Queensland Claude List had started playing rugby league in
Queensland as a schoolboy at about the age of 10 in 1912.{{cite news
Kingsland Rovers After moving to
New Zealand the family settled in
Auckland. The first mention of List is in a team list published on 10 June
1921, in the
Auckland Star. He was named in the
Kingsland Rovers third grade side along with another List though it is unknown who this was, possibly his older brother Percy. Claude would have been aged 18 at this time with Percy aged 22.{{cite news In
1924 he was still in the 2nd grade side and was playing on the wing. His Kingsland side won the 2nd grade knockout competition when they beat
Otahuhu Rovers on 18 October.{{cite news List was selected for the Auckland Junior representative side to play
Hamilton juniors in a match at Carlaw Park on 30 August. He played on the wing with the Auckland side winning the match 14 to 8.{{cite news
Senior debut and Auckland representative selection The
1925 season was to be a remarkable one for List. He made his senior debut for Kingsland who had been promoted to the newly formed B Division in Auckland club rugby league. And he became one of the only players to gain selection for Auckland from that grade, a feat he beat in 1928 when he became the first ever player in
New Zealand to be selected for the national side from effectively a second division side. His first appearance was in Kingsland's opening round match on 18 April against
Northcote & Birkenhead Rambers in an early match at Carlaw Park.{{cite news Following a match with Mangere and then a bye, an Auckland trial side was selected between A and B teams. The match was a curtain-raiser to the
North Island v
South Island match at
Carlaw Park on 27 June. List was selected in the three quarters of the B team by selectors Edward Fox,
Albert Asher, and
Ronald McDonald.{{cite news The match along with the inter-island game and an Auckland v South Auckland (Waikato) match were part of the trials to select the
New Zealand side to tour
Australia. Despite being a newcomer to the senior game the
Auckland Star said that he was a little unlucky to not make the tour.{{cite news He then returned to his Kingsland side for 3 more club matches. The New Zealand Herald said that he was one of the players who had shown "particularly fine form" and was a young player who was in the frame for selection for Auckland's Southern Tour later in the season.{{cite news With the New Zealand side on tour with a large number of Auckland players, the Auckland team was officially a B side with several young players aged 19 to 22. Their first match was against
West Coast at
Greymouth on the
West Coast on 9 September. Auckland B won the match 22 to 15 with List scoring a try. His try came in the second half after "passing by
Tim Peckham,
Hector Cole, and
Ben Davidson enabled List to score" in a tackle.{{cite news After their last tour match List was chosen in the full
Auckland side to play
South Auckland on 19 September.{{cite news The
1926 season saw List play 16 matches for Kingsland scoring 11 tries and kicking a goal. He made 4 appearances for
Auckland scoring 7 tries, being their equal leading try scorer along with George Wade. He also played in a
New Zealand trial match scoring a try. At the start of the year he was elected on to the Kingsland club committee.{{cite news List was then named as a reserve for a New Zealand trial match at Carlaw Park. It was a curtain-raiser for the North Island v South Island clash and part of a programme of representative games to help the New Zealand selectors chose their squad to tour
England and
Wales.{{cite news After 2 more matches for Kingsland in which he scored a try in their round 10 win over Parnell he was selected for the
Auckland side to play the
New Zealand team before they left. He was picked for the wing but when centre Leonard Riley was unable to play List was moved to centre.{{cite news The Auckland Star made several criticisms of the New Zealand side chosen to tour, especially in the backs. Saying that "[Ivan]
Littlewood, Hickey, and List are, to put it mildly, very unfortunate in not going on tour". Ironically it was the forwards that turned out to be more of an issue with 8 of them refusing to play after a falling out with coach Mair resulting in several backs having to play in the forwards and the offending players later banned for life.{{cite news List was then selected for the
Auckland squad to train to play
Otago on 7 August at Carlaw Park.{{cite news The Auckland Star once again made note of List being unlucky to have not made the New Zealand side saying "List has by now convinced everybody of the quality of his play, also of the fact that all the good players in Auckland are not in the A grade competition".{{cite news Following the match he was named in the 19 man
Auckland squad to play
Canterbury.{{cite news List returned to the Kingsland side for their match with
Northcote. The 2 teams were leading the B Division competition with 2 matches remaining with Northcote holding a 1-point lead. Northcote won to seal the championship with Kingsland finishing runner up. The Herald said that "some good talent was hidden in the ranks of the B section teams. The ability of List, of Kingsland was cited, and it was contended that other players of equal merit only awaited a chance to make good".{{cite news List was then chosen for the
Auckland side to play
South Auckland side from the
Waikato on 9 October.{{cite news List then returned to his Kingsland side for their Stallard Cup knockout final match against
