Asher was born in Tauranga, and was only 11 years old when he played his first senior representative game of rugby union, for a Tauranga team against a Rotorua team. Eighteen months later he played for Tauranga against Auckland, becoming the youngest senior representative on record in New Zealand rugby union.[3] Asher played for Tauranga against Auckland at Potters Park on August 17 aged 16 after playing against Rotorua the week prior. The Bay Of Plenty Times reported after the match against Auckland that "Asher was the hero of the team, his defence was superb, and was greatly admired by the gallery as well as the Rugby Union Committee".[4]
Asher later moved to Auckland, joining Parnell in the Auckland club competition, making his Auckland debut in 1898. In his first game on June 9, 1898 he played for Parnell against North Shore on their opponents ground. Asher scored 3 tries in a 34-4 win.[5] He spent several seasons playing for Auckland. On July 9 after just 4 club matches for Parnell he was chosen to play in an Auckland trial match. He scored a try and was then selected to make his Auckland debut against Thames in an inter-union match against Thames on July 16.[6] In his first match for Auckland he scored 2 tries, the second being a "remarkable" run which started well inside his own half. His first came after he "whipped in, and gathering up the ball, beat three Thames men, and cleverly grounded the leather across the line on the corner". Then in the second half "Laws got the oval, and passed along to Asher, who started on what proved to be a remarkable run. At the 25 he was picked up by the Thames fullback and Paul, and hustled by both, but kept his feet through it all, and continuing on his way, ran round and scored fairly between the posts. A better run has never been seen on the ground. The spectators on the stand rose as one man, and the applause must have been audible a mile off".[7] On Monday, September 4 1899 Asher was asked to fill in for the Tauranga side in their match with Franklin despite being resident in Auckland and playing for various Auckland rep teams in the weeks prior and following. Although he did tend to return to Tauranga outside the rugby season. Tauranga were going to struggle to field a full team hence the request. He featured prominently in a match which they won.[8]
His form was outstanding in 1903 for city and he scored 17 tries in just 8 matches. He was subsequently selected for the New Zealand tour of Australia where he won a cap playing for the New Zealand team against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground on 15 August 1903, scoring a try.[9] While Asher played in only one Test match, he played in 11 games for the All Blacks and scored 53 points. Remarkably after returning from the Australian tour he played in 7 matches for Auckland and failed to register a single try.
In 1904 he was chosen to be the City captain for the season. During the season while working with the fire brigade, he suffered a leg injury that kept him from meeting the 1904 British team that were touring New Zealand, and he subsequently missed touring Great Britain with the Original All Blacks.[3] After two years out of the game Asher again represented Auckland in 1907, before changing codes to rugby league.[10]
He moved back to Tauranga in 1906 and played for the Karikari club and also represented the Tauranga representative side. In 1907 he had 'retired' and did not play any matches, instead coaching and refereeing games. Then in July he left farming in the area and moved back to Auckland 'permanently' and when he returned to Auckland was selected to play for Auckland B against Waikato in Hamilton where he scored 2 tries, and then for the full Auckland side against Wanganui and Taranaki where he scored 1 try in each match.
In 1910 Asher played for City in the first official week of the Auckland Rugby League competition. On 25 June Asher was sent off by referee Jack Stanaway, the brother of Alex. The rest of the City side walked off in support of Asher. Asher became the first player to face the ARL judiciary, who cautioned him.[14] Asher then traveled to Sydney, where he was part of the Australasian side that played two matches against the 1910 Great Britain team. Asher, who was known for leaping over players – leading to his nickname Opai, clashed with another known leaper, Billy Batten. Asher came into contact with Batten's knee in a mid air collision and was carried from the ground, requiring stitches before he returned.[15]
Asher in the Auckland team to play Wellington on August 5, 1911.
Asher was to play against the Lions three more times once they reached New Zealand in July. Asher lined up against them for New Zealand Māori, Auckland and New Zealand. This was Asher's only cap for New Zealand.[1] He finished the season by being part of the City side that won the inaugural competition, being awarded the Myers Cup.
