{{Short description|NZ dual-code rugby player (1895–1974)}} {{Use British English|date=August 2011}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |first = RU |fullname = Alphonsus John Carroll |image = File:Alphonsus Carroll.png |caption = Carroll in 1926 |birth_date = {{birth date|1895|04|20|df=y}} |birth_place = Mataura, New Zealand |death_date = {{death date and age|1974|12|01|1895|04|20|df=y}} |death_place = Palmerston North, New Zealand |height = {{convert|173|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|89|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |ru_position = Hooker, Prop |position = {{rlp|HK|PR}} |ru_club1 = Rangiotu |ru_year1start = 1919 |ru_club2 = Pirates |ru_year2start = 1920 |ru_club3 = Jackeytown |ru_year3start = 1921 |ru_year3end = 22 |ru_club4 = Old Boys |ru_year4start = 1923 |ru_year4end = 24 |ru_teamA = Manawatu |ru_yearAstart = 1919 |ru_yearAend = 1924 |ru_appearancesA = 37 |ru_triesA = 9 |ru_goalsA = 1 |ru_fieldgoalsA = 0 |ru_pointsA = 29 |ru_teamB = North Island |ru_yearBstart = 1919 |ru_yearBend = 21 |ru_appearancesB = 3 |ru_triesB = 0 |ru_goalsB = 0 |ru_fieldgoalsB = 0 |ru_pointsB = 0 |ru_teamC = New Zealand |ru_yearCstart = 1920 |ru_yearCend = 21 |ru_appearancesC = 8 |ru_triesC = 3 |ru_goalsC = 2 |ru_fieldgoalsC = 0 |ru_pointsC = 13 |ru_teamD = New Zealand Possibles |ru_yearDstart = 1921 |ru_appearancesD = 1 |ru_triesD = 1 |ru_goalsD = 0 |ru_fieldgoalsD = 0 |ru_pointsD = 3 |ru_teamE = Manawatu-Horowhenua |ru_yearEstart = 1921 |ru_yearEend = 24 |ru_appearancesE = 4 |ru_triesE = 1 |ru_goalsE = 0 |ru_fieldgoalsE = 0 |ru_pointsE = 3 |ru_teamF = New Zealand XV |ru_yearFstart = 1921 |ru_appearancesF = 1 |ru_triesF = 0 |ru_goalsF = 0 |ru_fieldgoalsF = 0 |ru_pointsF = 0 |ru_teamG = Manawatu-Wellington |ru_yearGstart = 1922 |ru_appearancesG = 1 |ru_triesG = 0 |ru_goalsG = 0 |ru_fieldgoalsG = 0 |ru_pointsG = 0 |ru_teamH = Central N. Island |ru_yearHstart = 1924 |ru_appearancesH = 1 |ru_triesH = 0 |ru_goalsH = 0 |ru_fieldgoalsH = 0 |ru_pointsH = 0 |club1 = Newtown (WRL) |year1start = 1925 |year1end = 26 |appearances1 = 7 |tries1 = 6 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 18 |teamA = Manawatu |yearAstart = 1924 |appearancesA = 1 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 3 |teamB = Wellington A |yearBstart = 1925 |yearBend = 26 |appearancesB = 3 |triesB = 0 |goalsB = 0 |fieldgoalsB = 0 |pointsB = 0 |teamC = Wellington |yearCstart = 1925 |appearancesC = 1 |triesC = 0 |goalsC = 0 |fieldgoalsC = 0 |pointsC = 0 |teamD = North Island |yearDstart = 1925 |appearancesD = 1 |triesD = 0 |goalsD = 0 |fieldgoalsD = 0 |pointsD = 0 |teamE = New Zealand |yearEstart = 1925 |yearEend = 27 |appearancesE = 26 (2) |triesE = 5 (0) |goalsE = 0 |fieldgoalsE = 0 |pointsE = 15 (0) |teamF = New Zealand XIII |yearFstart = 1925 |appearancesF = 1 |triesF = 0 |goalsF = 0 |fieldgoalsF = 0 |pointsF = 0 |new = yes |retired = yes |updated = 13 December 2020 |source =<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/alphonsus-carroll/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}</ref> }}

'''Alphonsus "Fonse" John Carroll''' (20 April 1895 in Mataura – 1 December 1974 in Palmerston North) was a New Zealand dual-code international rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s, who represented New Zealand in both codes.<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/> He played at both Prop and Hooker.

==Early years== Carroll was born in Mataura, on 20 April 1895, before moving to the Manawatu with his family. He was the youngest of five brothers who represented Manawatu in rugby union. Carroll was a conscientious objector during World War I. In his early years Carroll was a race horse trainer, however one of his best horses broke down following the New Zealand Grand National in 1916.<ref name=abs/>

==Rugby union career== Carroll began playing rugby union aged 22 in 1917 for the Jackeytown club and first represented Manawatu in 1919.<ref name=abs/> Carroll was also selected for the North Island in 1919.

