Joseph Lavery

Joseph Aloysius Lavery ( – ) was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.

Early years Lavery worked on for the New Zealand Railways Department.

Rugby football Lavery started his career playing for Temuka in 1901 before moving to Christchurch Albion where he was a club mate of Hubert Turtill and Charlie Pearce. Lavery represented Canterbury between 1902 and 1904 and played for the South Island in 1903. first selection and played mostly in mid-week games, scoring two tries. Despite this Lavery played in one test match for New Zealand.

After the tour Lavery opted to stay in Britain and signed with first St Helens, then moved to Leeds, becoming the club's first ever overseas player.

By 1913 he had returned to New Zealand and played for Linwood in the first season of the Canterbury Rugby League competition. He represented Canterbury in 1915.

Later years Lavery fought in World War I, and in May 1918 the Linwood club minutes recorded a "vote of sympathy" for Lavery, "who had returned wounded".