Asher again played for New Zealand on their 1913 tour of Australia, however no test matches were played.[16]
After retirement Asher became the custodian of Carlaw Park between 1921 and 1943, the home of the Auckland Rugby League.[3][10] He is buried at Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland.
albert, asher, arapeta, paurini, wharepapa, december, 1879, january, 1965, more, commonly, known, zealand, dual, code, international, rugby, union, professional, rugby, league, footballer, played, 1890s, 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, representative, level, asher, playe. Arapeta Paurini Wharepapa 3 December 1879 8 January 1965 or Albert Asher as he was more commonly known was a New Zealand dual code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1890s 1900s 1910s and 1920s At representative level Asher played rugby union for New Zealand North Island and Auckland playing on the Wing and played rugby league at representative level for Australasia New Zealand Auckland and the New Zealand Maori rugby league team 1 One of his brothers Ernie was also a rugby league international while another John became a Ngati Pukenga and Ngati Pikiao leader and another brother Thomas also played representative rugby for Tauranga Katherine Te Rongokahira Parata was a sister 2 Albert AsherPersonal informationFull nameArapeta Paurini WharepapaBorn 1879 12 03 3 December 1879Tauranga New ZealandDied8 January 1965 1965 01 08 aged 85 Auckland New ZealandPlaying informationHeight167 cm 5 ft 6 in Weight74 kg 11 st 9 lb Rugby unionPositionWing First five eighthClubYears Team Pld T G FG P1897 Tauranga 2 0 0 0 01897 Karikari 1 0 0 0 01898 Parnell 5 6 0 0 181899 05 City 57 50 0 0 1501906 Ngawaro 1 0 0 0 01906 Karikari 5 3 0 0 9Total 71 59 0 0 177RepresentativeYears Team Pld T G FG P1896 06 Tauranga 7 2 0 0 61898 05 Auckland Trial 10 7 0 0 211898 04 Auckland Inter union 7 5 0 0 151898 07 Auckland 22 11 0 0 331899 07 Auckland B 3 4 0 0 121902 North Island 1 1 0 0 31903 New Zealand Tests 11 1 17 1 0 0 51 3 Rugby leaguePositionWing CentreClubYears Team Pld T G FG P1909 17 City Rovers 63 16 22 0 92RepresentativeYears Team Pld T G FG P1908 10 New Zealand Maori 22 27 16 0 1131910 Australasia 2 0 0 0 01908 15 Auckland 18 10 1 0 341910 13 New Zealand 7 3 0 0 9Source 1 Contents 1 Rugby union career 2 Rugby league career 3 Later years 4 Legacy 5 ReferencesRugby union career EditAsher was born in Tauranga and was only 11 years old when he played his first senior representative game of rugby union for a Tauranga team against a Rotorua team Eighteen months later he played for Tauranga against Auckland becoming the youngest senior representative on record in New Zealand rugby union 3 Asher played for Tauranga against Auckland at Potters Park on August 17 aged 16 after playing against Rotorua the week prior The Bay Of Plenty Times reported after the match against Auckland that Asher was the hero of the team his defence was superb and was greatly admired by the gallery as well as the Rugby Union Committee 4 Asher later moved to Auckland joining Parnell in the Auckland club competition making his Auckland debut in 1898 In his first game on June 9 1898 he played for Parnell against North Shore on their opponents ground Asher scored 3 tries in a 34 4 win 5 He spent several seasons playing for Auckland On July 9 after just 4 club matches for Parnell he was chosen to play in an Auckland trial match He scored a try and was then selected to make his Auckland debut against Thames in an inter union match against Thames on July 16 6 In his first match for Auckland he scored 2 tries the second being a remarkable run which started well inside his own half His first came after he whipped in and gathering up the ball beat three Thames men and cleverly grounded the leather across the line on the corner Then in the second half Laws got the oval and passed along to Asher who started on what proved to be a remarkable run At the 25 he was picked up by the Thames fullback and Paul and hustled by both but kept his feet through it all and continuing on his way ran round and scored fairly between the posts A better run has never been seen on the ground The spectators on the stand rose as one man and the applause must have been audible a mile off 7 On Monday September 4 1899 Asher was asked to fill in for the Tauranga side in their match with Franklin despite being resident in Auckland and playing for various Auckland rep teams in the weeks prior and following Although he did tend to return to Tauranga outside the rugby season Tauranga were going to struggle to field a full team hence the request He featured prominently in a match which they won 8 His form was outstanding in 1903 for city and he scored 17 tries in just 8 matches He was subsequently selected for the New Zealand tour of Australia where he won a cap playing for the New Zealand team against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground on 15 August 1903 scoring a try 9 While Asher played in only one Test match he played in 11 games for the All Blacks and scored 53 points Remarkably after returning from the Australian tour he played in 7 matches for Auckland and failed to register a single try In 1904 he was chosen to be the City captain for the season During the season while working with the fire brigade