Story: Rugby union

Billy Wallace

Billy Wallace

William (Billy) Wallace prepares to kick for goal in the match against Gloucester during the 1905 All Black tour of Britain. Wallace was a Wellington player who was known as a fine fullback (and occasional three-quarters) and a highly accurate kicker. He played for New Zealand 51 times, a total that included 11 tests between 1903 and 1908. His 379 points for the All Blacks remained a record for 50 years. Wallace scored 246 points on the 1905 tour, and the 230 he scored in the British Isles and France remains a tour record by any player from any country. His 28 points against Devon in the opening match of the tour was a record until 1951.

Wallace served on the New Zealand Rugby Football Union in the 1930s and managed the 1932 All Blacks to Australia. When he retired from the game, his adoring fans presented him with a purse of 400 gold sovereigns, which allowed him to set up an iron foundry.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Making New Zealand Centennial Collection (PAColl-3060)
Reference: MNZ-1010-1/4-F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Ron Palenski, 'Rugby union - 1905–6 tour', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/40007/billy-wallace (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Ron Palenski, published 5 Sep 2013, updated 1 Sep 2016