Born: 4 September, 1886 – Napier
Died: 2 November, 1972 – Gisborne
Test record: 0 Tests
Tours: 1919 tour of Australia

Former Hawke’s Bay and Auckland representative rugby union forward Archibald Waddell toured Australia with the New Zealand rugby league team in 1919 – five years after returning from a lengthy stint in England with St Helens.

In 1909 the Napier native also represented North Island in the 15-a-side game after moving to Auckland, but he was signed to a professional contract by St Helens – with his friendship with ‘Jum’ Turtill – after moving to England.

The strapping Waddell brought up almost 100 appearances for the club, before joining the New Zealand Expeditionary Force when World War I broke out in 1914. Sergeant Waddell was wounded at Gallipoli and eventually invalided home in 1916.

After returning to the playing field with Auckland club North Shore Albions in 1919, Waddell was selected for New Zealand’s trip across the Tasman. He debuted in a pre-tour match against Auckland and made six appearances in Australia, including both encounters against Queensland.

Archie Waddell – cross-code forward, trans-hemispheric rugby league star and war hero – passed away in Gisborne in 1972, aged 86.