He played at representative level for New Zealand, Hawke's Bay and Canterbury, as a centre or stand-off.
[1][2][3][4] Charles Manning switched codes midway through the 1912 season and joined the Ahuriri side.
He scored 4 tries in one of their matches and gained selection late in the season for the Hawke's Bay side to play the touring New South Wales team.
[citation needed] In 1915, he began playing for the Addington club in Christchurch.
[citation needed] Manning represented New Zealand in 1913 on their tour of Australia.