Charles Gregory (2 July 1901 – 12 October 1988) was a rugby league player who represented New Zealand in 40 matches including 3 tests from 1925 to 1930. When he debuted for New Zealand in 1925 he became Kiwi number 171. He predominantly played fullback during his career though he played standoff and centre at various points. He also represented Auckland in both rugby league and rugby union and played for the Ponsonby rugby club and the Marist rugby league club.
Early life Charles Edward Gregory was born on 2 July 1901. He was the son of mother Johanna Drysdale Gregory, and father William John Gregory. He had four older brothers, Thomas (1891-1975), William James (1895-1977), Frederick Arthur (1898-1979), and George Robert (1896-1963), and a younger brother Albert John (1904-1983). He also had three older sisters, Annie (1887-1924), Mary Elizabeth (1889-1979), and Rose (1893-1942).
Playing career School rugby Gregory attended Mount Albert Grammar School and played rugby for the school.
Newton Rangers rugby league In 1921 Gregory was playing for the Newton Rangers club which was representative of the inner city suburb of the same name. He spent most of the season in the second grade team which won the championship and is in the back row of their end of season photograph. It appears that his brother Frederick was playing for the senior side on occasion and had debuted for them in 1919, continuing to play for them until around 1923.
Rugby union, Ponsonby and Auckland He began playing rugby for the Ponsonby club in Auckland. Gregory played for the 2nd grade team from 1919 to 1921. During the 1921 season he was selected in the Auckland junior representative team to play Thames juniors in the five-eighths position. The match was played at Eden Park with Gregory kicking a conversion in a 26–0 win. He then played for them in a 10–6 win against the Manukau sub-union senior representative side as curtain-raiser to the Auckland-Wellington match. His last game for them was against Whangarei B in Whangārei with Auckland winning 25–3.
In 1922 he began the season in the Ponsonby juniors for the first round but was then promoted to the first grade side for their 6 May match with Grafton. They won 11–3 on the number 1 field at Eden Park. His first points for them were in a 31–3 win in front of 4,000 spectators. He kicked 5 conversions and a penalty. He then scored 2 tries and kicked 2 goals in a 17–8 win over North Shore. In July Gregory was selected to play for Auckland B against Thames Valley in Paeroa. Auckland B won 18–3 with Gregory playing in the halves. Then on 28 July he made his full Auckland debut in an 8–6 win over North Auckland at Kensington Park, Whangārei. Gregory kicked a conversion which were the points which ultimately won the match. He was later selected to go on the Auckland 'southern tour' but was expected to join the team with reinforcements when they arrived at Wellington but he did not make the trip. Gregory finished the season having played 11 times for Ponsonby. His final rugby match was in their 7 a-side team which beat Eden in the tournament final 20–0 with Gregory kicking 4 conversions. The match was played at Avondale Racecourse as part of a full day of 7 a-side games across several grades.
In 1923 he again pulled on the Ponsonby jersey playing 12 games for their first grade side and kicking 13 goals for them. After 2 rounds there was discussion of who would replace Stuart Findlay at fullback for Auckland as he was not going to play in 1923. It was said of Gregory that he was "easily the best custodian that has been seen on the main ground Eden Park so far". "He has gained a deal in weight and confidence since last season, and if he keeps up the form shown on Saturday he should be in the running".
Gregory did indeed gain selection for Auckland and he was their regular fullback throughout the representative season. His first match was against Southland and he was forced from the field with an injury early in the first half in an easy 37–3 win at Eden Park on 4 August. He dived in to stop an attack and received a head injury. He recovered in time to play fullback again against Taranaki in a 30–9 win in front of 12,000 spectators at Eden Park. On 18 August at the same venue he had little to do defensively in a 58–0 win over Wanganui. A win over Northland 33-6 followed. He was again safe at fullback for Auckland's 16–5 win over Otago in front of the largest crowd of the season at Eden Park of 13,000. A feature of his play had been his positional play, solid defense, and good return kicking which became a hallmark of his career.
Gregory's next representative match was for the Auckland Provincial team made up of players from the larger Auckland region with the opponents the touring New South Wales team. The match was played in front of 15,000 spectators at Eden Park on 8 September. Auckland won 27 to 11 with Gregory heavily involved. He then played for his Auckland side in a 21–15 win over Wellington, once again at Eden Park. Auckland's most significant match of the season was next for Gregory. They travelled to McLean Park in Napier to take on Hawke's Bay for the Ranfurly Shield. With 10,000 in attendance the Hawke's Bay side retained the shield with a 20–5 win. After Sheen was injured Gregory moved into the five-eighth position, James Molloy replacing him at fullback. Gregory and Karl Ifwersen were said to be defending George Nēpia and Lui Paewai "especially well" before he was later moved back to fullback. It was later said that he was a disappointment at fullback. His final game in an Auckland rugby jersey came in a match against King Country at Taumarunui which Auckland won 18–9. He was named in the reserves to play against Hawke's Bay in their 'return match' at Eden Park but he did not take the field with Malloy being preferred in the fullback position, and so his playing season came to an end.
