Conrad Byrne

Con Byrne

Personal information
Full name	Conrad Augustus Byrne
Playing information
Rugby union
Position	Prop, Hooker
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
	Wellington
Rugby league
Position	Prop, Hooker
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1910	North Sydney	6	0	6	0	12
1910–1912	Huddersfield
	Total	6	0	6	0	12
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1907–1913	New Zealand	7	0	0	0	0
1908–19??	Wellington
Source: RLP

Conrad "Con" Augustus Byrne was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.

Early years

Originally from Nelson, Byrne was a farmer by trade. Byrne played rugby union for Wellington and was part of the side that won the Ranfurly Shield.

Rugby league career

Byrne was selected for the professional All Blacks in their 1907–1908 tour of Great Britain and Australia. Like all players on the tour he immediately received a life ban from the New Zealand Rugby Union. In the second test against Australia Byrne captained the side to a 24–12 victory that clinched the series. Byrne played in three test matches while on tour.

In 1908 and 1909 Byrne played for Wellington, including in matches against Taranaki. In 1909 Byrne again toured Australia with the New Zealand side, captaining the side in all three test matches.

In 1910 Byrne joined the North Sydney club in the NSWRL Premiership and later moved to Huddersfield for two seasons.

Conrad Byrne played Left-Second-row, i.e. number 11, in Huddersfield's 8-2 defeat by Wakefield Trinity in the 1910 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1910–11 season at Headingley Stadium on Saturday 3 December 1910.

By 1913 Byrne had returned to New Zealand and was selected to be part of the tour of Australia, playing in his seventh and final test match.

Legacy

Byrne was named in the Second-row in the Petone Panthers' Team of the Century in 2012.