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2 unusual facts about rugby league


Centenary World Cup

1995 Rugby League World Cup, hosted by England and celebrating the 100th birthday of Rugby league.

Street sports

The Ba game, played twice annually to this day on the streets of Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands is an urban form of a cross between football and rugby.


1956–57 Northern Rugby Football League season

Pat Quinn, Del Hodgkinson, Keith McLellan (c), Lewis Jones, George Broughton, Jr, John Lendill, Jeffrey "Jeff" Stevenson, Joe Anderson, Bernard Prior, William "Bill" Hopper, Bernard Poole, Don Robinson, Harry Street.

1971 NSWRFL season

Under the guidance of revolutionary head-coach Jack Gibson who was in 1971 beginning to embrace the attitude and training methods used in the United States' National Football League, St. George in 1971 had reached the Grand Final in all three grades.

1992 State of Origin series

Blues fullback Andrew Ettingshausen next scored the try of the series midway through the second half following a Laurie Daley grubber-kick.

2006 Newcastle Knights season

Despite trailing 18-6 at halftime, the Knights won its first final since their 2001 Grand Final victory by winning 25-18, but the win came at a cost with hooker Danny Buderus suspended for a spear tackle on Manly winger Michael Robertson, ruling him out of Newcastle's following final against the Brisbane Broncos in what was the last ever Johns vs. Lockyer showdown.

2008 Bradford Bulls season

The final score was 40–20 to Bradford, tries came from Michael Platt, Paul Sykes(2), Shontayne Hape, Iestyn Harris, Simon Finnigan and Goals from Iestyn Harris whom kicked 6.

2008 Wigan Warriors season

During 2008 Wigan will continue to rebuild their squad under coach Brian Noble but they will have a new owner and chairman in Ian Lenagan from 1 December 2007 after Maurice Lindsay retired and Dave Whelan decided to sell the club.

2010 All Stars match

In the NRL All Stars, David Taylor injured his ankle at training and was replaced by Sam Burgess, Gareth Ellis was sent home on compassionate grounds because of the birth of his first child and was replaced by Robbie Farah and Alan Tongue injured himself and was replaced by David Shillington.

2012 Gold Coast Titans season

After their worst ever season which ended in their winning the wooden spoon in 2011, the Titans underwent significant player turnover, which included the signings of Nate Myles, Phil Graham and Jamal Idris amongst others.

2013 Bradford Bulls season

The Bulls announce their 2nd capture of the season, Warrington Wolves prop Ben Evans on a 1 Year loan deal, he is the twin brother of Wolves centre Rhys Evans.

Young fullback Curtis Naughton (3 Year Deal), centre Sam Wood (2 Year Deal) and second rower Oliver Roberts (3 Year Deal) were all give professional contracts and promoted to the first team.

Alan Schirnack

With the Wests Tigers missing Bryce Gibbs, Liam Fulton and Gareth Ellis early in 2011, Schirnack made two appearances in the starting team, and a number more from the bench as the season progressed.

Alfred Watson

Alfred "Alf" Watson from Portobello, Wakefield, is an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1930s, playing at representative level for England, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity, and Leeds, he was a Prisoner of war in World War II.

Andy Tosney

Andrew 'Andy' Tosney (born 3 June 1964) is an English former International rugby league footballer of the 1980s and current Vice President of Global Sales for Mondelēz International.

Brian Goorjian

Having won over 400 games at a winning percentage of 70% Goorjian's record exceeds that of Australian coaching legends in the other major professional leagues including Kevin Sheedy (AFL - 365), Allan Jeans (AFL - 358), Tom Hafey (AFL - 336), David Parkin (AFL - 306), Wayne Bennett (NRL - 294 wins) and Tim Sheens (NRL - 235).

Brian McDermott

Brian McDermott (rugby league) (born 1970), former rugby league player and coach of Leeds Rhinos

Chris Hesketh

A classy centre and dominating presence on the rugby field, he was destined to become skipper of a Red Devils outfit littered with star names such as Paul Charlton, Colin Dixon, Keith Fielding and David Watkins.

