Story: Rugby league

League and union

League and union

As this 1912 cartoon shows, the relationship between rugby union and rugby league was difficult. In the caption, the Auckland Rugby Union says, 'And to think Georgy there, of whom I thought so much a few years ago, and who was the idol of my eyes, should be throwing mud at me, his mother. I'm shocked and pained, but repudiate and cast him off, and know nothing whatever about him for the future.’

Using this item

National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past
Reference: The New Zealand observer and free lancer, 8 June 1912, p. 16

Permission of the National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

John Coffey, 'Rugby league - Arrival in New Zealand', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/cartoon/39044/league-and-union (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by John Coffey, published 5 Sep 2013