Arthur Hennessy
Encyclopedia
Arthur Stephen "Ash" Hennessy (24 September 1876 in Sydney, New South Wales – 19 September 1959) was an Australia
n pioneer rugby league
identity. He was a seminal figure in the creation of the South Sydney Rabbitohs
for whom he played and later coached. He was a state and national representative hooker/forward and was the first captain of the Australian national rugby league team
.
player for Souths in 1901. Hennessy represented New South Wales
in 1901, 1902 and 1904, and in 1907 was made Souths' captain.
A breakaway, and later hooker in rugby union (with Souths), when in 1902 Hennessy represented against New Zealand, the All Blacks
mistook him for a halfback as he lacked the size they deemed necessary for a forward. His enthusiastic foraging and tackling soon changed Kiwi minds.
He was a rugby union coach at The King's School, Sydney
in 1905.
toured in 1907, Hennessy joined the breakaway New South Wales Rugby Football League and was selected as the new code's first New South Wales captain. In October of that year Hennessy chaired a meeting of rugby identities with a view to creating a South Sydney rugby league club
. The club was formed on 17 January 1908 and Hennessy was the inaugural captain-coach.
For rugby league, Hennessy's place in the scheme of things is nothing less than extraordinary. When the new game of Northern Union (rugby league) arrived in Australia in the late winter of 1907, he enthusiastically stepped on board and when the New Zealand All Golds came to play the first of their historic three-game series against the locals at the Agricultural Ground (Sydney Showground) in August 1907, he was the NSW captain and coach. The games were played under rugby union rules as no one had a copy of the new code's laws. Hennessy subsequently read the rule book which arrived in Australia and declared: "This is a game for racehorses".
Along with his fellow pioneers Hennessy was prepared to accept the ill-will that accompanied the splitting of the rugby code. "You had to take it on the chin and give it on the chin," he said. "Many good friendships tumbled to dust when we switched football codes."
Hennessy stands as a monumental figure in the South Sydney
story. It was at his home in Chapman St, Surry Hills in October 1907 that the meeting was held which led to the formation of the Rabbitohs. Hennessy has sent a circular to all rugby union clubs in the district, convening the meeting. Because of that day and the events that followed, he can be fairly rated as the club's founder.
In 1908, he was Souths' first hooker and, with Billy Cann
, one of the club's first two delegates to the NSW Rugby League
. In that foundation season had the honour of captaining Australia
in its first ever rugby league Test – against New Zealand
. Hennessy played in both Tests in May against New Zealand as captain, both of which Australia lost.
In July of that inaugural season he made another representative appearance captaining New South Wales
in a 43-0 whitewash of Queensland
in the first ever Australian interstate match.
He won a place in the inaugural Kangaroo tour
of 1908–09, but came under criticism since he also doubled as a selector. He suffered a luckless campaign.
Battling with his teammates through a brutal UK winter, he broke his jaw and then his cheekbone in minor matches and played only seven games on tour.
In 1909 Hennessy made three appearances for the Eastern Suburbs
club, including that year's semi-final against Balmain
in which he was named as captain.
In 1913 he coached a New South Wales
side on a tour of New Zealand
and was ahead of his time in introducing a steak-only protein diet on match days. In 1929–30 he had the honour of being coach-masseur of the Kangaroo tourists, who due to Chimpy Busch's controversial 'no-try' at Swinton, were unlucky not to bring home the Ashes.
In 1930 he served as the coach of New Zealand
in their tour of Australia.
He was a man of diverse talents – a football guru who taught rugby (both codes) to a range of teams, at a number of levels: Souths, Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview, Waverley College
, The King's School
– as well as Country, State and Australia's national
representative sides. He also taught boxing, and for a time was manager of the lightweight Australian champion Sid Godfrey.
Forty years ago Jack Coyne summed him up this way: "His outstanding coaching ability, his leadership on the field and off, his pertinacity and his personality all combined to make Arthur a redoubtable friend and an implacable opponent." Coyne made the point that for a footballer to survive the challenges that emerged in rugby league's early days, he had to be "a big man, in heart, courage and stature".
Undoubtedly Ash Hennessy scored highly on the required qualities. He ranks as one of Souths' great men – a major influence and driving force in all that the club was to become.
in Sydney's south-eastern beaches Hennessy became something of a local entrepreneur in later life, investing in the Maroubra speedway; opening a mini-golf course and owning the local cinema . He lived till his death in a cottage opposite the theatre and is buried in Botany cemetery.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n pioneer 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...
identity. He was a seminal figure in the creation of the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
for whom he played and later coached. He was a state and national representative hooker/forward and was the first captain of the Australian national rugby league team
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
.
Rugby union career
His junior football was played in the centres for the Boys Brigade in 1895. He then played for Bayview in 1896 and became a South Sydney junior. By 1901 he was regular first grade 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...
player for Souths in 1901. Hennessy represented New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in 1901, 1902 and 1904, and in 1907 was made Souths' captain.
A breakaway, and later hooker in rugby union (with Souths), when in 1902 Hennessy represented against New Zealand, the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
mistook him for a halfback as he lacked the size they deemed necessary for a forward. His enthusiastic foraging and tackling soon changed Kiwi minds.