Dally Messenger

The Courtney Goodwill Trophy, international rugby league's first trophy, was presented initially in 1936 and depicted Messenger, along with three other pioneering greats of the code, namely Jean Galia (France), Albert Baskiville (New Zealand) and James Lomas (Britain).

Edward Mosby

Edward P. Mosby was an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1900s, playing at representative level for England, and at club level for Bradford (now Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.).

Ernie Goldthorpe

Ernie Goldthorpe was the son of Walter Goldthorpe who played rugby union and rugby league in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the nephew of rugby league footballer Albert Goldthorpe.

Farsley

Rugby league footballer Fred Farrar, whose nickname was The Farsley Flyer, was a member of Hunslet's 1907–08 All Four Cups winning team.

Frank Nobilo

Nobilo used to play Rugby League for Glenora and not Rugby Union for St Peter's which was "a bone of contention" with the school.

Gary Lambert

Lambert later switched to rugby league, playing for the United States in the 1996 Super League World Nines tournament.

George Taylforth

He attended Sydney Boys High School playing alongside 1991 World Cup Winning Australia rugby union coach Bob Dwyer and premiership winning St. George Dragons rugby-league halfback George Evans (1962, 1963, 1964, 1965).

Graeme Johns

Graeme Johns is a professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s, playing at representative level for Wales, and at club level for Salford, and Blackpool Borough.

Hunter Mariners

Noel Goldthorpe and Robbie Ross were selected in the Super League Tri-Series and Goldthorpe scored the winning points for New South Wales in the final of that series.

Jaco Alberts

Jaco Alberts is a South African rugby league player who represented his country in the 1995 World Cup, playing in two matches.

Jon Wells

At the end of the fourteenth season of Super League there were five internationals who had played in every season; these being Keiron Cunningham, Sean Long, Paul Johnson, Keith Senior, Terry Newton and they were joined in this achievement by Jon Wells.

Lillian May Armfield

Frank FarrellNewtown Rugby League player and police detective - a colleague of Lillian Armfield.

Mark Horo

In 2010 he was the co-coach of the New Zealand Māori side with Richie Blackmore.

Mike Stephenson

He first appeared on British airwaves in 1988, when he was invited to co-commentate on the rugby league Ashes series in Australia for BBC Radio 2 with Eddie Hemmings.

Murray Farquhar

Farquhar was convicted and jailed in 1985 for his corrupt influence in a fraud case brought against the head of the Australian Rugby League, Kevin Humphreys.

Nathan McAvoy

He had joined Salford from Eccles ARL where he played alongside Adrian Morley Ian Watson (rugby league) and Carlo Napolitano.

Ngongotaha Chiefs

Over the years the club has seen many talented players but the most famous name associated with the club would be the Orchard brothers; Robert, Phillip, Eddie and John.

Nicholas Hough

Nick won the David Baxter memorial 100m in a time of 10.62s, half a second quicker than the fastest men in football, Lachie Turner, John Grant and Jarryd Hayne, the fastest of whom clocked 11.10s on the night.

NORWEB

English Rugby League team Wigan Warriors had Norweb as their primary shirt sponsor between 1989 and 1999 (as Energi between 1998 and 1999).

Ron Gibbs

Ron Gibbs (born 14 April 1962 in Brewarrina, New South Wales) is an Australian rugby league player who played professionally in Australia and England.

Rugby league in Cornwall

The first rugby league matches to take place in Cornwall were a series of exhibition matches between Hull and Hull Kingston Rovers which took place on three consecutive evenings in June 1962.

Rugby union in Papua New Guinea

Due to its close relationship with Queensland in Australia, rugby league is very strong in the country, and the other code also tried aggressive expansion there in the 80s and 90s.

Saint-Juéry XIII

Saint-Juéry XIII, nicknamed the Scorpions, are a French Rugby League club based in Saint-Juéry, Tarn in the Midi-Pyrénées region.

Sel Belsham

Selwyn Eric Belsham is a New Zealand former rugby league player who represented his country in the 1957 World Cup.

