Hercules Richard Wright
Encyclopedia
Hercules Richard "Bumper" Wright (1881–1963) was a New Zealand
rugby football
er who was part of the professional (rugby league) 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.
career playing for North Wairarapa in 1899. He then moved to Petone where he joined the Petone Rugby Club
.
, Wright played for the New Zealand Army Corps team, which was the first New Zealand rugby side to play in South Africa
.
rugby. He eventually became the captain of both Wellington and Petone. He was also selected for the All Blacks
but withdrew due to injury and never represented New Zealand in rugby union.
Wright was a noted disciplinarian and was known to check on his Petone team mates the night before games.
selected. Wright had been one of the tours selectors and was elected captain for the tour, a sign of the democratic nature of the touring party. As a result he also served on the tours Management committee. He played in four test matches while on the tour.
When Wright returned to New Zealand he played rugby league in Wellington, representing the Wellington Rugby League
in matches against Auckland
in 1908 and Taranaki
in 1909. He was on the Petone Borough Council, and on the Brooklyn school committee.
Like five other members of the touring party, Wright is buried at Karori Cemetery.
A brother Robert Alexander Wright
was Minister of Education and Mayor of Wellington.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
rugby football
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
er who was part of the professional (rugby league) 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.
Early years
Born in Arahura, 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Hokitika on the West Coast of New Zealand, Wright was a printer by trade.Rugby Football
Wright began his 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...
career playing for North Wairarapa in 1899. He then moved to Petone where he joined the Petone Rugby Club
Petone Rugby Club
The Petone Rugby Football Club was founded in 1885 and has been the Wellington Premier Champion 39 times between 1895 and 2005. In addition to this, the club has won the Club Championship on 42 occasions between 1922 and 2005...
.
Boer War
During the Second Boer WarSecond Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, Wright played for the New Zealand Army Corps team, which was the first New Zealand rugby side to play in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Wellington
On his return Wright played for Wellington and played Ranfurly ShieldRanfurly Shield
The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies...
rugby. He eventually became the captain of both Wellington and Petone. He was also selected for 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....
but withdrew due to injury and never represented New Zealand in rugby union.
Wright was a noted disciplinarian and was known to check on his Petone team mates the night before games.
Rugby League
Wright joined the professional All Blacks for the 1907–1908 tour of Great Britain and Australia. He was one of six players from the Petone Rugby ClubPetone Rugby Club
The Petone Rugby Football Club was founded in 1885 and has been the Wellington Premier Champion 39 times between 1895 and 2005. In addition to this, the club has won the Club Championship on 42 occasions between 1922 and 2005...
selected. Wright had been one of the tours selectors and was elected captain for the tour, a sign of the democratic nature of the touring party. As a result he also served on the tours Management committee. He played in four test matches while on the tour.
When Wright returned to New Zealand he played rugby league in Wellington, representing the Wellington Rugby League
Wellington Rugby League
Wellington Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Greater Wellington region. It is responsible for the local competition of the same name, as well as its representative team, the Wellington rugby league team.- Local Senior Competition :The...
in matches against Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
in 1908 and Taranaki
Taranaki Rugby League
Taranaki Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Taranaki region of New Zealand. The TRL are represented by the Taranaki rugby league team...
in 1909. He was on the Petone Borough Council, and on the Brooklyn school committee.
Like five other members of the touring party, Wright is buried at Karori Cemetery.
A brother Robert Alexander Wright
Robert Alexander Wright
Robert Alexander Wright was the Mayor of Wellington from 1921 to 1925, and a New Zealand politician of the Reform Party.He represented the Wellington South electorate in Parliament from 1908 to 1911 when he was defeated, then the Wellington Suburbs and Country electorate from 1914 to 1919 and the...
was Minister of Education and Mayor of Wellington.