Parnell on 16 October. Kingsland won by 25 points to 13. List set up a try to Carter and "was playing a fine game for Kingsland… [he then] made a clever opening and again Carter scored".{{cite news
1927 North Island selection The
1927 season saw List play 13 matches for
Kingsland Rovers scoring 2 tries, although the B Division matches did not receive very good newspaper coverage so he may have scored more. Kingsland once again finished runner up, this time behind
Ellerslie United. He played 5 games for
Auckland, scoring 7 tries which was the most for the representative side. List also made his debut appearance for the
North Island representative side. His season began early, being selected on 12 April to go into training for the
Auckland side to play the returning Auckland members of the
New Zealand team from their
England and
Wales tour.{{cite news This was the only representative match played by Auckland until near the end of the club season. List played 13 games for Kingsland from 14 May to 3 September. In their second match which they won 11–3 against
Otahuhu at the Otahuhu Trotting Ground he "gave another splendid exhibition, and he will give
Davidson a good fight for the centre three-quarter position in the rep. team".{{cite news Following a match against
Parnell, List was named in an eighteen player squad to tour south for
Auckland.{{cite news List was then selected to play in his first ever match for the
North Island side to play the
South Island. It was commented that "List has proved his claim for a place in big football, and if a New Zealand side were picked this season would probably be sure of a place".{{cite news On 8 October List was a part of the Auckland side to play
Buller at Carlaw Park. He scored 3 tries in an easy 60–33 victory.{{cite news List and Auckland's final match of the season was against
South Auckland (Waikato) on 15 October. Once again he scored a try however this time Auckland was defeated in a shock upset 29 points to 12 at
Carlaw Park. In regards to the Auckland backs it was said "of the seven, List was the most convincing for all round play".{{cite news
1928 New Zealand debut List once again began the season playing for Kingsland. There was very little coverage of their matches in the B Division. He played in 11 of their games but it is unknown if he scored any tries. After their opening round 8–5 defeat by Mangere United on 5 May it was said that "List was the pick of Kingsland's backs and the Auckland representative is in good form for the big matches ahead. He has only to retain his form of last season to be one of the big successes against the
English team".{{cite news The Auckland Star in commenting on representative possibilities said that "for centre three-quarter there are two players of real class in List and Beattie".{{cite news List was then selected in the Auckland side to play South Auckland in their opening representative match of the season on 16 June. He was originally chosen for the wing with
Len Scott on the other wing and
Allan Seagar at centre.{{cite news He returned to the Kingsland side who beat Mangere on 30 June by 6 points to 3. The Kingsland halves played well and "List was given every chance to operate his splendid swerve. The Auckland rep., was well marked but he was Kingsland's best back".{{cite news List was then selected in an Auckland Possibles side to play in an Auckland trial. The selectors (Edward Fox,
Bert Avery, and
Ernie Asher were looking to find the best possible side to play against the
England side when was touring shortly after.{{cite news List was then selected to play for
Auckland against
Canterbury on 21 July at Carlaw Park. He played on the wing with
Maurice Wetherill at centre.{{cite news List was then chosen by Edward Fox, W.J. Mitchell, and W Murray, for the
New Zealand side to make his national debut in the first test against
England on 4 August at
Carlaw Park. He thus became the first ever player to gain selection for New Zealand whilst playing for a second division club. He was named in the centres with
Roy Hardgrave and
Len Scott on the wings,
Craddock Dufty at fullback, and
Maurice Wetherill and
Stan Prentice in the five eighth positions, and
Frank Delgrosso at halfback. An all Auckland backline.{{cite news New Zealand won the match 17–13 causing a great upset in front of a crowd estimated at well over 20,000. List scored a try in the win. While New Zealand used the two five eighths system the English played 2 centres and had a solitary five eighth. Their centres opposite List and Wetherill were
Jim Brough and
Joe Oliver. England had just toured Australia where they won the test series 2–1. With the score 4–0 to New Zealand early in the match "List came into prominence with a good run. He placed a punt nicely and L. Scott beat Askin and
Sullivan in a follow through, but the ball went over the dead line". Then with the score 4–3 to New Zealand, England were penalised under their posts. Instead of kicking for goal "Wetherill took the ball, baffled the Englishmen by kicking across to the left flank, where List ran through, gathered the ball cleanly and dived through a tackle to score" with Delgrosso converting the try. With New Zealand leading 11–3 in the second half Wetherill caught the ball standing still "but swept a very wide pass to List. The latter raced on a diagonal line and whipped the ball on to Len Scott. Amid a scene of great excitement, Scott tossed back his head and ran for the corner flag.
