Herb Gilbert
Encyclopedia
Herbert R. Gilbert was an Australia
n rugby league
and rugby union
player – a dual-code 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. The captain-coach of the St. George Dragons
club in their inaugural season, he is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century
and moved to Sydney, playing rugby union in the South Sydney district.
Gilbert was selected for New South Wales
in 1910 against Queensland
and then the New Zealand Māori
. 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.
Tall and powerful for his era, Gilbert stood at 6 ft (182 cm) he weighed (86 kg), and reputedly played his best football in the big games. He played Rugby Union for Metropolitan, New South Wales and Australia. He made his debut for New South Wales in 1910, aged 22, he played against Queensland and the New Zealand Native's Team. Gilbert learnt his football in the South Sydney District and went into the NSW and Australian teams in 1910 after ‘Daly’ Messenger defected to league. The pro-Rugby Union press boasted Gilbert was a greater asset to the Union than Dally Messenger had ever been.
Gilbert played twice for NSW in 1910, in his first season of representative football, figuring prominently in matches against Queensland and the NZ Maoris, and won a place in all three internationals against New Zealand, who won the series, played over only eight days, by two tests to one.
First representation for Australia – Rugby Union
Herb Gilbert played three Tests for Australia – all against New
Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1910, scoring two tries in the 2nd
test and one in the third.
1st Test – 25 June 1910 against New Zealand Australia 0 New Zealand (All Blacks ) 6 at Sydney Cricket Ground
2nd Test – 27 June 1910 against NZ Australia 11 All Blacks 0 Gilbert 2 Tries
3rd Test against NZ Australia 13 All Blacks 28 Gilbert I Try
Herb Gilbert was a fine winger for Australia he is remembered for his role in Australia’s win over New Zealand in the 2nd test in 1910. He scored two of Australia’s three tries with strong, hard running, positioning himself well at the end of sustained passing rushes.
in 1910. He represented for New South Wales
in 1911 and was chosen for the 1911-1912 Kangaroo 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, captaining them to a Challenge Cup
victory in 1914.
After the outbreak of World War I
, 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 club. He retired as player at the end of that season but coached the club until 1924.
. Herb died in 1972 – aged 84.
In 2004 he was named by Souths in their South Sydney Dream Team, 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.
and Jack playing in the Dragons' maiden Grand Final victory in 1941.
Two great grandsons are professional sportsman – Sam Gilbert
played AFL
with St. Kilda
and Larry Davidson
, a basketballer who played in the NBL for the Wollongong Hawks
.
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 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...
and 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...
player – a dual-code international. He represented the Wallabies
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
in 3 Tests in 1910 and the Kangaroos in 7 Tests from 1911 to 1920, his last two as Captain. The captain-coach of the St. George Dragons
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
club in their inaugural season, he is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century
Rugby union career
He was born in Gulgong, New South WalesGulgong, New South Wales
Gulgong is a 19th century gold rush town in the Central-West of the Australian state of New South Wales. The town is located about north west of Sydney, and about 30 km north of Mudgee along the Castlereagh Highway. At the 2006 census, Gulgong had a population of 1,907 people...
and moved to Sydney, playing rugby union in the South Sydney district.
Gilbert was selected for New South Wales
New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
in 1910 against Queensland
Queensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...
and then the New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
. That same year he made his Wallaby
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
Test debut playing in all three Tests against 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....
in 1910 in which the Wallabies were undefeated.
Tall and powerful for his era, Gilbert stood at 6 ft (182 cm) he weighed (86 kg), and reputedly played his best football in the big games. He played Rugby Union for Metropolitan, New South Wales and Australia. He made his debut for New South Wales in 1910, aged 22, he played against Queensland and the New Zealand Native's Team. Gilbert learnt his football in the South Sydney District and went into the NSW and Australian teams in 1910 after ‘Daly’ Messenger defected to league. The pro-Rugby Union press boasted Gilbert was a greater asset to the Union than Dally Messenger had ever been.
Gilbert played twice for NSW in 1910, in his first season of representative football, figuring prominently in matches against Queensland and the NZ Maoris, and won a place in all three internationals against New Zealand, who won the series, played over only eight days, by two tests to one.
