Keith Roberts (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Keith Roberts is a New Zealand
former rugby league
player who represented his country
in the 1960 World Cup
.
competition. He debuted for Canterbury in 1953 and the South Island
in 1954. In 1955 he was first selected for the New Zealand Kiwis for a tour of Great Britain and France. He was chosen for New Zealand Māori
in 1956 but withdrew due to injury. He moved to Papanui in 1957 and later became their player-coach.
He captained Canterbury between 1958 and 1960. He was part of the Kiwis tours of Australia in 1956 and 1959 and in 1960 was part of the World Cup squad
. He retired from representative football after the 1960 season having played in thirty five games for New Zealand, including thirteen test matches.
Roberts continued to play for Papanui until he retired in 1962. He then coached Canterbury to a victory over Auckland in 1962. Roberts was later a player-coach in the New South Wales Country before returning to again coach Canterbury. He was later a New Zealand Schoolboys selector and coach.
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...
former 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...
player who represented his country
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 the 1960 World Cup
1960 Rugby League World Cup
The 1960 Rugby League World Cup was the third staging of the tournament and the first Rugby league World Cup to be held in Great Britain. The same format as used in 1957 was used, with a group stage leading to a final table....
.
Playing career
Roberts played for Marist in the Canterbury Rugby LeagueCanterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League is the regional body that administers rugby league in Canterbury, New Zealand. CRL manages local competitions from senior level down to age group competitions. Canterbury Rugby League also manages the Canterbury rugby league team which represents the region in New Zealand...
competition. He debuted for Canterbury in 1953 and the South Island
South Island rugby league team
The South Island rugby league team represents the Southern Zone in the Albert Baskerville Trophy. The Zone represented the Southland, Otago, West Coast, Canterbury and Tasman districts. They are nicknamed the Scorpions...
in 1954. In 1955 he was first selected for the New Zealand Kiwis for a tour of Great Britain and France. He was chosen for New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
in 1956 but withdrew due to injury. He moved to Papanui in 1957 and later became their player-coach.
He captained Canterbury between 1958 and 1960. He was part of the Kiwis tours of Australia in 1956 and 1959 and in 1960 was part of the World Cup squad
1960 Rugby League World Cup
The 1960 Rugby League World Cup was the third staging of the tournament and the first Rugby league World Cup to be held in Great Britain. The same format as used in 1957 was used, with a group stage leading to a final table....
. He retired from representative football after the 1960 season having played in thirty five games for New Zealand, including thirteen test matches.
Roberts continued to play for Papanui until he retired in 1962. He then coached Canterbury to a victory over Auckland in 1962. Roberts was later a player-coach in the New South Wales Country before returning to again coach Canterbury. He was later a New Zealand Schoolboys selector and coach.