Name Hercules Wright | ||
Died April 4, 1963, Wellington, New Zealand | ||
Hercules Richard "Bumper" Wright (1881–1963) was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional (rugby league) 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.
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Early years
Born in Arahura, 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Hokitika on the West Coast of New Zealand, Wright was a printer by trade.
Rugby football
Wright began his rugby union career playing for North Wairarapa in 1899. He then moved to Petone where he joined the Petone Rugby Club.
Boer War
During the Second Boer War, Wright played for the New Zealand Army Corps team, which was the first New Zealand rugby side to play in South Africa.
Wellington
On his return Wright played for Wellington and played Ranfurly Shield rugby. He eventually became the captain of both Wellington and Petone. He was also selected for the All Blacks but withdrew due to injury and never represented New Zealand in rugby union.
Wright was a noted disciplinarian and was known to check on his Petone team mates the night before games.
Rugby league
Wright joined the professional All Blacks for the 1907–1908 tour of Great Britain and Australia. He was one of six players from the Petone Rugby Club selected. Wright had been one of the tours selectors and was elected captain for the tour, a sign of the democratic nature of the touring party. As a result, he also served on the tours Management committee. He played in four test matches while on the tour.
When Wright returned to New Zealand he played rugby league in Wellington, representing the Wellington Rugby League in matches against Auckland in 1908 and Taranaki in 1909. He was on the Petone Borough Council, and on the Brooklyn school committee.
Like five other members of the touring party, Wright is buried at Karori Cemetery.
A brother Robert Alexander Wright was Minister of Education and Mayor of Wellington.
Legacy
Wright was named at prop in the Petone Panthers' Team of the Century in 2012.