Gordon Innes


Gordon Donald Innes was a New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. He played representative rugby union for New Zealand and Canterbury as a second five-eighth, i.e. number 12, and representative rugby league for English/Rugby League XIII, and at club level for Wigan, and Castleford, as a, i.e. number 3 or 4.

Early life

Gordon Innes was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, he was a pupil of Christchurch Boys' High School, and he died aged 82 in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Rugby union career

He played 31 matches in the second five-eighth position for Canterbury, and seven matches for New Zealand on the 1932 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia.

Rugby league career

International honours

Gordon Innes played left-, i.e. number 4, in English/Rugby League XIII's 25-18 victory over France at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Monday 6 May 1935.

County League appearances

Gordon Innes played in Castleford's victory in the Yorkshire County League during the 1938–39 season.

County Cup Final appearances

Gordon Innes played right-, i.e. number 3, and scored a try played in Wigan's 12-21 defeat by Salford in the 1934 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1934–35 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 20 October 1934.

Club career

Gordon Innes transferred from rugby union to rugby league following the 1932 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia, Gordon Innes made his début for Wigan, as a, and scored a hat-trick of tries, in the 53-5 victory over Hunslet at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 16 September 1933, he scored his last try for Wigan in the 10-13 defeat by Castleford at Central Park, Wigan on Monday 19 April 1937, and he played his last match for Wigan in the 3-16 defeat by Halifax at Thrum Hall, Halifax on Saturday 15 January 1938, he was transferred from Wigan to Castleford during the 1937–38 season, he made his début for Castleford on Saturday 5 February 1938, he played and scored a try in Castleford's 7-7 draw with Halifax in the 1937–38 Challenge Cup third-round match at Wheldon Road, Castleford on Saturday 26 March 1938, and he played his last match for Castleford on Saturday 26 November 1938.