Sheffield Tigers RUFC

The arrival of former England and Halifax RLFC scrum half David Holmes spearheaded a new era and the club reached the final of the Tetley Bitter Vase at Twickenham in 2000, securing a 20-11 win over favourites Bank of England RUFC in the Final and despite finishing second in the League, a restructure meant that they remained in Yorkshire 2 as all 10 clubs below them were relegated!

Stade Ernest-Argelès

The Ernest-Argelès stadium is a ground of French Rugby League stadium of 4000 seats located in Blagnac (in the close vicinity of Toulouse).

Storm Financial

Former rugby league player Wally Fullerton Smith, an advisor working with Storm, lost his home and business.

Taranaki Rugby League

In 2008 the Taranaki Rugby League named its Team of the Century: Dave Watson; Babe Hooker; Ron McKay; Willie Talau; Ernest Buckland; Tony Kemp; Issac Luke; Bruce Gall; Howie Tamati; Wille Southorn; Graeme West; Adam Lile; Barry Harvey.

Top six play-offs

After a top five play-off system was used, a play-off structure involving the top six teams was used to determine the winners of the Super League competition in British rugby league from 2002 through 2008.

Yusef Sozi

Yusef Sozi born 20 December 1981 in Kampala, Uganda is a rugby league player for Sheffield Eagles in National League One.


see also

Atlantic Cup

Rugby League Atlantic Cup, an international rugby league football tournament

Cameron King

In December 2009 he won the Val Lembit Memorial Trophy for the most outstanding sportsman in NSW, awarded by the Combined High Schools, joining previous winners such as olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe and first grade rugby league player Blake Green.

Cecil King

Cecil King (rugby league Australia) (father of Johnny King), rugby league footballer of the 1940s for South Sydney Rabbitohs

Chicago Stockyarders

In May 2006, a successful beach Rugby League 9's exhibition game was held at North Avenue Beach, Chicago between the Chicago Saints and the touring UK team Ormskirk Heelers.

Club Managers' Association Australia

Former rugby league representative players Latchem Robinson and Snowy Justice were, as Leagues Club Secretary-Managers instrumental in the establishment of the Association in Sydney in 1964.

Cornish Rebellion of 1497

The Cornish Rebellion of 1497 is the main inspiration for the name of Cornwall's Rugby League team, The Cornish Rebels

Crippin

Arch Crippin, an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1930s

Daniela Scalia

Correspondent at the 2007 World Cup, and often travelling for the edgy and colourful “Si Rugby” she presented and wrote with Luca Tramontin, Gianluca Veneziano and rugby record-man Stefano Bettarello, magazine which often involved also Australian Football, Rugby League and other less known codes, she soon became a familiar face to the oval Italian community.

David Herron

:For the rugby league footballer of the 1970s, '80s and '90s for Great Britain, Yorkshire, Leeds, Bradford Northern, and Batley, see David "Dave" Heron

Dennis Ward

Denis Ward, rugby league footballer of the 1960s and '70s for Castleford

Fartown, Huddersfield

Huddersfield's Rugby League team now known as the Huddersfield Giants played at the St. John's Ground as did the Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Frank Whitcombe Jr

Frank Whitcombe Jr is the son of the Bradford Northern & Great Britain international Rugby League player Frank Whitcombe was the nephew of the association footballer for Cardiff City, and baseball captain for Wales George Whitcombe and the baseball player for Grange Albion, Teddy Whitcombe.

GAC Logistics

GAC is the key sponsor behind English football club Crystal Palace, ESPN Star Sports regional broadcast sponsor for FA Cup, European Tour star golfers Richard Stern and Graeme Storm, motor racing professional Alex Brundle, professional rugby league club Bradford Bulls, leading London Beckenham Swimming club and official logistics sponsor for Manchester United Soccer Schools.

Gasnier

Mark Gasnier (born 1981), Australian rugby league player, and nephew of Reg

Graham Shaw

Graeme Shaw, rugby league footballer for Scotland and at club level for Oldham Roughyeds

Griffin McMaster

He is the grandson of former Wallabies great Robert 'Bob' Esmond McMaster and also the son of comedian/impressionist and former rugby league player, Danny McMaster.

