John Kingdon Cleeve (14 February 1864 – 7 April 1952) was an Australian rugby union player. The Australian Rugby Union’s records show him playing just one Test match for New South Wales, in 1884. He won representative caps for the colony against New Zealand in 1884 and Queensland in 1885. Playing as a halfback, he was described by the Sydney Morning Herald as ‘...a decided acquisition or the 1884 match against New Zealand as he is a resolute and hard-working player.’ Cleeve and his twin brother, James Cleeve (14 February 1864 – 7 February 1909) were born in Woolloomooloo, New South Wales to John Cleeve, Police magistrate of

Penrith, New South Wales Penrith is a city in New South Wales, Australia, located in Greater Western Sydney, 55 kilometres (31 mi) west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Nepean River, on the outskirts of the Cumberland Plain. Its elevati ...

, and Frances "Fanny" (née Oatley). The Cleve boys attended Newington College in 1881 and 1882 whilst the cricketer

Joseph Coates Joseph Coates (13 November 1844 – 9 September 1896) was an English-born Australian schoolmaster and cricketer. Early life Coates was born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, the son of Joseph, a cordwainer, and his wife Ellen. While at Hud ...

was Headmaster.From the Archives: Our First Rugby Representatives
Retrieved 19 July 2018.

References

1864 births 1952 deaths Australian rugby union players Rugby union players from Sydney People educated at Newington College Twin sportspeople Australian twins {{Australia-rugbyunion-bio-stub