Vic Belsham
| Personal information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Victor Colin Belsham | |||||
| Born | 1925/1926 | |||||
| Died | 4 June 2006 (age 80) Brisbane, Australia | |||||
| Playing information | ||||||
| Position | Stand-off | |||||
| Club | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| Point Chevalier | ||||||
| Representative | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| Auckland | ||||||
| 1948 | New Zealand | |||||
| Refereeing information | ||||||
| Years | Competition | Apps | ||||
| 1957 | World Cup | 3 | ||||
| 1958–1960 | Other Internationals | 4 | ||||
| Source: RLP | ||||||
Victor Colin "Vic" Belsham (1925/1926 – 4 June 2006) was a New Zealand rugby league player and referee who represented his country. His position of preference was at Stand-off. His brother, Sel, also played for the New Zealand Kiwis, including in one match that was controlled by Vic.[1] He was also prominent in cricket and squash.[2]
Rugby league career
From the Point Chevalier club, Belsham became an Auckland representative and was selected for the New Zealand Kiwis tour of Australia in 1948. He was the understudy to Abbie Graham and did not play a match.[3]
After retirement Belsham became a referee to gain experience for coaching. He enjoyed it however and remained as a referee. Belsham controlled three matches at the 1957 World Cup and also controlled four Test matches between New Zealand, France and Great Britain. In 1958 Belsham controlled the inaugural Auckland Rugby League grand final.[4] He is one of only four New Zealanders to play for his country and referee a test match.[5]
Cricket career
Belsham was also a cricketer and played twice for Auckland and once for the Auckland Colts between 1952 and 1959.[6]
Squash career
In later life Belsham became involved in Squash. For his involvement he was made a life member of both Qsquash (Queensland) and Squash Australia.[7] The "Vic Belsham Trophy" is awarded to the winner of trans-tasman matches.
He died on 4 June 2006 in Brisbane aged 80.[8]
References
- ↑ Neutral refs have always been a sticky issue Sunday Star-Times, 30 November 2008
- ↑ Top league referee The Press, 17 June 2006
- ↑ Belsham, Victor Colin 1948 - Kiwi #316 Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. nzleague.co.nz
- ↑ Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.170.
- ↑ In Touch New Zealand Rugby League, December 2011
- ↑ Other Matches played by Vic Belsham Archived 6 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine. cricketarchive.com
- ↑ History Qsquash
- ↑ "League: Former Kiwi player dies". The New Zealand Herald. 8 June 2006. Retrieved 26 November 2011.