First representation for Australia – Rugby Union
Herb Gilbert played three Tests for Australia – all against New
Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1910, scoring two tries in the 2nd
test and one in the third.
1st Test – 25 June 1910 against New Zealand Australia 0 New Zealand (All Blacks ) 6 at Sydney Cricket Ground
2nd Test – 27 June 1910 against NZ Australia 11 All Blacks 0 Gilbert 2 Tries
3rd Test against NZ Australia 13 All Blacks 28 Gilbert I Try
Herb Gilbert was a fine winger for Australia he is remembered for his role in Australia’s win over New Zealand in the 2nd test in 1910. He scored two of Australia’s three tries with strong, hard running, positioning himself well at the end of sustained passing rushes.
Rugby league career
Gilbert later crossed over to the professional code, joining the South Sydney ClubSouth 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...
in 1910. He represented for New South Wales
New South Wales Blues
The New South Wales cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales...
in 1911 and was chosen for the 1911-1912 Kangaroo 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, captaining them to a Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
victory in 1914.
After the outbreak of 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...
, the three-quarter
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
returned to Australia, where he rejoined South Sydney. In 1916, Gilbert joined 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...
. He was a member of that club's City Cup
City Cup
The City Cup was a rugby league competition involving Australian premiership teams. The post season tournament was a regular feature in the years 1912 - 1925. City Cups were also played in 1937, 1942 and 1959....
winning side before joining the Western Suburbs Magpies
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
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
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
' 1920 tour of Australia. All four of Australia's illustrious three-quarter line of Dick Vest, Harold Horder
Harold Horder
Harold Norman Horder was an Australian rugby league player a national and state representative player whose club career was with the South Sydney Rabbitohs and North Sydney Bears between 1912 and 1924...
, Viv Farnsworth
Viv Farnsworth
Viv Farnsworth was an Australian professional rugby league player for Newtown, Wests, New South Wales and Australia, he also represented Australasia...
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 club. He retired as player at the end of that season but coached the club until 1924.
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 GroundSydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
. Herb died in 1972 – aged 84.
In 2004 he was named by Souths in their South Sydney Dream Team, consisting of 17 players and a coach representing the club from 1908
New South Wales Rugby League season 1908
The 1908 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the inaugural season of Australia's first rugby league football club competition, which was based in Sydney, New South Wales...
through to 2004
National Rugby League season 2004
The year 2004 NRL season was the 97th season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the seventh run by the National Rugby League. Fifteen clubs competed for the Telstra Premiership...
.
In February 2008, Gilbert was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
and ARL
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.
Progeny
Three of Gilbert's sons all played for St. George with Herb JuniorHerb Gilbert, Jnr.
Herb Gilbert, Jr. is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1930s and 40s whose usual position was at hooker. Son of Kangaroo great Herb Gilbert, Herb Junior started playing first grade in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership with the St. George club in 1938. The...
and Jack playing in the Dragons' maiden Grand Final victory in 1941.
Two great grandsons are professional sportsman – Sam Gilbert
Sam Gilbert
Sam Gilbert is a professional Australian rules footballer for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Early life:Gilbert is a rugby league convert who didn’t start playing AFL until he was 16 years old...
played AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
with St. Kilda
St. Kilda Football Club
The St Kilda Football Club, nicknamed The Saints, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The club plays in the Australian Football League, the sport's premier league....
and Larry Davidson
Larry Davidson
Larry Davidson is an Australian basketballer. He plays in the National Basketball League with the Wollongong Hawks as a power forward or center....
, a basketballer who played in the NBL for the Wollongong Hawks
Wollongong Hawks
The Wollongong Hawks are a team competing in Australia's National Basketball League , based in the New South Wales city of Wollongong. They won the NBL championship in 2001 and finished as runners-up in 2005 and 2010...
.
Playing record
- Club: SouthsSouth Sydney RabbitohsThe 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...
(1911–12 & 1915) 23 games, 6 tries, 3 goals; Hull, England 1912–1915; EastsSydney RoostersThe 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...
(1916) 14 games, 6 tries; WestsWestern Suburbs MagpiesThe Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
(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.