William Warbrick ( – 28 October 1901) was a New Zealand rugby union footballer who toured with the
1888–89 New Zealand Native football team
The 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team was a New Zealand rugby union team that toured Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand in 1888 and 1889. It mostly comprised players of Māori ancestry, but also included some Pākehā (whit ...
on their 107-match tour of New Zealand, Australia, and the British Isles. Playing at
fullback, he was one of five Warbrick brothers who participated in the tour, which was captained and organised by his half-brother
[ :File:Joe and Billy Warbrick 1870s.jpg] Joe.
Billy Warbrick played at least 59 matches during the Natives' tour, including at least 36 in the British Isles. He was one of the star players on tour, and was described by tour manager
Thomas Eyton as "a dashing player, grand tackler, first-class kick, very quick at follow up".
Following the tour Warbrick moved to Australia where he played for Queensland, and then New South Wales. He also coached
Australia in their first ever
Test match—against the
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles (O ...
in 1899.
He contracted tuberculosis and returned to New Zealand shortly before he died in 1901.
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Warbrick, William
1860s births
1901 deaths
New Zealand rugby union players
Māori All Blacks players
20th-century deaths from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis deaths in New Zealand
Rugby union fullbacks