Ernest Arthur Anlezark (1882 – 1956), also known as George or Alec, was an Australian rugby league and rugby union player - a dual-code rugby international.

He was a pioneer Australian representative footballer selected in the first Wallabies overseas touring side to New Zealand in 1905 and representing the Kangaroos in the first Kangaroo tour of Great Britain in 1908.

[edit] Rugby union career

Born in Bathurst, New South Wales he played grade rugby for the district from age 14 in 1897. He was a regular in NSW Country and NSW representative teams before being selected in Australia's first rugby union touring team which played a Test against New Zealand in Dunedin in August 1905.

Playing in the country, Anlezark found it difficult to re-gain Wallaby selection in the next few years and especially after moving to Lismore with his work for the NSW Railways in 1908 he felt he was being unfairly overlooked.

[edit] Rugby league career

Anlezark arrived in Brisbane in 1908 and first played rugby league for Queensland Maroons against a touring New Zealand Maori team. He then played against New South Wales in the first ever interstate fixture before being chosen for Australia in the inaugural international game against the New Zealand Māori.

He was selected in the pioneer Kangaroo touring side of 1908 and playing at half-back alongside Dally Messenger was badly injured in the first tour match against the Welsh Mid-Rhondda club. Two months later in the 3rd Test against England which Australia lost 6-5, Anlezark made his debut Kangaroo Test appearance becoming at that point the 10th ever dual rugby-code Australian international. He captained Australia in the final four tour games of the trip.

Anlezark remained in England to play for the Oldham Roughyeds and made 114 appearances in six seasons up till commencement of the Great War. He was part of Oldham's Club Championship, Lancashire League and Lancasire Cup wins from 1909 to 1912. He played in the 1912 Challenge Cup final where Oldham were beaten 8-5 in a shock upset by Dewsbury.

He returned to Australia at commencement of World War I and became a successful cotton broker.

Anlezark (inset) with the Pioneer Kangaroos 1908-09

[edit] References

• Sean Fagan, Sean (2005) The Rugby Rebellion, RL1908, Sydney.
• Whiticker, Alan & Hudson, Glen (2006) The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, Gavin Allen Publishing, Sydney

[edit] External links

• http://www.RL1908.com
• http://www.RugbyRebellion.com