Alex Burdon

{{Short description|Australia dual-code international rugby player}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Alex Burdon | image =Alex Burdon 1932.jpeg | caption = {{small|Burdon in 1932}} | birth_name = Alexander Burdon<ref name="scrum" >{{cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/australia/rugby/player/1554.html|title=Scrum.com player profile of Alec Burdon|publisher=Scrum.com|accessdate=12 July 2010}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date|1879|3|31|df=y}}<ref name="scrum" /> | birth_place = Glebe, New South Wales | death_date = {{death date and age|1943|12|13|1879|3|31|df=y}}<ref name="scrum" /> | death_place = Branxton, New South Wales<ref name="scrum" /> | height = | weight = | ru_position = prop<ref name="scrum" /> | amatyears1 = 1902-04 | amatyears2 = 1905-07 | amatteam1 = Glebe RUFC | amatteam2 = Sydney RUFC | repteam1 = Australia | repyears1 = 1903-07 | repcaps1 = 4<ref name="scrum" /> | reppoints1 = 3 | province1 = Metropolis (Sydney) | province2 = New South Wales | provinceyears1 = 1903 | provinceyears2 = 1903-07 | provinceapps1 = | provincepoints1 = | module = {{infobox rugby league biography | embed = yes | position = Forward | year1start = 1908 | year1end = 10 | club1 = Glebe Dirty Reds | appearances1 = 20 | points1 = 9 | yearAstart = 1908 | yearAend = 09 | teamA = Australia | appearancesA = 2 | pointsA = 0 }} }}

'''Alexander Burdon''' (31 March 1879 – 13 December 1943) was an Australian rugby union and pioneer professional rugby league footballer - a dual-code rugby international.

He was one of the founding fathers of rugby league in Australia, representing the Kangaroos in the first two Tests played in 1908 and 1909. He was the fourth captain of the Australian team enjoying that honour in the deciding Test of the inaugural tour.

== Rugby union career == Born in Glebe, New South Wales he played first grade for the district from 1902 and the following year represented Sydney, then New South Wales. He made his Australian representative test debut as prop, against the All Blacks in the 22–3 victory in Sydney, on 15 August 1903.<ref name="Career">Whiticker pp21-22</ref>

In 1904 he represented against England then toured New Zealand in 1905.<ref name="Career" /> left|thumb|<small>Burdon (back row, 2nd from left) Pioneer Kangaroos 1908-09</small> Folklore would suggest that Burdon's injury on the 1907 New South Wales Rugby tour of Queensland and the resultant unfairness of him having to pay his medical expenses while suffering a loss of wages, was a catalyst leading to the 1907 split away from rugby union.<ref>{{cite book |title= The best ever Australian Sports Writing |last= Cunneen |first= Chris |year= 2001 |publisher= Black Inc. |location= Australia |isbn= 1-86395-266-7 |page= 314 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=66OBschGE_YC |accessdate= 19 February 2011}}</ref> Similar sentiments in the north of England for working-class players who could not afford time off due to injury had indeed prompted the changes that formed the new "Northern Union" two years earlier. However the movement to start a rugby league competition in Sydney was already well under way before Burdon's injury.

== Rugby league career == left|thumb|<small>Australian Test side v England 1932, Burdon (official) standing left</small> Burdon joined the newly formed Glebe Rugby League Club in 1908 and was named the club's foundation captain.<ref name="Career" />

He was one of the five selectors for the Pioneer Kangaroo tour of England.<ref name="Career" /> He played in 25 tour matches including the first and second Anglo-Australian Test matches. Eight former Wallabies had debuted for the Kangaroos in the Matches against New Zealand earlier that year, Burdon's league Test debut in the first Test against England with Pat Walsh made them the 9th and 10th Australian dual code internationals.<ref name="Career" />He is listed on the ''Australian Players Register'' as Kangaroo No. 29.<ref>ARL Annual Report 2005</ref>

In ''The First Kangaroos'', a 1988 British–Australian made for TV sports film, Bluey Burdon's role was played by Philip Quast.

== Playing record == * ''Club:'' Glebe Rugby League Club1908-10 20 games, 3 tries * ''Representative:'' Australia (1908–09) 2 Tests.

== Sources == * Whiticker, Alan (2004) ''Captaining the Kangaroos'', New Holland, Sydney

==References== {{reflist|30em}} {{s-start}} {{succession box|title=Australian national rugby league captain|before=Denis Lutge|after=Dally Messenger|years=1909}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burdon, Alex}} Category:1879 births Category:1943 deaths Category:Australian rugby union players Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Glebe rugby league players Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen Category:Australia national rugby league team captains Category:Australia national rugby league team players Category:Dual-code rugby internationals Category:Australia international rugby union players Category:Rugby league players from Sydney Category:Rugby union players from Sydney Category:Rugby union props Category:New South Wales rugby union team players Category:Rugby league forwards