Bill Noble (1884–1937) was a pioneer Australian international representative rugby league footballer. He played club football in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership's first season with Newtown in 1908. In 1909 he was also selected to play for Australia, making his full international debut against New Zealand in 1910. He went on to play in the first ever test match against Great Britain on Australian soil during the 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, he also represented Australasia. Noble was also selected for the 1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain, playing in two tests and 19 tour matches. He joined the Balmain Tigers as captain for his final season in 1913. Noble was awarded Life Membership of the New South Wales Rugby League in 1914.[2]

Bill Noble
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Stephen Noble
Born(1884-07-13)13 July 1884
Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia
Died28 November 1937(1937-11-28) (aged 53)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Rugby union
Position?
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Marrickville
Newtown
Total 0 0 0 0 0
Rugby league
PositionForward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1908–12 Newtown 48 10 0 0 30
1913 Balmain 14 0 0 0 0
Total 62 10 0 0 30
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1909–12 Australia 7 0 0 0 0
1908–13 New South Wales 21 3 0 0 9
1908–13 Metropolis 3 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
As of 24 June 2019

Noble moved to Queensland after his playing days were over, and was the general manager of the Golden Casket lotteries, until his death in 1937. He was buried at South Brisbane Cemetery on 29 November 1937.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Bill Noble - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. ^ Referee, Sydney. Life Members of the NSW Rugby League- 13 May 1914 (page 12)
  3. ^ Courier-Mail Funeral notice 28 November 1937
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