George Gordon Mitchell played for the Richmond Rovers rugby league club in Auckland from 1937 to 1942 and represented Auckland from 1937 to 1947 as well as Auckland Māori from 1937 to 1945 and New Zealand Māori in 1937. He was also selected for New Zealand for the 1939, tour of England. He played rugby union for Manawatu in the early 1930s and Auckland when he was serving in the military in the early 1940s.
Early life George Gordon Mitchell was born in Rarotonga, Cook Islands on 1 October 1914. His mother was Samoan born Mele Mataele (Mitchell). His father was Ernest Hamilton Rea Mitchell. Ernest was born in Litherland, Merseyside, England and had been traveling the Pacific Islands when he met Mele. They had several children, including Ernest Mitchell, Jane Eusenia Mitchell, Evelyn Jane Violet Mitchell, Sarah Evelyn Thompson, Agnes Catherine Bouchier, Caroline Beatrice Taripo, Robert Edward Mitchell, Henry Hamilton Mitchell, Dugald Trevor Mitchell, Alfred Derwent Mitchell, and George. The children were born in a variety of islands, including Samoa, Tonga, and the Cook Islands.
Dugald, who was born in 1907 died aged just 1 in 1908. The eldest son, Ernest was killed on 24 September 1916, in World War I at the Somme when most of his siblings were very young. Ernest had been educated at Auckland Grammar School and the school website has an article on his life. George's older brother, Alfred (Alf) would also go on to represent New Zealand at rugby league in 1935.
In the late 1920s George was living in Auckland before being sent to study at Feilding Agricultural High School near Palmerston North around the start of 1931. His older brother Alfred had been sent to the same school in 1928. That same year Alfred equalled the high school record for the 220 yards senior championship with a time of 25 seconds.
Playing career Early Rugby Union and High School Sport In 1930 when aged 15 George was playing rugby for the Grafton club in Auckland in their Fifth Grade team. In 1933 when he was briefly back in Auckland on holiday he played two games for their senior side before returning to the Manawatū.
After moving to Feilding, Mitchell became heavily involved in various aspects of the Feilding Agricultural High School (present day Feilding High School). On 25 March he finished third in the Campbell Shield quarter-mile swimming race. On 26 July at the St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, the tenth annual opening of Commemoration Week took place and "after the opening of the service, the 11th chapter of Ecclesiastes was read by one of the house captains, G. Mitchell, of Rarotonga…". In mid September the Feilding Aero Club held a Plain and Fancy Dress Ball at the Drill Hall. Mitchell went as a "South Sea Islander", another less commonly used term for a Pacific Islander. At the end of the school year on 9 December the annual prize giving was held at the Parish Hall. Mitchell won several awards including the late Mr. Norman Gorton's challenge cup for practical agriculture, a Certificate in Agriculture, War Trophies Exhibition Committee's challenge cup for Merit went to Vera Whisker with Mitchell "next in order", and he was captain of the Champion House on the boys' side of the school.
Feilding Old Boys, Manawatu, and Manawhenua (1932) In 1932 Mitchell began playing for the Feilding Old Boys rugby club. He was named to play in the senior side in a friendly match against Dannevirke Pirates on 9 April at Johnston Park. He played in a second practice match against Kimbolton on 16 April again at Johnstone Park. The team scored two 'decisive victories' in those games. Mitchell was named among four "junior forwards who stand good chances of finding themselves in senior company". He was named in their 18-man senior squad to play their final practice game at Spriggens Park on 23 April against Wanganui Old Boys.
During the following week in a preview of the various teams in the competition it was said that "the newcomers in the green forward line will be M. Eade, Crump, and Mitchell. All of these reinforcements possess size and weight, the last two being included in the Feilding High School 1st XV last year when they shaped very well". The Manawatu Times said that he would be a "familiar figure in the forward ranks" but ultimately he was not chosen in the side to play their opening game against Palmerston North Old Boys. He was not selected in any of the following three games either. It is most likely that he was injured as he was not even named in their game day extended squads.
His debut came in a game against United on 28 May which they won 13 to 9. He appears to have played in one of the lock positions in the second row of the scrum. On Friday, 3 June, Mitchell was named to play in the Feilding Old Boys seven-a-side team for a tournament at the showgrounds at Palmerston North. They won the tournament undefeated to take the Thompson and Payne Cup. The following day he played for the full senior side in a game against Palmerston North Old Boys which Feilding OBs won 26 to 7. The Manawatu Times said that "the outstanding Feilding forward was Mitchell, a young player, who was in the Feilding High School team last year, and he is giving every indication of developing into a fine forward".
He played again in their 11–8 win over local rivals Feilding, on 11 June. After the game Mitchell was named in the Manawatu Trial game to be played at the Showgrounds on 18 June. He was selected in the forwards for the North team. The game was drawn 6–6 but ruined somewhat by heavy rain in the preceding 24 hours which left the field heavy and it soon became a "quagmire". The Manawatū Standard reported that K. Fitzgerald and Mitchell "showed to advantage". He was then selected to play for the Northern team again in a second trial set down for 28 June.
