Biography.guide
Home › People › Rugby union player › Henry Kiernan
Portrait of Henry Kiernan

Henry Kiernan

1876 – 1947

New Zealand rugby union player

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Henry Kiernan

Lived 1876 – 1947 (aged 70). Henry Kiernan was a New Zealand rugby union player.

Henry Kiernan, also known as Mickey (24 July 1876 – 15 January 1947) was a rugby union player who played for New Zealand internationally, including in the side's first ever Test match in 1903. Playing at half-back he represented Wanganui from 1894 till 1899, when he moved to Auckland in 1900. There he continued playing provincial rugby for his new province until 1908.

He was selected for New Zealand's 1903 tour of Australia. The 1903 New Zealand team was, according to Winston McCarthy's 1968 history of the All Blacks, "still regarded by old-timers as the greatest team to ever leave New Zealand". The party was captained by the veteran Otago player Jimmy Duncan, who was widely recognised as a master tactician. Since the selection of the first New Zealand team in 1884, inter-colonial games had been played against New South Wales (ten New Zealand wins from thirteen matches), and Queensland (seven New Zealand wins from seven), but none had been contested against a combined Australian side. However, on this tour New Zealand faced a combined Australian side for the first time—which was also New Zealand's first ever Test match. The match was won 22–3 by the New Zealanders, who scored three tries to nil, with Kiernan playing at half-back.

Kiernan and the other Auckland players that defeated the touring 1904 British Isles team. Kiernan seated in the front row on the left.

Kiernan played a total of nine matches including the Test match, on the tour. He did not play international rugby again, but continued playing provincial rugby for Auckland, as well as playing for the North Island in a number of inter-island matches. He played in the Auckland side the comfortably defeated the touring British Isles side in 1904, and also played in the first ever Ranfurly Shield match—contested against Wellington.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Also known as
Mickey Kiernan, Henry Arthur Douglas Kiernan

People in Henry Kiernan's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Henry Kiernan's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Henry Kiernan?

New Zealand rugby union player (1876-1947)

When was Henry Kiernan born?

Henry Kiernan was born on 24 July 1876 in Whanganui.

When did Henry Kiernan die?

Henry Kiernan died on 15 January 1947 in Ōtāhuhu.

What was Henry Kiernan's occupation?

Henry Kiernan was a rugby union player.

What nationality was Henry Kiernan?

Henry Kiernan was New Zealand.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Henry Kiernan

· Wikidata: Q28740707

· DBpedia: Henry Kiernan

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Henry Kiernan. https://biography.guide/henry-kiernan/

MLA: "Henry Kiernan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/henry-kiernan/.

Chicago: "Henry Kiernan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/henry-kiernan/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:13 UTC