Tommy Corkill

Thomas "Tommy" George Corkill (9 July 1901 – 9 May 1966)[1] was a New Zealand rugby union player who represented the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks in 1925. His position of choice was preferably a halfback however he was used throughout the backline both provincially and internationally.

Tommy Corkill

Corkill in 1925
Birth name	Thomas George Corkill
Date of birth	9 July 1901
Place of birth	Wairoa, New Zealand
Date of death	9 May 1966 (aged 64)
Place of death	Wellington, New Zealand
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	70 kg (11 st 0 lb)
School	St. Patrick's College
Occupation(s)	Clerk
Rugby union career
Position(s) Utility back All Black No. 317 Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1923 1924–27 1929–30 Wairoa City Wairoa Pirates Red Star () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1923–27 1929–30 1930 Hawke's Bay Wairarapa Wairarapa-Bush 31 15 1 () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1925 New Zealand

Although born in Wairoa, in the Hawke's Bay, Corkill was educated at St. Patrick's College in Wellington.[2] He was a member of the 1st XV in 1918.[3]

Career

Corkill played one season for the Wairoa City club in 1923.[3] The next season he transferred to the Wairoa Pirates club where he played until 1927. During this period Corkill represented Hawke's Bay on 31 occasions, with 10 of these being Ranfurly Shield matches.[4]

It was in 1925 where he would achieve his All Black status, after being selected to tour Australia, playing against teams from New South Wales. As Don Wright was the preferred halfback in the touring party Corkill was forced to play in other positions. In his four games on tour Corkill played two as a fly-half and the other two at halfback.[3] One of his tour games was the final fixture, against a combined Wellington-Manawatu-Horowhenua side once they had returned to New Zealand.[4]

After two more seasons in the Hawke's Bay Corkill moved to Masterton where he joined the Red Star club (now known as Masterton Red Star due to a merge) in 1929. In his two seasons in the Wairarapa he was once again made to play in other backline positions due to fellow Hawke's Bay player Jimmy Mill, also a halfback, making the move at the same time. He totaled 15 matches for the Wairarapa union and one more, in 1930 against the touring British Lions, when the union combined with Bush.[4]

Personal life and death

On 24 November 1930 Corkill married Miss Cook.[5] He later moved back from Masterton to Wellington and worked as a clerk. He died on 9 May 1966 and was buried at Karori Cemetery.[6]

References

1. "the 1,109 rugby ALL BLACKS since 1884 – ABBOTT to FURLONG". www.familytreecircles.com. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
2. "School Roll 1885–1985: St Patrick's College, Wellington". Retrieved 12 December 2017.
3. Chester, Rod; McMillan, Neville; Palenski, Ron (1987). The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugby. Auckland, New Zealand: Moa Publications. p. 45. ISBN 0-908570-16-3.
4. Knight, Lindsay. "Tommy Corkill". stats.allblacks.com. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
5. WELL-KNOWN RUGBY PLAYER MARRIED.—Mr. T.. Corkill, well-known Rugby representative, leaving St. Mary of the Angels' Church, in Boulcott street, this morning, after his marriage to Miss Cook, of Napier. Evening Post (24 November 1930)
6. "Karori Cemetery – Burials". Retrieved 12 December 2017.