Bob Mitchell (rugby league)

Robert "Bob" Mitchell is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand.[1]

Bob Mitchell

Personal information
Full name	Robert Mitchell
Born	New Zealand
Playing information
Position	Stand-off, Second-row
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1910–14 City Rovers 24 7 0 0 21 1914–19 Grafton Athletic 28 3 0 0 9 1919 Marist Old Boys 2 0 0 0 0 Total 54 10 0 0 30 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1910–14 Auckland 29 14 0 0 42 1912–14 New Zealand 8 3 0 0 9 1919 Auckland Province 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]

Playing career

Mitchell played for the City Rovers in the Auckland Rugby League competition. He represented Auckland in 1910 against the touring Great Britain Lions. He was also part of the Auckland side that toured the country between 20 September and 13 October, playing matches in Wanganui, Bluff, Invercargill, Dunedin, Napier and Dannevirke.[2]

In 1912 he played for Auckland against New Zealand as part of New Zealand's preparation for their tour of Australia.[2] Later in the year, he played for Auckland, and New Zealand against the subsequent touring New South Wales side.[1] New Zealand were defeated 10-18.[3]

New Zealand toured Australia in 1913, and Mitchell played in two matches for New Zealand against New South Wales.[1] No test matches were played on that tour but Mitchell became Kiwi #87.[4]

By 1914, Mitchell had joined the Grafton club. He played for Auckland against the touring Great Britain Lions.[2]

After the war, Mitchell represented Auckland Province against the 1919 touring Australian side.[1] Grafton were struggling to field a side at this point and he sought a transfer to the Marist Old Boys which was granted.[5]

References

1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
2. Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4.
3. Coffey, John Oliver; Wood, Bernie (1 January 2008). 100 Years: Māori Rugby League, 1908-2008. Huia Publishers. ISBN 9781869693312 – via Google Books.
4. "NZLEAGUE.CO.NZ - Home".
5. "Northern Union Management Matters". Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 157. 1919-07-03. p. 6. Retrieved 2020-02-07.