FRANK HENRY – KIWI #173

Hornby forward Frank Henry won New Zealand selection for the first time in 1925 soon after emigrating from England.

A product of the York club, Henry trialled for the 1924 England team to tour Australian and New Zealand but illness ruled him out of contention.

Following his move to Christchurch, Henry turned out for championship-winners Hornby, Canterbury, South Island in the inaugural interisland fixture in 1925, then won selection for New Zealand’s tour of Australia. He played in nine of the 12 games across the Tasman, including all four clashes with NSW and one against Queensland.

Henry played in one of Canterbury’s games against the star-studded Queensland tourists later in 1925.

The highly-rated Englishman was chosen for New Zealand’s 1926-27 tour of Britain and played in the first two Tests among 12 appearances. But Henry was among a group of players to strike following a series of confrontations with management.

Henry, who stayed in England after the tour, and six teammates were handed life bans by the NZRL for their actions on tour. The group was reinstated in 1962.

FRANK HENRY
NEW ZEALAND (1925-27)
2 Tests – 0 points
-1925 New Zealand tour of Australia
-1926-27 New Zealand tour of Britain