Askin put in a flying low tackle, but the
Shore man kept his feet and amid delirious excitement went across wide out. In comments after the match it was said that "List played to form in the New Zealand centre, and made one of the tries that came New Zealand's way. The English centres, on the other hand, comparatively failed".{{cite news List was then selected for the Auckland Provincial side to play England 4 days later. He was in the centres, opposite
Mel Rosser.{{cite news List was named as part of a larger three quarter group to play in the second test with one to be omitted. The players were
Len Scott,
Hec Brisbane, List, and
Roy Hardgrave.{{cite news List had recovered enough to be named in the Auckland squad against
Otago the following weekend on 15 September.{{cite news On 1 October List was selected in the Auckland side to play
North Auckland (Northland) on 6 October in
Whangārei.{{cite news
Kingsland Athletic and Auckland (1929–30) At the start of the
1929 season List's Kingsland Rovers club merged with
Grafton Athletic in an endeavour to be admitted into the first grade competition. Their colours were maroon (Kingsland's colours), with a blue and gold shield and they would be known as Kingsland Athletic. This would be the first time List had played in the first grade in his fifth season of senior rugby league. In an article about the merger the Auckland Star featured a portrait photo of List, although they erroneously said that the
Grafton Athletic club (originally named Maritime) was the original
Grafton Athletic which had ceased in
1922.{{cite news List played 15 matches for Kingsland and scored 7 tries and kicking a drop goal and played 3 matches for Auckland, scoring 2 tries. He scored a try in a practice match against
Northcote on 20 April before Kingsland's opening match in first grade against
City Rovers at Carlaw Park on 27 April. Kingsland lost the match 21–6 with List scoring one of their two tries.{{cite news They then had their second win, 14–10 over
Newton on 29 June. He was "perhaps the best of the Kingsland backs, his powerful running paving the way for two tries".{{cite news Then with Auckland representative selection looming List played a great game against
Richmond with Kingsland winning 6–0. He scored after he "had taken the ball at his feet, from halfway, and just beat Grace in a spectacular dive".{{cite news List was then selected for
Auckland to play against
South Auckland on 27 July.{{cite news He was then picked in the
Auckland Auckland training squad to prepare for a match against
Northland before being chosen on the wing.{{cite news The
1930 season saw List play 14 matches for Kingsland Athletic, and once again he scored 7 tries for them. This placed him equal ninth in the club try scoring list. He only played one match for
Auckland out of their three matches. Prior to the start of the season in team previews the
Auckland Star said "List is a steady and resolute exponent with plenty of experience".{{cite news List was then named on the wing for Auckland for their 17 May match with Northland.{{cite news He was "again disappointing" in Kingsland's next match with
Richmond on 24 May.{{cite news List spent the remainder of the season in the maroon jersey of Kingsland. The following week he scored a try in a 31–10 loss to
Ellerslie where he played well but had few opportunities.{{cite news
List joins Marist with Kingsland merger 1931 In
1931 Kingsland was forced to merge with
Marist Old Boys.
