He played in 24 matches, a high number for the time in which he played for in most seasons there were no more than four or five matches per year.

The highest profile match in which he appeared for Wairarapa was against the New South Wales tourists of 1894, which was won by the province 21-3.

Watson had become a national representative the previous year when he was one of four players sent as reinforcements to the 1893 tourists in Australia who had been depleted seriously by injuries. Watson arrived in time to play Western Branch at Bathurst and then in the third match against New South Wales in Sydney.

New Zealand won this match 16-0.

In 1896 Watson reappeared in the national side playing in the side which beat the touring Queenslanders 9-0 in Wellington.

Watson was a devoted rugby man in later life and gave yeoman service in a variety of roles to the Masterton club in particular.

A drover all his working life Watson judged at sheep dog trials in later years.

Profile by Lindsay Knight
for the New Zealand Rugby Museum.

ALL BLACK GAMES THAT WATSON PLAYED

(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced

1893

1896

Watson played in no test matches for the All Blacks.