Ernie Asher

Ernest "Ernie" Asher (21 April 1886 – 10 April 1973), also known as Te Keepa Pouwhiuwhiu, was a New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played representative rugby league (RL) for New Zealand Māori and New Zealand. His brothers included John Atirau Asher and fellow international Albert Asher.

Early life

Asher was born in Tauranga in 1886, the seventh of eleven children. His mother was Katerina Te Atirau, a woman from the Te Arawa iwi, descended from Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Pūkenga iwi. His maternal grandmother was Rahera Te Kahuhiapo. His father was David Asher, a hotel keeper. His paternal grandfather was Asher Asher, who was a prominent Jewish trader during Auckland's early days. His great-grandfather, through his grandmother Hannah Keesing Asher, was Henry (Hartog) Keesing, a prominent Auckland merchant and one of the earliest Jewish settlers in Auckland.

Two of his brothers were Albert Asher and John Atirau Asher, while he also played with another brother, George, for City Rovers in the mid-1910s.

Playing career Ernie Asher on the left of the Auckland rugby league side in 1912 at Eden Park before their match with New Zealand. Asher had originally played rugby union for Tauranga and Ponsonby before being convinced by his brother to take up the new Northern union code.

Asher was part of the 1908 New Zealand Māori rugby league tour of Australia which was organised by his brother Albert. He again toured Australia in 1909 with New Zealand Māori. He was involved in the formation of the City Rovers club in the new Auckland Rugby League competition in 1909.

During the 1910 season, Asher was part of the Auckland side that toured the country. He last played for the City Rovers in 1916

Asher is the grandfather of Ross Dallow and Graeme Dallow, two senior members of the New Zealand Police. He is also the great-grandfather of broadcaster Simon Dallow and bobsledder Matthew Dallow.