Jim Devereux

Not to be confused with James Devereux.

Jimmy Devereux

Personal information
Full name	James Devereux
Nickname	"Muscles"
Born	1885 Tenterfield, New South Wales, Australia
Died	1936 England
Playing information
Rugby union
Position	?
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
	?
Rugby league
Position	Centre
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1908	North Sydney	6	4	0	0	12
1909–10	Hull FC		21
1910	North Sydney	2	1	0	0	3
1913–21	Hull FC	181	101	5
	Total	189	127	5	0	15
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1907	New South Wales	2	0	0	0	0
1908–09	Australia	5	3	1	0	11
Coaching information
Club
Years	Team	Gms	W	D	L	W%
1924–25	North Sydney	20	9	1	10	45

James "Jim" Devereux (1885–1936?) was a pioneer Australian rugby league footballer of the earlier 20th century. A New South Wales interstate and Australian international representative three-quarter back, he played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership from its first season in 1908 for the North Sydney club, before playing several seasons in England will Hull FC. He later returned to Australia and coached North Sydney.

Playing career

The son of Irish immigrant parents, James Devereux & Ellen Shanahon, Devereux played for New South Wales against New Zealand, and later in all three matches of Australia's inaugural Test series in 1908 against New Zealand on the return leg of their tour of Britain. He was a member of the side chosen for the first ever Kangaroo tour and was the first Australian to score a try in rugby league against Great Britain when he got a hat-trick in the first ever Test between the nations. After the tour he stayed in England and played for Hull FC. There he won the 1913-14 Challenge Cup and became the first player to score 100 tries for the club. He was awarded Life Membership of the New South Wales Rugby League in 1914. He is listed on the Australian Players Register as Kangaroo No.4.

Devereux was in England during World War I and served in the military. In April 1916 he gained selection in an Australasian servicemen's rugby union side. After the war he resumed his playing career with Hull.

Post playing

Returning to Australia after the War, Devereux coached North Sydney in the 1924 NSWRFL season, and worked as a labourer on the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. On 3 December 1929 his leg was crushed in an industrial accident on the bridge, and was subsequently amputated at Royal North Shore Hospital. Devereux was unable to work thereafter, and came close to destitution. The North Sydney Leagues Club voted him a ₤50 donation in 1932 to assist with living costs.

It was said that Devereux died in England about 1936, although the date has never been confirmed. The Sydney Sun newspaper noted on 30 October 1941, that "Devereux had died about 4 years ago." Some argue that he died at sea. His wife, Daisy Elizabeth Deveruex née Heath, did not remarry and died at Leeds in 1956.

On 26 August 2006 the North Sydney club announced their team of the century, with Devereux named in the centres.

External links

• Jim Devereux at rugbyleagueproject.org
• Jim Devereux at stats.rleague.com