Joe Cootes


Joseph George Cootes was a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s who was three-fourths Māori. He played at representative level for New Zealand, and Wellington, as a, or, i.e. number 8 or 10, or, 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums.

Playing career

International honours

Cootes represented New Zealand in 1936 against Great Britain, in 1937 against Australia, and on the 1938 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia and 1939 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France.

Later life

Cootes later worked as a labourer. He was convicted of assault in 1937 and 1939, serving two weeks in gaol for the second conviction.