Tom Pauling (rugby union, born 1873)

Thomas Gibson Pauling (17 June 1873 — 30 September 1927) was a New Zealand international rugby union player.

Tom Pauling

Full name	Thomas Gibson Pauling
Date of birth	(1873-06-17)17 June 1873
Place of birth	Doyleston, Canterbury, New Zealand
Date of death	30 September 1927(1927-09-30) (aged 54)
Place of death	Clovelly, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Weight	89 kg (196 lb)
Notable relative(s)	Tom P. Pauling (son)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) Wellington () - New South Wales () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1896–97 New Zealand

Biography

A forward from Wellington club Athletic, Pauling made his national team debut in 1896 when Queensland visited the New Zealand capital. He subsequently gained a place on New Zealand's 1897 tour of Australia and scored four tries in eight uncapped appearances over the course of the trip.^[1] As he had to leave his job as a saddler in order to make the tour, Pauling afterwards opted to settle in Sydney, where he found work as a police officer.^[2] He continued his rugby with Randwick and earned New South Wales representative honours.^[3]

Pauling became a referee after suffering a knee injury and had charge of the two Test matches the 1904 British Lions played in Sydney. He also refereed an international during New Zealand's tour of Australia in 1914.^[1]

Active in local politics, Pauling served as an Alderman for Randwick municipality in his later years.^[4]

Pauling was the father of 1930s Wallabies centre Tom Pauling junior.^[5]

See also

• List of New Zealand national rugby union players