatu until 1924.
and switched codes to rugby league
, representing the provience.
Carroll played in two Tests for the New Zealand Kiwis
, touring Australia in 1926 and being part of the 1926–27 tour of Great Britain where he played against England at Central Park
, Wigan
on 2 October 1926. The tour was marred by strike action by the forwards and Carroll was one of the seven players sent home. As a result he was banned for life by the New Zealand Rugby League
– a ban which was lifted in 1962.
Carroll owned a dairy farm in and was an active member of the Labour Party
. His farm was the venue for the local Snake Valley cricket
team for 40 years.
Two of Carrolls sons, Joe and Jim, represented Manawatu between 1965–68 and 1972–83 respectively.
Tauranga
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
– died 1 December 1974 in Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
) was a New Zealand
New Zealanders
New Zealanders, colloquially known as Kiwis, are citizens of New Zealand. New Zealand is a multiethnic society, and home to people of many different national origins...
dual-code international rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1920s, who represented his country in both codes. He played at both Prop and Hooker.
Early years
Carroll was born in Mataura on 20 April 1895 before moving to the Manawatu with his family. He was the youngest of five brothers who represented Manawatu in rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
. Carroll was a conscientious objector during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In his early years Carroll was a race horse trainer, however one of his best horses broke down following the New Zealand Grand National in 1916.
Rugby union career
Carroll began playing rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
aged 22 in 1917 for the Jackeytown club and first represented Manawatu
Manawatu Rugby Union
Manawatu Rugby Union is the governing body of the sport of Rugby union in the Manawatu rugby province. The Union is based in the city of Palmerston North but has a catchment area from nearby towns in the province, including Feilding, Rongotea, Linton, Bulls, Pahiatua, Dannevirke and...
in 1919. Carroll was also selected for the North Island in 1919.
Carroll played in 8 games for the All Blacks, being a part of the 1920 tour of Australia, but never played in a Test match. Carroll scored 3 tries and 2 conversions for the All Blacks, totalling 13 points. Carroll continued to play for Manawatu until 1924.
Rugby league career
In 1925 Carroll moved to WellingtonWellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
and switched codes to rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
, representing the provience.
Carroll played in two Tests for the New Zealand Kiwis
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
, touring Australia in 1926 and being part of the 1926–27 tour of Great Britain where he played against England at Central Park
Central Park (Wigan)
Central Park was a rugby league stadium in Wigan, England. It was the home of Wigan RLFC before the club moved to the JJB Stadium in 1999. Its final capacity was 18,000.-History:...
, Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
on 2 October 1926. The tour was marred by strike action by the forwards and Carroll was one of the seven players sent home. As a result he was banned for life by the New Zealand Rugby League
New Zealand Rugby League
The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year....
– a ban which was lifted in 1962.
Later years
Carroll attempted to return to rugby union but his application was refused by the New Zealand Rugby Union in 1930. He participated in some "low level" coaching and was eventually reinstated in 1967, at the time of the NZRFU’s 75th jubilee.Carroll owned a dairy farm in and was an active member of the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
. His farm was the venue for the local Snake Valley cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
team for 40 years.
Two of Carrolls sons, Joe and Jim, represented Manawatu between 1965–68 and 1972–83 respectively.