15 Facts About Herb Gilbert

Herb Gilbert represented the Wallabies in three Tests in 1910 and the Kangaroos in seven Tests from 1911 to 1920, his last two as captain.

Herb Gilbert learnt his rugby in the South Sydney district and went into the NSW and Australian teams in 1910 after Dally Messenger defected to league.

The pro-rugby union press boasted that Herb Gilbert was a greater asset to the union than Dally Messenger had ever been.

Herb Gilbert was first selected for New South Wales in 1910 against Queensland and then the New Zealand Maori.

Herb Gilbert scored two tries in the second Test and another in the third.

Herb Gilbert made his international league debut in the first Test at Newcastle in November 1911, becoming the 16th ever Australian dual code international.

Herb Gilbert played in all three Tests on tour, heading the tour's try-scoring list with 20 tries.

Herb Gilbert was a member of that club's City Cup winning side before joining the Western Suburbs Magpies in 1917.

Herb Gilbert played with them until 1920, helping to mould them from a struggling side to a competitive outfit.

In 1921 aged 33, Herb Gilbert signed on as foundation captain-coach of the newly formed St George club.

Herb Gilbert retired as a player at the end of that season but coached the club until 1924.

Herb Gilbert returned to the Australian Test team as captain in the 2nd Test of the Lions' 1920 tour of Australia.

Herb Gilbert was awarded Life Membership of the St George Dragons club in 1938.

Herb Gilbert was a state and national selector from 1925 to 1937; his working career was with the New South Wales Railways; in his later years he was doorman at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

In February 2008, Herb Gilbert was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.