Tom Hadfield (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Bernard Thomas "Tom" Hadfield is a New Zealand
rugby league
player who represented his country
in the 1957
and 1960 World Cups
and retired as the highest try-scorer in the New Zealand national side's history.
player, Hadfield was an Auckland
representative. He was part of the Northcote club during the Auckland Rugby League
's district era and so played for Northern Districts - an amalgamation of the Northcote and North Shore clubs.
Hadfield first made the New Zealand Kiwis in 1956. He went on to play 15 Tests for the Kiwis, including at the 1957
and 1960 World Cups
. After the 1960 World Cup Tom played for the Rest of the World vs Great Britain. He finished his career with a then record 15 tries for the Kiwis, five more than the previous record. As of 2010 he is 6th equal highest tryscorer for the Kiwis.
He was inducted into the New Zealand Rugby League
's "Legends of League" in 2010. In 2009 he was named as a member of the New Zealand Rugby League Team of the Century and in 2010 he was made a Legends of Harbour by Harbour Sport.
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 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 1957
1957 Rugby League World Cup
The second Rugby League World Cup was held in Australia in 1957. As before a group stage was held first, with matches being held at locations in Sydney and Brisbane....
and 1960 World Cups
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....
and retired as the highest try-scorer in the New Zealand national side's history.
Playing career
A Northcote TigersNorthcote Tigers
The Northcote Tigers are a rugby league club based in Northcote, New Zealand. The club was founded in 1910 as the Northcote Warriors.The Tigers compete in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. Between 2000 and 2002 the Northcote Tigers competed in the national Bartercard...
player, Hadfield was an 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...
representative. He was part of the Northcote club during 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...
's district era and so played for Northern Districts - an amalgamation of the Northcote and North Shore clubs.
Hadfield first made the New Zealand Kiwis in 1956. He went on to play 15 Tests for the Kiwis, including at the 1957
1957 Rugby League World Cup
The second Rugby League World Cup was held in Australia in 1957. As before a group stage was held first, with matches being held at locations in Sydney and Brisbane....
and 1960 World Cups
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....
. After the 1960 World Cup Tom played for the Rest of the World vs Great Britain. He finished his career with a then record 15 tries for the Kiwis, five more than the previous record. As of 2010 he is 6th equal highest tryscorer for the Kiwis.
He was inducted into the New Zealand Rugby League
New Zealand Rugby League
The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year....
's "Legends of League" in 2010. In 2009 he was named as a member of the New Zealand Rugby League Team of the Century and in 2010 he was made a Legends of Harbour by Harbour Sport.