Early in the 1920 season Varsity had a problem filling its halfback position. Among players it tried was F. G. Ward, but the experiment was not a success. "Ward is a brilliant individualist (a commentator said) - a straight runner and fast. He should be played as a wing threequarter."

It was an opinion that well assessed the strong and determined Ward's ability. Only one season after it had been written Ward was playing on the wing for New Zealand in the 1921 test match against New South Wales at Christchurch in which another Varsity player Cabot also appeared.

Ward, who had been in the 1st XV at Wellington College in 1917/18, made many fine runs as an attacking back when he played for Varsity A in 1919-21-22.

He is listed as having played for Varsity B in 1920, the year in which he failed as a halfback, although he made seven appearances for Otago during the season. He again played seven times for Otago in 1921, when he also made the visit to New South Wales with the New Zealand University side.

Frank Ward spent his working life as a medical practitioner in Palmerston North.

Profile courtesy University of Otago RFC.

FULL NAME

Francis Gerald Ward

BORN

Saturday, 17 March 1900 in Wellington

DIED

Sunday, 11 March 1990 in Palmerston North

POSITION

Wing three-quarter

LAST SCHOOL

Wellington College

RUGBY CLUB
(First made All Blacks from)

Otago University

PROVINCE

Otago

ALL BLACK DEBUT

Saturday, 3 September 1921
v N.S.W. at Christchurch
aged 21 years, 170 days

ALL BLACK TESTS

0 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK GAMES

1 (0 as Captain)

TOTAL ALL BLACK MATCHES

1 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK GAME POINTS

0pts

TOTAL ALL BLACK POINTS

0pts

ALL BLACK NUMBER

247

The All Black Games that Ward played.
(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced

Click on the date to be taken to the Match Card

1921

 3 Sep vs N.S.W. at Christchurch 0-17  

Ward did not score any points for the All Blacks.

Ward played in no test matches for the All Blacks.