Herb Gilbert

Rugby union career Gilbert was born in Gulgong, New South Wales and moved to Sydney, playing rugby union in the South Sydney district. Tall and powerful for his era, Gilbert stood at 6 ft (182 cm), weighed (86 kg), and reputedly played his best football in the biggest games. Gilbert learnt his rugby in the South Sydney district and went into the NSW and Australian teams in 1910 after Dally Messenger defected to league. The pro-rugby union press boasted that Gilbert was a greater asset to the union than Dally Messenger had ever been. He represented for New South Wales in 1911 and was chosen for the 1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain. Gilbert made his international league début in the first Test at Newcastle in November 1911, becoming the 16th ever Australian dual code international. He played in all three Tests on tour, heading the tour's try-scoring list with 20 tries. consisting of 17 players and a coach representing the club from 1908 through to 2004. In February 2008, Gilbert was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.

Progeny Three of Gilbert's sons all played for St. George with Herb Junior and Jack playing in the Dragons' maiden Grand Final victory in 1941. Another son, Bob also played with the St. George Dragons in first grade in 1945. Two great grandsons were professional sportsmen – Sam Gilbert played AFL with St Kilda and Larry Davidson, was a basketballer who played in the NBL for the Wollongong Hawks.

Playing record Club: Souths(1911–12 & 1915) 23 games, 6 tries, 3 goals; Hull FC, England 1912–1915; Easts (1916) 14 games, 6 tries; Wests (1917–1920) 50 games, 23 tries; St George (1921) 8 games, 1 try. Representative: Australia (1911–12 & 1919–1920) 7 Tests, and New South Wales (1911–20) 8 appearances.