The weekend prior to the second trial he played well in Feilding OB's 10–8 win over Massey College at Johnston Park. When they trailed 0–3 "Mitchell was in the van of the greens' next thrust, which followed an indifferent back line movement, and in the struggle along the blues' goal Pawson handed on for Bramwell to score". Later in the half he and Kilpatrick when they were defending were "handy to arrest the invaders". The trial match was played midweek on Wednesday, 29 June at Feilding with Mitchell's North side winning 14–10. Down 3–10 at halftime the North attacked with "Smith, Beard, and Mitchell in the van of the drive and before the South backs could rally in force, Mitchell had dived through the ruck to score in the corner". Late in the game he "picked up in the loose to send a long pass right out to Moffatt, who accepted the leather at speed to cross wide out". The following Saturday he played in Feilding OB's 17–3 loss to Kia Toa. During the game "Crump and Mitchell secured possession and with nothing in front of them, dribbled over the line. It looked a guinea-to-a-gooseberry chance that Crump would score but Mullins" sprinted in and got a bounce which helped him save the try.
Manawatu Mitchell was selected in the Manawatū representative side to play the Te Kawau sub-union side on 6 July. The Manawatu side was not fully representative of Manawatu as they were playing a side that was a sub-union team of their region with the match serving as a trial to pick the full Manawatu team to play Horowhenua. Manawatu won 19–3 at Sanson. In the second half "Mitchell started a movement from the ruck, and the ball went to Plank, to Bramwell, and to Elliott" who made a great run to score. Returning to his club side the only mention of him in an 8–3 win over United on 16 July was when he caught an attempted penalty and made a clearing kick. They had a narrow loss to Palmerston North OB's on 23 July by 17 to 16. In comments on the match it was said that "Mitchell was a pillar of strength in the green vanguard, and, in spite of his weight, was always on the ball in the loose". In spite of his good form he missed selection for the Manawatu team to play Horowhenua. Feilding OB's then beat Feilding 34–17 with Mitchell once again in the second row, before a default win over Massey College. After the default the Manawatu team to play their second match with Horowhenua was named and this time Mitchell was included in the forwards.
Manawatu and Horowhenua drew 19-all at Ōtaki on 10 August with Mitchell scoring one try. In the first half he made a solo effort breaking through and gaining ground which allowed them to open up, the ball then went through several hands with Cooper eventually secured the ball and scored. A short time later Olliver "cut through the defences brilliantly. The five eighth then handed on to Mitchell for the big scrummager to complete". Returning to his Feilding OB's side they lost 19–18 to Kia Toa. With just three minutes remaining Kia Toa attacked and "Mitchell failed to take Wasley who was able to recover a large slice of territory" and a sweeping backline movement led to them scoring the winning try. They then beat United 16–13 on 20 August. The "opening stages were brisk, Feilding Old Boys attacked from the kick-off, a sustained movement carrying play to United goal line" and Mitchell scored. The Manawatū Standard wrote "Crump and Mitchell, two Feilding Old Boys forwards who played a prominent part in the greens opening score, are youthful players who should have a good future. Both are playing good football at present".
Mitchell's form saw him chosen in the Manawatu side to meet Southern Hawke's Bay on 24 August. The match was played at Feilding with Manawatu winning a "patchy game" 26 points to 11. The Manawatu forwards played well throughout the match and towards the end of the game they gained some reward for their work when "Mitchell worked his was across near the posts for Amadio to add the extras". The Manawatu Times described it in a little more detail saying it was from a loose rush which took the game to the line and he dived over to make the score 19–11.
Mitchell was then selected for the Manawhenua representative side to play against Wairarapa at Masterton on 27 August. He was named as "back rank" meaning the modern day #8 position. Manawhenua lost the game 22 to 16. The "visitors were decidedly unfortunate [when] they lost Mitchell, one of their best forwards, near the end of the first spell". While he was still on the field their scrum was dominating with McKenzie, Cooper, and Mitchell being conspicuous by their efforts". Both he and Olliver who was also injured were unable to make the teams trip to play Taranaki and Wanganui (Whanganui). Days later it was reported that neither may be able to play again this season, though after taking the following weekend off from club rugby, Mitchell was back in the Manawhenua side to play Wairarapa in their return game on 10 September. Manawhenua won 26–6 at the Palmerston North Showgrounds with Mitchell scoring a try. Towards the end of the game when they were on attack "Mitchell bullocked his way over the line". Then on full time he "set the blue forwards going in some loose passing, but nothing came of the move" and time sounded. After the match Mitchell was named in the second row of the Manawhenua team to play Wellington on 17 September at the Showgrounds. The match was described as "brilliant" and ended in an 18–18 draw. In the closing stages Palmer and Mitchell were "crippled" in a forward pack which had "quite outplayed" their opposition up to that point. Wellington scored two quick converted tries in the last ten minutes to tie the scores. Both players received medical attention and were able to carry on.