Pat "Nimmo" Walsh's representative caps

Let me tell you this : I am collecting rugby memorabilia because I like to recall of the real men and the real stories behind all these cards, prints, pictures or whatever... So, no doubt that I have been very pleased to receive this contribution from Down Under ... Pat Walsh is here introducing some souvenirs of his great father... Pat Walsh !

Australian rugby historian Sean Fagan - just check its wonderful websites www.rl1908.com and www.colonialrugby.com.au - has written a short bio here. Here is an abstract :
 

"By 1904 Walsh had become one of the most highly regarded footballers in the young nation. In that season he represented NSW and Australia (3 tests) against the visiting British rugby union teal. Walsh also played for Northern Districts (Newcastle) aginst the tourists. It was following events in this match  that Walsh and many other footballers felt they had been betrayed by the NSWRU.

The repercussions continued through the 1905 season, culminating in Walsh's shock exclusion from the Australian rugby union team that was to tour New Zealand. The omission of Walsh had nothing to do with his on-field form, which had been highly praised throughout 1905. Despite a huge public outcry, and much discontent voiced by his NSW team mates, the Australian selectors refused to add Walsh to the tour party.

Utterly dismayed, Walsh left Australia, before taking up with an Auckland club in 1906. Meanwhile his team mates supporters, notably Alec Burdon and James J. Giltinan, felt that the poor treatment of Walsh (on the back of earlier instances of footballers suffering at the hands of the NSWRU), was enough to ignite the move to form a rival professional rugby league competition."

I have recently posted a team picture of Pat Walsh with the 1904 Warratahs here.

Let's Pat explain what he's brought to us :

This is an image of my Grandfather's Representative Caps.

Rugby Union :
Australia 1904.
New South Wales 1903,1904,1905.
Auckland N.Z.1907.

Rugby League : Australia 1908/09

The Gold Watch was presented to him in 1908 by the Auckland Rugby Union on his departure to Australia to play Rugby League.

This is a press clipping (larger pic here) of a rugby match New South Wales Vs Queensland (June 1904). Pat Walsh is the N.S.W. flanker in view.

Edited May 30 : Pat Walsh (the grand-son...) has sent me another team picture featuring his grand-father in 1904, plus some newspapers clippings (one, two and three) about the unexplained exclusion of Pat Walsh from the Australian team touring in New Zealand.

Again, thank you, Pat ! By the way... do you know that I like caps a well... ;-)

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Comments

[Phil Atkinson]

Hi
I wonder if Pat Walsh Junior, who supplied the info about his grandfather, is the Pat Walsh who has played for the All Blacks himself, and is a great host to members of the Rugby Memorabilia Society when they travel to NZ?
What a good story if it is: and can we have a picture of his caps, too, if it IS the case? Great site still, Frederic, an example to us all. Will post something soon, honestly!
Cheers from Wales,
Phil.

[Frederic]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for your comment ; I am waiting for you ;-)

I am forwarding your question to Mr Walsh... (Pat > just leave a comment here if you read these lines...)

All the pictures (nearly all...) that I display here can be easily downloaded for your own convenience (non-commercial use only...) at http://www.flickr.com/photos/rugby_pioneers/sets/72057594070034538/
This is a photo hosting service (and a damn good one..) where I am progressively uploading all my stuff... but there is still a lot of work to go...

[Pat Walsh]

Hi All,
Patrick Timothy Walsh was the New Zealand All Black.
I am Australian and was named after my Grandfather, Patrick Bernard Walsh.
My Father, John Patrick(Pat)Walsh Represented Newcastle in Rugby and rowed in the 1st Four at St Joseph's College Hunters Hill. He later was Headmaster of Queanbeyan Highschool during David Campese's time there.
My Brother, Brendan Walsh was the Hooker in the 1979 Queanbeyan 'Whites'which had David Campese(straight out of School)at Fullback.
I played Rugby at School,when I left School I realised that as a Rugby Player I make a great Musician, If you want to check out my Music . http:www.soundclick.com/patwalsh

Cheers
Pat Walsh

[tovorinok]

Hi all!

Great book. I just want to say what a fantastic thing you are doing! Good luck!


Bye

[John Doe]

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