Thomas Houghton (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Herbert Houghton was an English
rugby league
player who represented New Zealand
in 1909.
and was one of two sons of Joseph Houghton. Joseph served as the chairman of the Northern Union
before migrating to Auckland
with Thomas and helping set up the Auckland Rugby League
.
in 1907, however he never played a first team match for the club.
Houghton then moved to New Zealand
and played for Auckland
in their third ever match on 17 September 1908 against Taranaki
.
He was then part of the City combination that played against the North Shore on 24 July 1909 in the Auckland Rugby League
's first ever sanctioned match. He again played for Auckland that year and on 3 July he played for New Zealand in the third Test against Australia.
Houghton joined the new Newton Rangers club and played for them in the inaugural Auckland Rugby League competition in 1910.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player who represented New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
in 1909.
Personal life
Houghton was born in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and was one of two sons of Joseph Houghton. Joseph served as the chairman of the Northern Union
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
before migrating to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
with Thomas and helping set up the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
.
Playing career
Houghton was signed by St Helens RLFC from Liverpool CityLiverpool City (rugby league)
Liverpool City was a semi-professional rugby league club from the city of Liverpool in England.-The first Liverpool City - 1906-1907:A professional club first emerged in Liverpool, called Liverpool City in 1906, playing at the Stanley Athletics Ground. They hold an unwanted record in the...
in 1907, however he never played a first team match for the club.
Houghton then moved to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and played for Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
in their third ever match on 17 September 1908 against Taranaki
Taranaki rugby league team
The Taranaki rugby league team are New Zealand rugby league team that represents the Taranaki Rugby League. They have been nicknamed the Rockets, Sharks and Wildcats.-1908:...
.
He was then part of the City combination that played against the North Shore on 24 July 1909 in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
's first ever sanctioned match. He again played for Auckland that year and on 3 July he played for New Zealand in the third Test against Australia.
Houghton joined the new Newton Rangers club and played for them in the inaugural Auckland Rugby League competition in 1910.