Coaching Career
All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.
Vital Statistics
- Full Name
- Henry Joseph Caples
- Born
- Friday, 4th February, 1898
- Died
- Tuesday, 17th October, 1933 (Aged 35 years and 255 days)
- Place Of Birth
- Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia
Biography
Former student of St Joseph's College Hunters Hill represented Combined Colleges in 1914 before being graded as a pivot with Easts. Caples played in a bygone rep fixture, 'The Best v The Next Best' in 1918 and made his state debut the following year. A member of the 1921-22 Kangaroos, he played in 24 tour matches including his Test debut against England. A strong runner with an ability to deftly kick with his left foot, he scored two tries for Easts in the 15-12 win against Souths in the 1923 final. Incredibly, Caples represented three states during his career - NSW (1919-23), Victoria (1924 versus the visiting England team) and Queensland (1925-27).
- ALAN WHITICKER
Coaching Career Statistics
To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.
| Representative Career - International | Games | W | L | D | Win% | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tour Matches | VictoriaVIC | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | 0.00% | List | ||||||
| Club Career - Australia | Comp Wins | Matches | W | L | D | Win% | ||||||||
| NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) | - | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 33.33% | List | |||||||
| Overall | Comp Wins | Matches | W | L | D | Win% | ||||||||
| First Class | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 25.00% | List | ||||||||
Australia - By Team | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | Games | W | L | D | Win% | ||||||||
| Victoria | 1924 | 1 | - | 1 | - | 0.00% | List | |||||||
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Year | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Season | Games | W | L | D | Win% | ||||||||
| Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs | 19291929 NSWRFL | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 33.33% | List | |||||||
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Team | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | Games | W | L | D | Win% | ||||||||
| Eastern Suburbs | 1929 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 33.33% | List | |||||||
Contributions:
Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Greg Fiveash, Max Turner, Rugby League Tables, Alan Katzmann, Tony McCarron, Bill Bates, AJ Lucantonio, Neil Pollock
Sources:
News Reports, RFL Player Registers, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club
Your Say
29 Aug 2023 3:32pm
Hello,
I was wondering if anyone knew whether Harry Caples spent a year in the Southern Highlands (1932) coaching Robertson. His two cousins, Harleigh and Edmund Hanrahan (who both played for NSW) played for Robertson. Harleigh also played for Sydney Uni, then Easts (where Harry had played) and finally at Souths.
But I'm trying to confirm if Harry, given he moved about quite a bit, coached Robertson.
Thanks, John Hanrahan
22 Oct 2025 9:21pm
Obituary.
MR. HARRY CAPLES.
The death of Harry Joseph Caples at St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, at the age of 35 years (from meningitis) removes one of the best and most prominent Rugby League footballers Australia has ever known. He was connected with the game in Queensland, Victoria and N.S.W., representing Australia in 1921-22 when the League team toured England, and also leading Victoria against the Englishmen in 1923.
Born at Bathurst in the homestead where his father was also born, he is a son of Thomas and Rose Caples (Randwick) and brother of Ray, Noel, Mrs. Cooney (Ipswich), and Mollie Caples. He also leaves a widow (Dorothy Caples) and three little children, Kathleen, Tony and Pauline, to mourn his loss, for he was a devoted husband and loving father. Requiem Mass was celebrated for the repose of the soul of the deceased at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, Randwick, on the 18th inst., by the Rev. Father Bryant — the funeral leaving in the afternoon for Randwick cemetery, accompanied by Rev. Father Bourke, M.S.C., who officiated at the graveside. Wood, Coffill Ltd. conducted the funeral arrangements.
Catholic Freeman's Journal 2 November 1933 P30.
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