Raymond Victor Lawless (28 May 1909 – 3 June 1968) was a rugby league player who represented New Zealand in 2 tests in 1932 and 1 test in 1935 against England and Australia respectively. In the process he became the 222nd New Zealand representative.
Early life
Lawless was born on May 28, 1909, in Auckland. His parents were Marion Kate Lawless (nee Burchell), though she was more commonly known as Catherine, and Charles Cecil Lawless. Ray had 8 brothers and sisters. The family lived on Dryden Street in Grey Lynn.
Playing career
Richmond Rovers
Lawless was playing second row for the Richmond senior B team in 1929 and 1930. His family house backed on to Grey Lynn Park in Grey Lynn which was the home of the Richmond Rovers club. The senior B competition received some publicity in the Auckland newspapers and in the Auckland Star following a game in May, 1930 it was said that “Ragge and Lawless played splendidly for Richmond. This pair will develop into good forwards”. After a July match he was said to be “a tireless worker”. On September 20 he played for Otahuhu against Marist Old Boys in a benefit match at Sturges Park for W. McManus who had been ill for a long time in hospital. The Auckland Star reported “the best forwards on the ground were Lawless and Simpson. This pair is fit for any senior team”. While the New Zealand Herald wrote that “Lawless was perhaps the best forward on the ground. The Richmond representative should easily gain a place in senior football next season”.
He made his debut for the Richmond senior side on May 2, 1931, in a match at Carlaw Park against Marist Old Boys. His first try in the senior A grade came in round 2 against City Rovers in a 28–15 win. It was said to be a “sheer delight to witness the fine play of Lawless and Ritchie, forwards of exceptional calibre” and that he “stood out as the best forward on the ground. Similar comments were made regularly throughout his career. During a match against Ellerslie-Otahuhu on May 23 it was later reported that “Lawless, the Richmond rugby league forward who has been outstanding this season, received a nasty kick in the face… and may be laid aside for several weeks”. He was in superb form throughout his debut season and when the North Island team was named to play the South Island he was said to be unlucky to miss selection. In October he was selected to play for an Auckland Colts side to take on the touring Eastern Suburbs side however he was unavailable to play as the match was on a midweek afternoon. He finished the season having played 15 matches for Richmond, scoring 2 tries.
New Zealand selection
Lawless was in outstanding form for Richmond in the Fox Memorial competition. He had scored 3 tries through the first 9 rounds of the competition before being selected for an Auckland XIII to play South Auckland on July 16. Lawless played in the second row alongside Trevor Hall with Alan Clarke at lock. Auckland won the match by 29-13 at Carlaw Park. He was then chosen to play for a Possibles team to play the Probables but was unable to due to injury.
Lawless had recovered enough to be named for his debut in the Auckland team to play the touring England side. England won the match by the narrow margin of 19 to 14. Lawless was said to have played well and “stood out for good work, especially in the tight”.