Born: c.1875 – United Kingdom
Died: April 15, 1957
Test record: 1 Test (1910) – 4 goals (8 points)

Boasting one of the more intriguing tales of the code’s formative years, goalkicking forward Fred Jackson emigrated to New Zealand after touring the country with the British Isles rugby union team in 1908, later playing one rugby league Test against his former compatriots in 1910.

The Cornwall player turned out for Leicester against the famed 1905-06 New Zealand ‘Originals’. But after playing in the first Test he was suspended and recalled from the British Isles’ tour two years later to be investigated by the RFU for ‘professionalism’, having been accused of playing rugby league for Swinton and Swansea under assumed names.

Jackson sailed from Wellington to Sydney but never made it back to England, instead returning to New Zealand, marrying a Māori woman he had met while on the tour and eventually having five children.

A big man for his era, Jackson played rugby league in 1910 for North Shore Albions, captained Auckland against the Northern Union tourists and kicked four goals for New Zealand in the one-off Test, which the Brits won 52-20.

Jackson was suspended again in 1910, this time by the Auckland Rugby League for striking an official who had insulted his Māori companion. He subsequently faded away from the game.

One of his sons, Everard, playing six Tests for the All Blacks during the 1930s, while two others, Sydney and Tutu Wi Repa, represented the New Zealand Māori rugby union team.