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Harry Caples

Playing 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

Competitions Won

Interstate Series
1919, 1920, 1925, 1926
NSWRFL Premiership (NRL)
1923
Bulimba Cup
1926
City Cup
1916

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

Playing Career Statistics

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Representative Career - International Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Tests (Senior International Matches) -3-3----------12-33.33%List
The Ashes -2-2----------11-50.00%List
Tour MatchesSydney FirstsSDF-1-1-----------1-0.00%List
Tour MatchesNew South Wales FirstsNFI-11-114-4---12---92-81.82%List
Tour MatchesAustraliaAUS-24-247-7---21---195-79.17%List
Tour MatchesVictoriaVIC-1-11-1---3----1-0.00%List
Test Series -2-2----------11-50.00%List
Representative Career - Australia Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Tour MatchesMetropolisMTR-1-11-1---3----1-0.00%List
Tour MatchesIpswich FirstsIPS-2-2----------11-50.00%List
Tour MatchesQueensland FirstsQFI-12-123-33--15---74158.33%List
Interstate Series 413-134-43--18---76-53.85%List
Bulimba Cup 112-123-3---9---46233.33%List
Club Career - Australia Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) 1105110628-28---84---6634662.26%List
NRL Finals -1-12-2---6---1--100.00%List
Maher Cup -3-32-2---6---21-66.67%List
City Cup 128-289-9---27---217-75.00%List
Overall StartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
First Class 173117449-493--153---11354764.94%List

Test Matches - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Australia1921-22 3-3----------12-33.33%List

Australia - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
NSW Firsts1919-23 16-167-7---21---142-87.50%List
Sydney Firsts1920 1-1-----------1-0.00%List
Metropolis1923 1-11-1---3----1-0.00%List
Ipswich1924-27 14-143-3---9---57235.71%List
Victoria1924 1-11-1---3----1-0.00%List
QLD Firsts1925-27 12-123-33--15---74158.33%List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

TeamSeason StartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs19161916 NSWRFL 121133-3---9---75153.85%List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs19171917 NSWRFL 14-145-5---15---77-50.00%List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs19181918 NSWRFL 14-143-3---9---86-57.14%List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs19191919 NSWRFL 13-132-2---6---83261.54%List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs19201920 NSWRFL 14-144-4---12---86-57.14%List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs19211921 NSWRFL 8-82-2---6---61175.00%List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs19221922 NSWRFL 10-101-1---3---72170.00%List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs19231923 NSWRFL 17-178-8---24---143-82.35%List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs19291929 NSWRFL 3-3----------11133.33%List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Eastern Suburbs1916-23, 1929 105110628-28---84---6634662.26%List

Your Say

  • John Hanrahan
    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

  • Anonymous
    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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Contributions: Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Greg Fiveash, Max Turner, Rugby League Tables, Alan Katzmann, Tony McCarron, Darth Orion, Bill Bates, AJ Lucantonio, Neil Pollock

Sources:News Reports, RFL Player Registers, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club