Charles Herbert "Jeff" McMurtrie (1 May 1881 – 9 August 1951) was a pioneer Australian rugby union and rugby league footballer who represented his country at both sports. He competed in rugby union at the 1908 Summer Olympics and was an early dual-code rugby international.[1]

Charles McMurtrie
McMurtrie in 1911
Personal information
Full nameCharles Herbert McMurtrie
Born(1881-05-01)1 May 1881
Orange, New South Wales, Australia
Died9 August 1951(1951-08-09) (aged 70)
Carlton, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Rugby league
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1911–15 Balmain 15 5 0 0 15
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1911 New South Wales 1 0 0 0 0
1911–12 Australia
Rugby union
PositionForward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
New South Wales
West Australia RU
Total 0 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1908 Australia 1
Medals
Men's rugby union
Representing Australasia
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1908 London Team competition

Rugby union

edit

McMurtrie won Olympic Gold in London in 1908 playing rugby union for the Wallabies in the team captained by Chris McKivat.

Rugby league career

edit

On his return to Australia he joined the fledgling code of rugby league along with a number of his Olympic teammates. He was selected in 1911 for the 2nd Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and played in 7 tour matches scoring 3 tries. He is listed on the Australian Players Register as Kangaroo No. 81.[2]

Along with Peter Burge and Bob Stuart, McMurtie made his international league debut in a tour match in 1911 but did not play in any Tests. Collectively they were Australia's 17th to 19th dual code rugby internationals.

See also

edit

Footnotes

edit
  1. ^ "Charles McMurtrie". Olympedia. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  2. ^ ARL Annual Report 2005

References

edit
  • Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League, Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney
  • Whiticker, Alan & Hudson, Glen (2006) The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, Gavin Allen Publishing, Sydney
edit