Auckland Rugby League felt that the senior grade had too many teams with 8 and that the competition was weaker than when it had 6 for the majority of the previous 2 decades and as a result was drawing smaller crowds. They also decided to create a reserve grade competition. Kingsland were essentially facing losing their entire playing squad with relegation to a senior B grade so they instead chose to merge with Marist. With Marist able to draw on the best players from Kingsland they were suggested as the early favourites to win the competition. They already had a strong back line with 4 New Zealand representatives and it was said that List "is likely to play back row forward, a position to which he should easily accustom himself".{{cite news List scored a try on debut for his 'new team' in an 11–10 win over
Richmond Rovers, though the game had gone for longer than it should have and
Auckland Rugby League ordered it to be replayed at a later date. His try came 2 minutes after the bell should have been rung and gave Marist the 'win'. It was "a characteristic hard dash and dive when there was little room to manoeuvre in".{{cite news Marist then traveled to
Wellington in their bye round to play a Wellington combined clubs side. Marist won 40–19 with List scoring one of their tries at Wellington Show Stadium.{{cite news List was then selected by
Thomas McClymont to make his second appearance for
North Island in their inter island match with the
South Island.{{cite news List then played for Marist against a Lower Waikato side at Steele Park in
Hamilton, before being defeated by Devonport in the Roope Rooster semi finals. He set up both Marist tries in their 11–8 loss.{{cite news That was to be his final game of the season after he suffered an injury. He missed the Stormont Shield final with Devonport which Marist lost. The Star said "it was evident that the losers sadly missed their thrustful and brilliant centre three-quarter, List, who was unable to appear owing to having an injured hand".{{cite news
New Zealand selection v England The
1932 season was to be the most significant of List's career. For Marist he scored 9 tries which was the most of any player in Auckland. While he also played in all 3 test matches for
New Zealand against
England. In addition he played for Auckland, an Auckland XIII, and the North Island once more. His season started with 10 matches for Marist which was the entire Fox Memorial first grade championship. Marist finished runner up, 4 points behind
Devonport. In the 4th round match against
Ponsonby on 21 May he scored 2 tries. He, "on the wing, was one of the best backs".{{cite news Following the end of the championship matches an Auckland XIII team was chosen to play against
South Auckland on 16 July with List named in it on the wing.{{cite news Following the match List was named in the North Island side.{{cite news
First Test (Auckland, 30 July) Following the inter-island match List was selected in a group of Auckland players to prepare for their match against England on 6 August.{{cite news Prior to the second test List was selected to play for
Auckland against the touring side on the wing.{{cite news
Second Test (Christchurch, 13 August) List then traveled with 10 other Aucklanders down to
Christchurch to join the rest of the New Zealand squad for the second test.{{cite news
Third Test (Auckland, 30 August) List was named in the New Zealand side to play the third test at Carlaw Park on 20 August. List was once again on the right wing, opposite
Barney Hudson.{{cite news With the English tour over List returned to his Marist side to finish the season. He played in their semi final win in the Roope Rooster over Devonport on 3 September. He scored a try and his play along that of Schultz "was a feature of the match".{{cite news
Continuation of Marist and Auckland In
1933 List played 21 matches for
Marist and scored 6 tries and kicked 1 conversion. He also played 3 matches for
Auckland and scored a try. These were to be the final representative matches of his career despite playing senior club football for a further 9 seasons. List was aged 30 by this point of his career. Following a 3rd round win over Ponsonby it was said that "List, at centre, was weak, dropping many passes, while also giving poor transfers".{{cite news List was then selected for
Auckland's first representative match of the season against
Taranaki. The New Zealand Herald was blunt with their assessment saying "List, Marist, seems to have lost all form and is lucky to gain a place. Last season the marist centre was an outstanding success against the Englishmen. It is evident the selectors are relying upon past form".{{cite news In a 35–9 win over Devonport for Marist on 17 June List scored 3 tries and kicked a conversion. The Star said "for the first time this season List was well in the firing line, proving to some of his critics that he has the quality of a good centre. Two of his tries were the best he has produced for quite a long time".{{cite news In mid-June List was selected for Auckland's second match of the season when they played
South Auckland on 15 July.{{cite news List had missed selection for the Auckland side in matches against
Taranaki,
North Auckland,
West Coast, and
Hawke's Bay but was chosen in the reserves in their final match of the season against
South Auckland on 9 September. During the first half
Bert Cooke was injured and retired from the match with List coming on to replace him and move to the wing. He missed a try when
Stan Prentice had made a break but threw a pass at List's feet which saw him kick it dead. Then before halftime "
Hassan got his backs away with dispatch, and rapid handling by Schultz and Brisbane enabled List to fly across out wide" to give Auckland a 9–2 lead. The Auckland Star said "List did well when he came on for wing duty".{{cite news Following a match against Ponsonby the Marist side played against the touring
St. George side from
Sydney who had finished runner up in the
1933 New South Wales rugby league competition. Before a crowd of 13,000 at Carlaw Park Marist won 25 to 11. List played on the wing and marked
