George Carstairs (rugby league) facts for kids
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Personal information
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| Full name | George James Brian Carstairs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 25 March 1900 Rozelle, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Died | 14 October 1966 (aged 66) Concord, New South Wales, Australia |
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Playing information
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| Position | Centre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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George James Carstairs (1900–1966) was a famous Australian rugby league player. He played in the 1920s and even represented his country, Australia.
Playing Career
George "Bluey" Carstairs was born on March 25, 1900. He became a very important player for the St. George rugby league club. He learned to play rugby league at Kogarah Marist Brothers school.
George started his professional career in 1921. This was the first year the St. George Dragons club existed. He played his entire career with this club, from 1921 to 1929.
He scored the very first try for St. George in their first ever competition match. This happened on April 3, 1921. In that game, Glebe beat St. George 4–3.
At the end of 1921, George was chosen to go on the 1921–22 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain. This was a big deal because it made him St. George's first player to play for Australia internationally. He is known as Kangaroo No. 123 in the Australian Players Register. He played in two important test matches during that tour. After this, he didn't play for Australia or his state again.
George Carstairs was a very loyal player to his club. In 1928, he was part of a famous game called the Earl Park Riot. This match between St George and Balmain became very heated. It even involved some people from the crowd. George Carstairs stopped playing rugby league at the end of the 1929 season.
War Service
George Carstairs bravely served in both World War I and World War II.
In January 1917, he joined the Australian Army (AIF). He said he was 18 years old, but he was actually only 16. He sailed to France in February 1917 and fought there. He returned to Australia when World War I ended in 1919.
He joined the Australian Army again in 1940 during World War II. He was 40 years old at this time. He served in the Middle East. He had to leave the army in 1943 because of an injury he got during the war.
George Carstairs passed away on October 14, 1966. He was 66 years old. He died from health problems that were linked to his old war injuries.