He was a rugby union coach at The King's School, Sydney
The King's School, Sydney
The King's School is an independent Anglican, day and boarding school for boys in North Parramatta in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831, it is Australia's oldest school and forms one of the nine "Great Public Schools" of New South Wales. Situated within a site, Gowan Brae,...
in 1905.
Rugby league pioneer
When the New Zealand All GoldsNew 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...
toured in 1907, Hennessy joined the breakaway New South Wales Rugby Football League and was selected as the new code's first New South Wales captain. In October of that year Hennessy chaired a meeting of rugby identities with a view to creating a South Sydney rugby league club
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
. The club was formed on 17 January 1908 and Hennessy was the inaugural captain-coach.
For rugby league, Hennessy's place in the scheme of things is nothing less than extraordinary. When the new game of Northern Union (rugby league) arrived in Australia in the late winter of 1907, he enthusiastically stepped on board and when the New Zealand All Golds came to play the first of their historic three-game series against the locals at the Agricultural Ground (Sydney Showground) in August 1907, he was the NSW captain and coach. The games were played under rugby union rules as no one had a copy of the new code's laws. Hennessy subsequently read the rule book which arrived in Australia and declared: "This is a game for racehorses".
Along with his fellow pioneers Hennessy was prepared to accept the ill-will that accompanied the splitting of the rugby code. "You had to take it on the chin and give it on the chin," he said. "Many good friendships tumbled to dust when we switched football codes."
Hennessy stands as a monumental figure in the South Sydney
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
story. It was at his home in Chapman St, Surry Hills in October 1907 that the meeting was held which led to the formation of the Rabbitohs. Hennessy has sent a circular to all rugby union clubs in the district, convening the meeting. Because of that day and the events that followed, he can be fairly rated as the club's founder.
Club and representative career
Billy Cann
Wiliam A. "Billy" Cann was an Australian rugby league footballer for Souths, New South Wales and Australia. He primarily played at lock and is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century...
, one of the club's first two delegates to the NSW Rugby League
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
. In that foundation season had the honour of captaining Australia
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
in its first ever rugby league Test – against New Zealand
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...
. Hennessy played in both Tests in May against New Zealand as captain, both of which Australia lost.
In July of that inaugural season he made another representative appearance captaining New South Wales
New South Wales Rugby League team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
in a 43-0 whitewash of Queensland
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
in the first ever Australian interstate match.
He won a place in the inaugural Kangaroo tour
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
of 1908–09, but came under criticism since he also doubled as a selector. He suffered a luckless campaign.
Battling with his teammates through a brutal UK winter, he broke his jaw and then his cheekbone in minor matches and played only seven games on tour.
In 1909 Hennessy made three appearances for the Eastern Suburbs
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
club, including that year's semi-final against Balmain
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
in which he was named as captain.
Coach
As coach at South Sydney he was also the father of the Rabbitoh's own style – introducing the famous "no kick" policy, based on his football creed of Position, Possession, Penetration and Pace. His theory was this: If you pass the ball often enough and move forward with supports, the defence must eventually crack and you will score tries. Souths lived that creed through glorious eras and for much of the club's life – although the arrival of the limited tackle rule in 1967 inevitably changed the way the game was played.In 1913 he coached a New South Wales
New South Wales Rugby League team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
side on a tour of New Zealand
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...
and was ahead of his time in introducing a steak-only protein diet on match days. In 1929–30 he had the honour of being coach-masseur of the Kangaroo tourists, who due to Chimpy Busch's controversial 'no-try' at Swinton, were unlucky not to bring home the Ashes.
In 1930 he served as the coach of New Zealand
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...
in their tour of Australia.
He was a man of diverse talents – a football guru who taught rugby (both codes) to a range of teams, at a number of levels: Souths, Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview, Waverley College
Waverley College
Waverley College is a Roman Catholic, secondary, day school for boys, located at Waverley, in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, The King's School
The King's School, Sydney
The King's School is an independent Anglican, day and boarding school for boys in North Parramatta in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831, it is Australia's oldest school and forms one of the nine "Great Public Schools" of New South Wales. Situated within a site, Gowan Brae,...
– as well as Country, State and Australia's national
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
representative sides. He also taught boxing, and for a time was manager of the lightweight Australian champion Sid Godfrey.
Forty years ago Jack Coyne summed him up this way: "His outstanding coaching ability, his leadership on the field and off, his pertinacity and his personality all combined to make Arthur a redoubtable friend and an implacable opponent." Coyne made the point that for a footballer to survive the challenges that emerged in rugby league's early days, he had to be "a big man, in heart, courage and stature".
Undoubtedly Ash Hennessy scored highly on the required qualities. He ranks as one of Souths' great men – a major influence and driving force in all that the club was to become.
Later life
Living at MaroubraMaroubra, New South Wales
Maroubra is a beachside suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Maroubra is located 10 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Randwick. Maroubra is the largest suburb in the area governed...
in Sydney's south-eastern beaches Hennessy became something of a local entrepreneur in later life, investing in the Maroubra speedway; opening a mini-golf course and owning the local cinema . He lived till his death in a cottage opposite the theatre and is buried in Botany cemetery.