Group 6

Group 6 Rugby League, rugby league competition in New South Wales, Australia

Haffenden

Ray Haffenden, New Zealand rugby league player, coach and administrator

Ian Marsh

Iain Marsh (born 1980), English born rugby league footballer

Jamie Jones-Buchanan

Jones-Buchanan is the half brother of Salford and former Leeds Academy player Jodie Broughton his other half-brothers Austin Buchanan and Brooke Broughton are also professional rugby league players.

Jason Baitieri

The son of former player and coach Tas Baitieri, Jason was born in Paris, but played junior rugby league in Toulouse before returning to Castle Hill, New South Wales when he was 8 to play for the Hills District Bulls, a team in the Parramatta District Junior Rugby League competition, based in Baulkham Hills.

Joe Kilroy

He also played full-back in the Halifax team which surprised everyone in English rugby league by winning the Rugby Football League Championship in 1985-86 under player/coach Chris Anderson.

Kevin Junee

Kevin is the father of Australian rugby union player Darren Junee who also played rugby league for the Eastern Suburbs club.

Kevin Rayne

Kevin Rayne is the twin brother of the rugby league footballer, Keith Rayne.

Mark Church

Church has also provided commentary for BBC London in other sports, including the London Broncos Rugby League team, and the old London Racers, formerly of the Elite Ice Hockey League.

Matt Salter

He played for London Broncos in the European Super League, and was in the starting line-up (as a prop forward) for them in the 1999 Rugby League Challenge Cup Final, led out by the club backer at the time, Richard Branson.

Nick Politis

He was responsible for getting Sonny Bill Williams to return to rugby league with the Rooster after his 5-year ban from the NRL, for walking-out on the Bulldogs mid-season in 2008, expired in 2013.

Northampton Demons

As soon as the rugby union season ended, training began for the newly formed team with 18 players attending the first session from local union clubs and the University of Northampton rugby league side.

Peyroux

Dominique Peyroux (born 7 July 1988), New Zealand rugby league footballer

QRL

Queensland Rugby League, the governing body of rugby league football in the Australian state of Queensland

RLIF Awards

The Rugby League World Golden Boot Award is given to the international player of the year, as determined by a ballot of international rugby league writers and broadcasters.

Rugby league gameplay

Players of rugby league all need to be particularly physically fit and tough because of the game's fast pace and the expansive size of the playing-field as well as the inherently rough physical contact involved.

Rugby league nines

South West 9s (Current Champions Exeter University Rugby League Team; EURL)

Souths

Souths Logan Magpies, a rugby league team based in the southern suburbs of Brisbane, Australia

Stuart Pyke

Stuart has commentated on many Rugby League Challenge Cup Finals, Super League Grand Finals and Great Britain test matches during his career.

Taumalolo

Jason Taumalolo (born 1993), New Zealand professional rugby league footballer

Tim Natusch

Natusch was actively discouraged from entering rugby league by his then union coach John Mills, an uncapped All Black who in 2009 joined Graham Henry's All Black coaching staff in an advisory role.

Tony Mundine

Anthony Mundine (born 1975), his son, boxer and former rugby league player

Vautin

Paul Vautin (born 1959), Australian rugby league player, coach and television presenter

Wigan F.C.

Wigan Warriors, rugby league club originally named Wigan Football Club

Wizard Cup

Queensland Cup, a rugby league football competition formerly known as the Queensland Wizard Cup

Women's football in England

For its first three seasons (2011–2013), the WSL is operating on a licence system with no promotion or relegation, similar to the system used in rugby league's Super League.

Women's Rugby League World Cup

Women's Rugby League had been played in both Oceania and the United Kingdom for several years but it was not until 1985 in Britain and 1993 in Australia and New Zealand where female only organizations and governing bodies were established and while the Rugby Football League recognized the British women in 1985 it took another five years for the Australian Rugby League to officially recognize the Australian Women's rugby league.

Yow Yeh

Kevin Yow Yeh (19??−1975), Australian professional rugby league player

Zoe Goss

Having been called into the Bradman XI side when rugby league player Paul Vautin withdrew due to illness, Goss scored 29 before taking 2 for 60 from her ten overs, including the wicket of Brian Lara who had broken the records for Highest Test Innings and Highest First-Class Innings earlier in the year.