Karl Ifwersen
Encyclopedia
Karl Donald Ifwersen was a New Zealand
rugby football
player who represented his country in both rugby league
and rugby union
.
club and was instrumental in helping the team win back-to-back junior championships in their first two years in ARFU competition. In 1912 he represented Auckland in provincial matches.
, joining the Grafton club in the Auckland Rugby League
competition. He played for Auckland
before representing his club and made the 1913 New Zealand squad. He also played for the North Shore club.
, Ifwersen joined the military and served for the duration of the war.
. He immediately returned to the rep team, captaining the combined Auckland-North Auckland side against South Africa
in his first game back and scoring the only try.
Ifwersen played in one test match for the All Blacks
during the 1921 South Africa tour of the country
.
Ifwersen continued to play for Auckland between 1922 and 1938.
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:...
player who represented his country in both 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...
.
Early years
Ifwersen attended both St John's College and Auckland Grammar. He joined the new College Rifles 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...
club and was instrumental in helping the team win back-to-back junior championships in their first two years in ARFU competition. In 1912 he represented Auckland in provincial matches.
Rugby league career
Ifwersen then switched codes to rugby leagueRugby 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...
, joining the Grafton club in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition. He played for 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...
before representing his club and made the 1913 New Zealand squad. He also played for the North Shore club.
World War
With the outbreak of World War IWorld 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...
, Ifwersen joined the military and served for the duration of the war.
Return to league
After the War Ifwersen returned to New Zealand and again made the New Zealand side. He captained the side in four Test matches in 1919.Rugby union career
In 1921 Ifwersen switched codes, 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...
. He immediately returned to the rep team, captaining the combined Auckland-North Auckland side against South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
in his first game back and scoring the only try.
Ifwersen played in one test match 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....
during the 1921 South Africa tour of the country
1921 South Africa rugby union tour of New Zealand
In 1921 the South Africa national rugby union team toured New Zealand for the first time. During the tour, South Africa played three Test matches against the All Blacks, the series was drawn 1–1....
.
Ifwersen continued to play for Auckland between 1922 and 1938.