Robert Orchard (rugby league)

{{for|the British radio journalist and presenter|Robert Orchard}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Robert Orchard

|fullname = Robert Ian P. Orchard

|image =

|imagesize =

|caption =

|birth_date = 1956

|birth_place = New Zealand

|death_date = 10 March {{death year and age|2020|1956}}

|height =

|weight =

|position = {{rlp|PR|SR}}

|club1 = Ngongotaha

|year1start = ≤1965

|year1end = 66

|appearances1 =

|tries1 =

|goals1 =

|fieldgoals1 =

|points1 =

|club2 = Ellerslie

|year2start = 1967

|year2end = 72

|appearances2 =

|tries2 =

|goals2 =

|fieldgoals2 =

|points2 =

|club3 = Redcliffe

|year3start =

|year3end =

|appearances3 =

|tries3 =

|goals3 =

|fieldgoals3 =

|points3 =

|club4 = Mt Isa

|year4start =

|year4end =

|appearances4 =

|tries4 =

|goals4 =

|fieldgoals4 =

|points4 =

|club5 = Mackay

|year5start =

|year5end =

|appearances5 =

|tries5 =

|goals5 =

|fieldgoals5 =

|points5 =

|club6 = Wynnum-Manly

|year6start =

|year6end =

|appearances6 =

|tries6 =

|goals6 =

|fieldgoals6 =

|points6 =

|teamA = Bay of Plenty

|yearAstart = ≤1965

|yearAend = 66

|appearancesA =

|triesA =

|goalsA =

|fieldgoalsA =

|pointsA =

|teamC = Auckland

|yearCstart = 1967

|yearCend = 72

|appearancesC =

|triesC =

|goalsC =

|fieldgoalsC =

|pointsC =

|teamD = New Zealand Māori

|yearDstart = 1972

|yearDend =

|appearancesD =

|triesD =

|goalsD =

|fieldgoalsD =

|pointsD =

|teamB = New Zealand

|yearBstart = 1965

|yearBend = 72

|appearancesB = 18

|triesB = 5

|goalsB = 4

|fieldgoalsB = 0

|pointsB = 23

|teamE = Queensland

|yearEstart = 1973

|yearEend =

|appearancesE = 2

|triesE = 0

|goalsE = 0

|fieldgoalsE = 0

|pointsE = 0

|new = yes

|retired = yes

|updated = 7 August 2012

|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/robert-orchard/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}

| module = {{infobox person

| embed = yes

| father =

| mother =

| spouse =

| education =

| alma_mater =

| relatives = Phillip Orchard (brother)

}}

Robert Orchard is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for New Zealand, Bay of Plenty, Auckland and Queensland, as a {{rlp|pr}}, or {{rlp|sr}}.{{cite web|url=http://nzrl.co.nz/roll-of-honour.aspx|title=Roll of Honour at nzrl.co.nz|publisher=nzrl.co.nz|date=31 December 2011|accessdate=1 January 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://nzrl.co.nz/past-kiwis/past-kiwis-caps-O.aspx|title=Past Kiwis → O at nzrl.co.nz|publisher=nzrl.co.nz|date=31 December 2011|accessdate=1 January 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nzleague.co.nz/pages/kiwis_players.php?player=443|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130223034726/http://www.nzleague.co.nz/pages/kiwis_players.php?player=443|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 February 2013|title=Profile at nzleague.co.nz|publisher=nzleague.co.nz|date=31 December 2011|accessdate=1 January 2012}}

Playing career

Orchard originally played for Ngongotaha and represented Bay of Plenty.

In 1967 Orchard moved to the Ellerslie club in the Auckland Rugby League competition and became an Auckland representative. In 1968, Auckland defeated Canterbury 29-15 during Queen's Birthday weekend.Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. {{ISBN|978-1-86969-366-4}}.

He played for the New Zealand Māori side in 1972.{{cite book

| last =John Coffey, Bernie Wood

| author-link =

| title = 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008

| publisher =Huia Publishers

| year = 2008

| location =

| pages = 188

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=nklWo8vw-iIC

| doi =

| id =

| isbn =9781869693312}}

In 1973 Orchard moved to Queensland and represented the state, playing two games against New South Wales. While in Queensland, Orchard spent time with Redcliffe, Mt Isa, Mackay and Wynnum-Manly.[http://www.qrl.com.au/default.aspx?s=history-players#O Queensland Representatives - O] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201055656/http://www.qrl.com.au/default.aspx?s=history-players |date=1 December 2011 }} qrl.com.au

International honours

Orchard first represented New Zealand while at Bay of Plenty in 1965 against Great Britain and France (3-matches). He again played for the Kiwis in 1966 against Great Britain and, while at Auckland, in 1967 against Australia (2-matches), in 1970 against Great Britain (3-matches), in 1971 against Australia, Great Britain (3-matches), and France (3-matches), and in 1972 against Australia.