Submitted by admin on April 23, 2009 - 00:31
COOKE, Albert Edward
(1901– ).
Rugby footballer.
A new biography of Cooke, Albert Edward appears in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography on this site.
p>Albert Edward Cooke was born on 5 October 1901 at Onehunga, the son of A. E. Cooke, a local hairdresser. In the 1920s he achieved distinction as a rugby footballer, and represented the following four unions: Auckland (1923–25); Hawke's Bay (1926, 1931–32); Wairarapa (1927–29), and Wellington (1930). He appeared in the inter-Island matches in 1924, 1925, 1926, 1928, 1929, and 1931. He played for the All Blacks against New South Wales in 1924, 1926, and 1928. In 1924 he was one of the most brilliant players in the “Invincibles” team which toured Britain, France, and British Columbia. During his All Black career, Cooke made 44 appearances for New Zealand and, playing in the three-quarters and five-eighths positions, scored 120 points. In the 1930s he transferred to Rugby League. For many years Cooke has worked on the Auckland waterfront.