Switch to rugby league, Marist Old Boys (Saints) and Auckland debuts Gregory began the 1924 season playing for Ponsonby once again, however his only appearance was in their first round match against University. They won 6–0 with Gregory kicking 2 penalty goals. He then applied for permission to play rugby league and at the Auckland Rugby League management committee meeting on 8 May he was granted reinstatement to the Marist Old Boys club. His debut was against the Ponsonby rugby league side in a 10–3 win at Carlaw Park in front of 3,000 spectators with Gregory converting both Marist tries. The New Zealand Herald reported that "a smoother display of fullback play than that given by Gregory has not often been seen on Carlaw Park". The following week their match was postponed and then Gregory was selected in the Auckland training squad to prepare for a match against the touring Australian Universities side. He ultimately did not make the playing XIII. Gregory then played in 2 more Marist wins over Richmond Rovers and Athletic respectively before being chosen in the 'Auckland' Possible trial side which played the probables as a curtain-raiser to the Auckland v Australian Universities 3rd match on 14 June. Gregory played in his regular fullback position and kicked a conversion in a 14–9 win to the Possibles.
He played 4 more matches for Marist who were thrashing most opponents and on their way to their first ever first grade title. These games were punctuated by an appearance for Auckland B against Hamilton on 16 July. He kicked 2 conversions in a 28–18 win at Carlaw Park. Then following another win for Marist over City Rovers Gregory was selected for Auckland to play against the touring England. Auckland went down 11–24 in front of an enormous crowd of 20,000 at Carlaw Park. It was said of Gregory that he "did fairly well, but was bustled at times by the opposing forwards". That was Gregory's final representative match of the season though he played 8 further matches for Marist including the championship final with Devonport United which Marist won 20–17 in front of a club record crowd of 17,000. Gregory kicked 3 conversions and a penalty in the victory.
New Zealand selection and debut The 1925 season saw Gregory make his New Zealand debut when he was selected to go on the New Zealand tour of Australia. He had played 7 matches for Marist kicking 15 goals prior to selection. Tragedy marred the Marist campaign however with Gregory's teammate Bill Stormont succumbing to Rheumatic heart disease on 4 June with Marist's match 2 days later being cancelled. Gregory was selected to play in an Auckland trial match on 27 June which his "A Team" lost 0–5. He was described multiple times in a match report as being as usual 'safe' in the fullback position. He was then picked for the tour and made his debut prior to their departure in a match against Auckland. He played fullback in a 16–9 win in a sea of mud at Carlaw Park but still managed to give a "fine display". His selection was as part of a 22-man squad which departed aboard the Moeraki to Sydney on 3 July. He was chosen as one of two fullbacks alongside New Zealand incumbent Craddock Dufty. He was joined in the squad by Marist teammates Hec Brisbane, Jack Kirwan, and Jim O'Brien.
Gregory was omitted from the first two matches of the tour and made his first appearance against Newcastle on 18 July. New Zealand won 29–11 before 8,000 spectators at Newcastle Sports Ground with Gregory at fullback, with Dufty playing in the centres. He then played in the 5th match of the tour against New South Wales on 25 July at the Newcastle Sports Ground again. A crowd of 13,000 saw New Zealand with an upset 17–10 win. Gregory was mentioned for his defence during the match saving New Zealand on several occasions with his tackling and kicking. He was in the reserves for the match with Queensland but came on through injury early in the match with Jim Parkes leaving the field. New Zealand went down heavily 43–19 at the Exhibition Oval in Queensland though Gregory along with Wilson Hall and Maurice Wetherill were named as the "outstanding New Zealand players" with Gregory playing a "brilliant game" before a crowd of 28,000. He was fullback again in a 21–22 loss to Ipswich at the North Ipswich Reserve on 5 August. The tour was not going well from a results point of view with Gregory again involved in the 5th loss of the tour in match 9 against the Queensland team. New Zealand going down 20–29. He was then in the side which was defeated by Toowoomba 14–16 at the Athletic Oval there on 12 August before a crowd of 4,500. This time however he was playing in the centres with Dufty at fullback. In what was overall a disappointing tour New Zealand recorded their most impressive win over New South Wales 19–18 at the Sydney Cricket Ground before 16,000 spectators on 15 August. The final match of the tour which Gregory was again at fullback saw New Zealand on the losing side 25–26 to a Southern Division side at Cootamundra. The game was marked by the local team receiving 28 free kicks to New Zealand's 3 with the New Zealand side expressing "strong dissatisfaction with the referee's rulings".
After their return the New Zealand side played Auckland at Carlaw Park and thrashed them 41–17. Gregory was heavily involved both defensively and on attack. A week later they met the Queensland side which was touring New Zealand. A crowd of 18,000 people were on hand to see New Zealand win 25–24 with a large second half comeback after trailing 19–5 at halftime. Four days later he was again at fullback for Auckland's 18–18 draw against the same opponents. He gave a "sound display" stopping several Queensland attacks. Gregory was then part of the New Zealand team who played Queensland once again but this time they were badly defeated 14–35. Gregory was busy at fullback though and was said to be "sound" though "overshadowed by Jim Craig, the Queensland fullback".