Arthur Carlaw

Arthur Carlaw was a New Zealand rugby league player who played a role in the establishment of the sport in New Zealand and represented New Zealand.

His uncle, James, was an administrator in the sport and Carlaw Park was named after him and his brother William served with the New Zealand Rugby Leaque Football Council.

Playing career Carlaw was involved in the formation of the Ponsonby United club in August 1908, the first rugby league club to be formed in Auckland. The club played a series of matches against loosely organised teams.

The Auckland Rugby League was formed on 19 July 1909 and Carlaw was part of the organisation's first sanctioned match, captaining a City combination against the North Shore. During the season he also played for Ponsonby and at the club's first AGM, on 30 July 1909, he was elected to the club's executive. He also represented the district that year, playing against Taranaki and Wellington. On 14 December 1914, he embarked on a ship to join the World War I effort. After the war he moved to Christchurch in 1926 where he refereed and coached while working as a Stonemason. He had been gassed while serving in the war in France and was said to have struggled with his health ever since. He died at the age of 51 at Christchurch Hospital. He was buried at Bromley Cemetery with his coffin draped in the house flag of the Returned Soldiers' Association. His funeral was attended by Mr. W. Coles who represented the New Zealand Council, Mr W. E. Healey representing the Auckland League, Mr W. S. E. Moyle, the local executive chairman, Mr A. Clark of the referees association, and Mr C. Richardson of the Riccarton club .