Louis Charles Petersen[2] (19 April 1897 – 25 June 1961) was a dual-code rugby footballer who represented New Zealand in rugby union and rugby league.
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Louis Charles Petersen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 19 April 1897 Akaroa, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 25 June 1961 (aged 64) Christchurch, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 81 kg (12 st 11 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Loose forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Second-row | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early years
editPetersen served with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in World War I and it was here that he developed his football skills, playing for the "Trench team".[3]
Rugby union career
editPetersen began his career with the Marist Old Boys club in Christchurch and in 1919 was first selected to represent Canterbury.[4] He made the South Island side in 1919, 1920 and 1921.
In 1922 Petersen was called up to the All Blacks and he played in eight games for New Zealand, although he did not appear in any Test matches.[4]
In 1924 Marist Old Boys became locked in a dispute with the Canterbury Rugby Union and quit, instead fielding rugby league and soccer teams. Petersen followed the club, taking up rugby league.
Rugby league career
editPetersen made an immediate impact and was one of the six Marist Old Boys players who were selected to represent New Zealand that season. In total, Petersen played in three Test matches for New Zealand in rugby league. He captained Cantebury in 1925 and played for the South Island in 1926.[3]
Petersen was part of the 1926–1927 tour of Great Britain that was marred by strike and he was one of the seven players suspended for life by the New Zealand Rugby League on his return.[4] The ban was lifted in 1962, one year after Petersen's death.
Death
editUpon his death in 1961, the Press wrote a lengthy obituary detailing his skills as a rugby and rugby league player. It was mentioned that his nickname have been "Big Pete".[5]
References
edit- ^ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". Rugby League Project. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ PETERSEN, Louis Charles 1924 – 27 – Kiwi #162 Archived 1 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine nzleague.co.nz
- ^ a b Coffey, John. Canterbury XIII, Christchurch, 1987.
- ^ a b c Louis Petersen allblacks.com
- ^ ""Lou" Peterson Was Among Finest Forwards of All Time". Press, Volume C, Issue 29551. 28 June 1961. p. 11. Retrieved 30 September 2021.