Carroll played in 8 games for the All Blacks, being a part of the 1920 tour of Australia, but never played in a Test match.<ref name="Statistics at espnscrum.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/newzealand/rugby/player/2672.html|title=Statistics at espnscrum.com|publisher=espnscrum.com|date=31 December 2010|accessdate=1 January 2011}}</ref> Carroll scored 3 tries and 2 conversions for the All Blacks, totaling 13 points.<ref name=abs>[http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/profile.asp?ABID=133 Phonse Carroll] ''allblacks.com''</ref> He played for the combined Manawatu-Horowhenua team against the touring South African side in 1921. Carroll continued to play for Manawatu until 1924.

==Rugby league career== On September 13, just 2 weeks after playing in Manawatu's first ever Ranfurly Shield Challenge against Hawke's Bay Carroll switched codes and played for Manawatu against Wellington at Foxton. Carroll scored a try in the match which was drawn 14-14. Interviewed after the game he said "there was no loafing in the lineout, but one had to be going all the time" and "intimated the code had come to stay in Manawatu so far as he was concerned".<ref>{{cite news | title = Wellington v Manawatu | page = 6 | publisher = Manawatu Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 2476 | date = 1924-09-16 | url =https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19240916.2.49 | accessdate = 2020-12-15}}</ref>

In 1925, Carroll 'moved' to Wellington, representing the province.<ref>[http://nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=C&id=167 CARROLL, Alphonsus John 1925–27 – Kiwi #167] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501013623/http://nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=C&id=167 |date=1 May 2012 }} ''nzleague.co.nz''</ref> Carroll was in fact driving to Wellington from Palmerston North each weekend to play for Newtown.<ref>{{cite news | title = League Code/News and Notes | page = 19 | publisher = Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 4 | date = 1925-07-04 | url =https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19250704.2.163 | accessdate = 2020-12-13}}</ref> During the season he was selected to play for the North Island team against the South Island. The North won 27–9 in front of 4,000 at Carlaw Park.<ref>{{cite news | title = Inter-Island Contest/Victory for the North | page = 12 | publisher = New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19056 | date = 1925 | url =https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19250629.2.136 | accessdate = 2020-12-13}}</ref> From this match he was selected to play for New Zealand on their tour of Australia where he played 9 matches and scored 2 tries. His one and only match for the full Wellington side (he played in 3 trial matches across his 2 seasons), was against Auckland B at Newtown Park. Wellington were thrashed 68 to 9.<ref>{{cite news | title = Cricket Score Registered/Auckland v Wellington | page = 12 | work=The New Zealand Herald| volume=LXII| issue=19125 | date = 1925-09-17 | url =https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19250917.2.124 | accessdate = 2019-12-09}}</ref>

Carroll played in two Tests for the New Zealand Kiwis, touring Australia in 1926 and being part of the 1926–27 tour of Great Britain where he played against England at Central Park, Wigan on 2 October 1926.<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/> The tour was marred by strike action by the forwards and Carroll was one of the seven players sent home.<ref name=abs/> As a result, he was banned for life by the New Zealand Rugby League – a ban which was lifted in 1962.

==Later years== Carroll attempted to return to rugby union but his application was refused by the New Zealand Rugby Union in 1930. He participated in some "low level" coaching and was eventually reinstated in 1967, at the time of the NZRFU's 75th jubilee.<ref name=abs/>

Carroll owned a dairy farm in and was an active member of the Labour Party. His farm was the venue for the local Snake Valley cricket team for 40 years.<ref name=abs/>

Two of Carroll's sons, Joe and Jim, represented Manawatu between 1965–68 and 1972–83 respectively.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{All Blacks|133}} *{{DNZB|Luxford|Bob|4c11|Carroll, Alphonsus John|10 January 2012}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carroll, Alphonsus}} Category:1895 births Category:1974 deaths Category:20th-century New Zealand farmers Category:20th-century New Zealand politicians Category:20th-century New Zealand sportsmen Category:Dual-code rugby internationals Category:New Zealand conscientious objectors Category:New Zealand international rugby union players Category:New Zealand Labour Party politicians Category:New Zealand national rugby league team players Category:New Zealand rugby league players Category:New Zealand rugby union coaches Category:New Zealand rugby union players Category:North Island rugby union players Category:People from Mataura Category:Rugby league hookers Category:Rugby league players from the Southland Region Category:Rugby league props Category:Rugby union hookers Category:Rugby union players from the Southland Region Category:Rugby union props Category:Wellington rugby league team players