he suffered a leg injury that kept him from meeting the 1904 British team that were touring New Zealand and he subsequently missed touring Great Britain with the Original All Blacks 3 After two years out of the game Asher again represented Auckland in 1907 before changing codes to rugby league 10 He moved back to Tauranga in 1906 and played for the Karikari club and also represented the Tauranga representative side In 1907 he had retired and did not play any matches instead coaching and refereeing games Then in July he left farming in the area and moved back to Auckland permanently and when he returned to Auckland was selected to play for Auckland B against Waikato in Hamilton where he scored 2 tries and then for the full Auckland side against Wanganui and Taranaki where he scored 1 try in each match Rugby league career EditAsher declined the offer to tour with the 1907 1908 New Zealand professional rugby team due to a broken ankle 11 In May 1908 he led the first New Zealand Maori rugby league team on a tour of New South Wales and Queensland where they are credited with financially saving the New South Wales Rugby League 12 At the time it was reported in New Zealand that they were accidental converts to rugby league expecting to meet rugby union teams in Sydney but this has since proved to be a cover story as it was reported well before the team left that they would be playing against rugby league teams The team twice defeated New South Wales and also defeated Australia in one test 13 On their return Asher represented Auckland in their second match ever against Wellington 14 In 1909 Asher was invited to tour Australia with the 1909 New Zealand side but again declined opting to remain in Auckland and organise the 1909 New Zealand Maori tour of Australia which was set for later in the year During the year Asher again represented Auckland and played for the new City Rovers club which had been formed to compete in the new Auckland Rugby League 14 In 1910 Asher played for City in the first official week of the Auckland Rugby League competition On 25 June Asher was sent off by referee Jack Stanaway the brother of Alex The rest of the City side walked off in support of Asher Asher became the first player to face the ARL judiciary who cautioned him 14 Asher then traveled to Sydney where he was part of the Australasian side that played two matches against the 1910 Great Britain team Asher who was known for leaping over players leading to his nickname Opai clashed with another known leaper Billy Batten Asher came into contact with Batten s knee in a mid air collision and was carried from the ground requiring stitches before he returned 15 Asher in the Auckland team to play Wellington on August 5 1911 Asher was to play against the Lions three more times once they reached New Zealand in July Asher lined up against them for New Zealand Maori Auckland and New Zealand This was Asher s only cap for New Zealand 1 He finished the season by being part of the City side that won the inaugural competition being awarded the Myers Cup Asher again played for New Zealand on their 1913 tour of Australia however no test matches were played 16 Asher continued to play for City until after the First World War 17 Later years EditAfter retirement Asher became the custodian of Carlaw Park between 1921 and 1943 the home of the Auckland Rugby League 3 10 He is buried at Waikumete Cemetery Auckland Legacy EditAsher was inducted into the New Zealand Rugby League s Legends of League in 2008 References Edit a b c Statistics at rugbyleagueproject org rugbyleagueproject org 31 December 2017 Retrieved 1 January 2018 Ballara Angela Katherine Te Rongokahira Parata Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Ministry for Culture and Heritage Retrieved 23 April 2017 a b c Maori Personalities in Sport Te Ao Hou Tauranga V Auckland Bay of Plenty Times Volume XXII Issue 3437 17 August 1896 p 2 Retrieved 4 March 2021 North Shore Sustain A crushing Defeat New Zealand Herald Volume XXXV Issue 10778 13 June 1898 p 3 Retrieved 4 March 2021 The Thames V Auckland Match New Zealand Herald Volume XXXV Issue 10807 16 July 1898 p 6 Retrieved 4 March 2021 Auckland Loses its First Outside Match Thames Victory New Zealand Herald Volume XXXV Issue 10808 18 July 1898 p 3 Retrieved 4 March 2021 Tauranga V Franklin Auckland Star Volume XXX Issue 212 7 September 1899 p 3 Retrieved 5 March 2021 Statistics at espnscrum com espnscrum com 31 December 2010 Retrieved 1 January 2011 a b Albert Asher allblacks com Coffey John Wood Bernie 2007 The Kiwis 100 Years of International Rugby League HLNZ Sport Hardback ISBN 978 1 86971 090 3 Skene Patrick Long road for Indigenous and Maori players leads to NRL All Stars game The Guardian Retrieved 17 February 2019 John Coffey Bernie Wood 2008 100 years Maori rugby league 1908 2008 Huia Publishers ISBN 978 1 86969 331 2 a b c Coffey John and Bernie Wood Auckland 100 years of rugby league 1909 2009 2009 ISBN 978 1 86969 366 4 The Leap Of Faith Hurdling Tacklers 1908 com ASHER Arapeta Paurini Opai 1910 1913 Kiwi 43 Archived 3 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine nzleague co nz Mr Albert Opai Asher Te Ao Hou Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Albert Asher amp oldid 1137405493, 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