Английская Википедия:George Aitken (rugby union)

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Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:EngvarB Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Infobox rugby biography George Gothard Aitken (2 July 1898 – 8 July 1952) was a rugby union footballer who represented New Zealand – known as the All Blacks – and then Scotland. He was born in Westport, New Zealand, and was selected to play provincially for Buller at the age of 16. After moving to Wellington, Aitken played for the province from 1917, and from there was selected for the All Blacks side that faced South Africa when they toured New Zealand in 1921. After only two Test matches for the All Blacks, both as captain, he was dropped from the team. In 1922 Aitken was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and travelled to England to study at the University of Oxford. He played for the university's rugby club, and from there he was selected for Scotland. He first represented the country in 1924, and in 1925 appeared in all of their Five Nations matches; Scotland won all four of those games, and in doing so achieved their first ever Grand Slam.

Early life and rugby career

Aitken was born in Westport in 1898, and was educated at Westport District High School.Шаблон:Sfn He played rugby at centre, and was selected for Buller as a 16-year-old – playing for them in 1914 and 1915.Шаблон:Sfn He moved to Wellington to attend Victoria University College (now Victoria University) where he played for the Victoria University club.Шаблон:Sfn In 1917 he was selected for the Wellington – that season representatives were restricted to players under military age due to the First World War.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn He continued to represent the province in the following seasons, and in 1919 Wellington resumed Ranfurly Shield matches;Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Efn Wellington had won the Shield off Taranaki in 1914, but had not defended it at all due to the War.Шаблон:Sfn Aitken played in twelve Ranfurly Shield defences during his career.

Aitken continued to play for Wellington in 1920 – the province had a very strong team – when the side included a number of All Blacks.Шаблон:Sfn He was selected for New Zealand Universities when they faced the touring Sydney University team;Шаблон:Sfn Aitken played in both matches between the sides; the first was won 17–6 by New Zealand, and the second won 11–8 by Sydney University.Шаблон:Sfn

All Blacks

Fifteen players standing in one line while wearing rugby jerseys. The player on the far left is holding a rugby ball.

The 1921 All Blacks before playing South Africa – probably the first Test match in Dunedin. Aitken is standing on the far left.

The 1921 season was Aitken's most significant while in New Zealand. He was selected for the North Island side in the annual Inter-Island match, which was won by the North 28–13.Шаблон:Sfn For the second season he was selected for the New Zealand University team that played both Wellington and New South Wales.Шаблон:Sfn South Africa were touring New Zealand for the first time that year, and their itinerary included a three-Test series against the All Blacks. Aitken was selected at centre for the first Test match, and was surprisingly selected as captain, despite not having played for his country before, and never leading his province.Шаблон:Sfn He was described by rugby writer Winston McCarthy as "a beautiful mover of the ball who had the number one attribute of a good centre, to run his wings into position".Шаблон:Sfn The Test was at Carisbrook, Dunedin, in front of 25,000 spectators,Шаблон:Sfn and the game started well for the South Africans, who scored the first try, and led 5–0 at half-time.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn The New Zealanders responded with three tries in the second half to win 13–5.Шаблон:Sfn

The second Test was in Auckland; the All Black selectors made only three changes,Шаблон:Sfn and Aitken was again selected as captain and at centre.Шаблон:Sfn A crowd of 40,000 watched the two sides contest a close game; the scores were tied 5–5 until a late drop-goal from Springbok Gerhard Morkel (worth four points at the time), gave the South Africans a 9–5 victory.Шаблон:Sfn Aitken's form in the match was poor, however he had been ill with the flu leading up to the game.Шаблон:Sfn Consequently, for the third and deciding Test Aitken was dropped, and replaced as captain by Teddy Roberts, and at centre by Mark Nicholls.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn Aitken's dropping as a captain and a player was viewed as harsh, and he never played for New Zealand again, thereby becoming one of the few players to captain the All Blacks in every match they played.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Efn

Scotland

The following year Aitken was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University in England.Шаблон:Sfn His last match in New Zealand was played on 9 August 1922.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn The match was a mid-week Ranfurly Shield challenge between Hawke's Bay and the holders Wellington. Aitken was in the strong Wellington side, who were expected to easily defeat the challengers. However Hawke's Bay upset Aitken's side 19–9, and went on to hold the Ranfurly Shield for five years.Шаблон:Sfn

After moving to England, Aitken played for Oxford Rugby Football Club, and was awarded a Blue for the University. He played one game for Leicester Tigers in 1923. He was eventually selected for Scotland, and played eight Tests for them between 1924 and 1929. The Scottish side included an all-Oxford University three-quarters; the other three were George MacPherson, Ian Smith, and Johnnie Wallace.Шаблон:Sfn In 1925 Scotland won their first ever Five Nations (now Six Nations) Grand Slam – victory over all four of their Five Nations opponents.Шаблон:Sfn

After graduating from Oxford, Aitken went into business in England. He later returned in New Zealand in 1939, where he worked for Department of Industries and Commerce. He died on 8 July 1952 in Wellington.Шаблон:Sfn

Sources

Books

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Articles and web

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