William Collins (sportsman, born 1853)
Encyclopedia
William Edward Collins MB
MRCS
CMG
(14 October 1853 in Monghyr, India
– 11 August 1934 in Wellington
, New Zealand
) was a sportsman and politician. His greatest accomplishments came in rugby union
, in which sport he represented England
as a half-back
several times in the 1870s, before emigrating to New Zealand in 1878.
Collins also played two games of first-class cricket
for Wellington in the 1880s. Previously he had played for Cheltenham College
, and had played against teams captained by WG Grace. AEJ Collins was his nephew,
while his son David Collins
played more than 50 first-class matches and his brother John Collins
six.
Away from sport, Collins was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council
or upper house from 1907 until he died; renewed in 1914, 1921 and 1928.
Medal of Bravery
The Medal of Bravery is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the third highest award for bravery, and one of the three Canadian Bravery Decorations gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council...
MRCS
Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons
MRCS is a professional qualification for surgeons in the UK and IrelandIt means Member of the Royal College of Surgeons. In the United Kingdom, doctors who gain this qualification traditionally no longer use the title 'Dr' but start to use the title 'Mr', 'Mrs', 'Miss' or 'Ms'.There are 4 surgical...
CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(14 October 1853 in Monghyr, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
– 11 August 1934 in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
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...
) was a sportsman and politician. His greatest accomplishments came in 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...
, in which sport he represented England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
as a half-back
Rugby union positions
In the game rugby union, there are fifteen players on each team, comprising eight forwards and seven backs . Depending upon the competition, there may be up to eight replacement players. Early games consisted primarily of forwards that attacked plus a handful of "tends" that played back in defence...
several times in the 1870s, before emigrating to New Zealand in 1878.
Collins also played two games of first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
for Wellington in the 1880s. Previously he had played for Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College is a co-educational independent school, located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.One of the public schools of the Victorian period, it was opened in July 1841. An Anglican foundation, it is known for its classical, military and sporting traditions.The 1893 book Great...
, and had played against teams captained by WG Grace. AEJ Collins was his nephew,
while his son David Collins
David Collins (New Zealand cricketer)
Dr David Charles Collins was a New Zealand cricketer. He played 53 first-class matches between 1905–06 and 1926–27, the bulk of these being for Wellington in New Zealand and Cambridge University in England; he won a blue for Cambridge and headed their batting averages in 1910.After...
played more than 50 first-class matches and his brother John Collins
John Collins (New Zealand cricketer)
John Ulrich Collins was a New Zealand cricketer who played six first-class matches: one for Nelson in 1884–85 and five for Canterbury between 1892–93 and 1895–96...
six.
Away from sport, Collins was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council
New Zealand Legislative Council
The Legislative Council of New Zealand was the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament from 1853 until 1951. Unlike the lower house, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was appointed.-Role:...
or upper house from 1907 until he died; renewed in 1914, 1921 and 1928.