George Helmore
George Helmore was a New Zealand Rugby Union player who played for the All Blacks in 1884. Although he never played a test match, he played 7 matches and scored 16 points. He also played cricket for Canterbury.
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| Birth name | George Henry Noble Helmore | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 15 June 1862 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Christchurch, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 28 June 1922 (aged 60) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life
George Helmore was a Christ's College student and played for the school 1st XV in 1879/80. In 1880 he played his first match for Canterbury. Helmore played 13 times for Canterbury, and many times as captain. He led Canterbury to their two wins over the touring New South Wales side in 1886 and appeared twice in the first two of their three matches against the Great Britain side touring in 1888.
All Blacks
Helmore was a utility back and seen as one of the most versatile players to ever appear for New Zealand. He played at wing, centre, inside back, and even in the forwards at times. Helmore was part of the team touring Australia in 1884, his debut coming on 22 may when they played Wellington before the left for Australia. In the First match in Australia Helmore was well involved, scoring three tries in the 33–0 win over Cumberland County. They then played New South Wales in Sydney where they won 11–0. He was then picked for the match against Northern Districts, scoring a drop goal in the 29–0 win. Another match against N.S.W., at Agricultural Society's Ground in Sydney. With a crowd of 6000 watching the All Blacks went out to a 7–2 lead at the break. N.S.W. could not pull them back New Zealand winning 21–2 and Dumbbell scoring his fourth try of the tour.
Dumbbell was picked for the next two games against Western Districts at Bathurst, and N.S.W. at Sydney but he did not score.