Len Brennan who was later killed in
World War 2 aged just 32.{{cite news
Falling out with Marist and transfer to Mount Albert The
1934 was an unusual one for List. He only played 3 matches for Marist and transferred to
Mount Albert United late in the season where he only played one match before the season end. At the start of the season it was reported that he was available to play again but he was not named in their early season matches.{{cite news It was then reported that there were several senior players at Marist who were in a dispute with the club over financial issues. They included C. Dunne,
Des Herring,
Gordon Campbell,
Wilf Hassan, brothers Len, Bill and John Schultz, and List. The club released an official statement on 8 June saying "that several committee members and some players were dissatisfied on a point of club finance, whether portion of expenditure should apply to senior players alone or be devoted to general club services, including juniors…Apparently this caused the eight players mentioned to attempt to embarrass the club by adopting an attitude of passive resistance…". The eight players were then asked to appear at the club's executive meeting the following week.{{cite news List was named in the reserves for a match on 9 June but did not play, and then most of the players were suspended by the Marist club.{{cite news The
1935 season saw List play the entire season for
Mount Albert, playing 15 games and scoring 4 tries, and kicking 1 conversion. He was now aged 32 and moved into the forwards, playing lock in their opening match against City on 27 April. The following week against Richmond in a 27–15 loss his tackling was mentioned along with other forwards.{{cite news In the Roope Rooster knockout competition he was in an 18–15 win over Marist. It was a bad tempered match due to Mount Albert having several former Marist players including List who was said to have been prominent.{{cite news
Mount Albert seniors and reserves The
1936 season marked the beginning of a period of several years where List began to play a mixture of senior and senior reserve grade matches for Mount Albert. In 1936 he played 8 senior games, scoring 2 tries. He began the season playing 2 games for their top side and in the second against Devonport on 9 May he "did well with limited opportunities".{{cite news At this time Claude's brother Francis was named in the Mount Albert reserve grade side.{{cite news
1937 saw List playing the entire season in reserve grade. In a 12 June match he was listed in the reserves with his brother Francis.{{cite news In the final round of the competition Mount Albert beat Papakura 44–12 but they needed a Marist loss to force a playoff for the championship. With Marist winning 10–7 it meant Mount Albert was runner up. It was his final first grade match of the season. He "showed plenty of dash at centre".{{cite news The
1939 season saw List play the year in the reserve grade competition. Mr. Huxford awarded List a trophy for services rendered at the
annual general meeting on 20 February, while his brother Francis won the award for the most consistent forward. Claude also win the C. Elwin Memorial Cup for the annual 100 yards championship.{{cite news
Mount Albert during the war With the war having begun during the 1939 season many senior sides were struggling for adult players. The reserve grade competition ceased and many veteran players were called back into action for their former sides. The
1941 season saw List once again resume his senior playing career for Mount Albert. He played 19 games and scored 2 tries at the age of 39, now in his 17th season of senior football. An unprecedented period of time at that level in Auckland rugby league through its early decades. List played in their round 1 match against Marist List was playing in the forwards and was said to be "prominent" in their 20–18 loss.{{cite news A short article then appeared in an
Auckland Star supplement on 6 September about List's career. It said "few, if any, players in the rugby league code can boast a playing record of 29 years continuous football. This goes to the still fit and active Claude List, who in turn shines as a back, or a forward, for Mount Albert. List made his debut in the league code in Auckland for the old
Kingsland club in
1921, and since then he has gained both
New Zealand and
Auckland representative honours. He first got into an Auckland team in 1927, and actually was picked to represent New Zealand in 1928, while still a senior B grade player… His greatest success came in 1932 when he played all three tests for New Zealand against
England. At
Christchurch, in the second match, with
A.E. Cooke badly hurt, Claude played the greatest game of his career. Many times his powerful fend came into action, and he stood out as the best of the New Zealand backs. Jim Sullivan, the English captain, reckoned that List was next to A. E. Cooke, the most dangerous attacking back his team had met in the Dominion, besides which his tackling was always a great asset. Claude first played football for a league team in
Queensland as a schoolboy in 1912. Nearly every Saturday List can be seen at Carlaw Park giving assistance, and he is still up to the best first grade standard".{{cite news His first try of the season came in a 10–6 Roope Rooster round 1 loss to Marist on 20 September.{{cite news The
1942 season was to be List's last. Due to the reduction in senior players the Auckland Rugby League made the decision to combine several of the sides during the middle of the war.
Mount Albert was merged with
Newton Rangers and ultimately finished 4th of the 6 sides. List did not play their initial matches but made his season debut on 6 June in their round 4 match with
Manukau. They lost 10–5 with the Auckland Star reporting that "the Newton-Mount Albert XIII against Manukau was strengthened by the addition of
H. Leatherbarrow, international hooker, and C. List. Both are experienced Mount Albert forwards".{{cite news ==Personal life and death==