Born: c.1885
Test record: 6 Tests (1908-09) – 0 points
Tours: 1908 tour of Australia, 1909 tour of Australia, 1912 tour of Australia

Versatile Wellington back James Barber toured Australia three times – including one trip as captain – with the New Zealand rugby league team during the code’s formative years.

A provincial rugby union rep, 1885-born Barber was drafted into the All Golds’ squad Britain for the final leg in Australia, due to several players choosing to stay in Britain.

Barber featured in eight matches at wing, five-eighth and centre. He scored a try and kicked a goal on international debut against NSW, bagged two tries in a match against Queensland and featured in all three Tests of the historic series against Australia, which New Zealand won 2-1.

He returned to Australia with the New Zealand side in 1909 as captain, predominantly playing in his favoured halfback position. He again played in all three Tests – Australia taking a 2-1 result this time – and scored five tries in a remarkable performance against Queensland.

As well as helping Petone win the first Wellington Rugby League competition in 1912 and representing Wellington against NSW, Barber toured Australia with New Zealand and played six games at halfback (no Tests were played).

Barber’s last appearance for New Zealand was against a star-studded NSW team in 1913 – scoring a try in a heavy 58-19 loss at Newtown Park in Wellington – while he turned out for his province against NSW again in 1913 and England in 1914.

He was named at halfback in Petone Panthers’ Team of the Century in 2012.