Jack Wilkinson (rugby league)

Jack Wilkinson
Personal information
Born 1930
Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Playing information
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 15 st 7 lb (98 kg; 217 lb)
Position Prop
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1948–59 Halifax 252 22 0 0 66
1959–63 Wakefield Trinity 151 10 0 0 30
1963 Bradford Northern 12 0 0 0 0
Total 415 32 0 0 96
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
195?–6? Yorkshire 10
1956–58 English League XIII 2 1 3
1953–55 England 2 0 0 0 0
1954–62 Great Britain 13 4 0 0 12
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1963 Bradford Northern
Source: rugbyleagueproject.org englandrl.co.uk

Jack Wilkinson was an English professional Rugby League World Cup winning footballer of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and coach of the 1960s. A Halifax RLFC Hall of Fame inductee,[1] he was a Great Britain international Prop, who played at club level for Halifax, Wakefield Trinity (Heritage #657), and Bradford Northern. He also represented Yorkshire, English League XIII, England, and Great Britain.

Background

Born in Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire in 1930, Wilkinson was a classmate of wrestler Shirley "Big Daddy" Crabtree.

Playing career

Halifax

Jack Wilkinson won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax between 1952 and 1956 against France (1 non-Test match).[2] Wilkinson also represented England while at Halifax in 1953 against Other Nationalities. During the 1953–54 season Wilkinson played at prop forward in Halifax's 4–4 draw with Warrington in the 1954 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 1 May 1954. In the subsequent re-play he played in the 4–8 loss to Warrington which attracted a record crowd of 102,575 or more to Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Wednesday 5 May 1954.

Wilkinson won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax in 1954 against Australia and New Zealand (2 matches). He also played for English League XIII while at Halifax against France. Wilkinson played for England in 1955 against Other Nationalities. He won caps for Great Britain in 1955 against New Zealand (3 matches). Auckland defeated Great Britain 5-4 at Carlaw Park in a rough match which resulted in Wilkinson and Nat Silcock being sent off. Wilkinson played in the 2–13 defeat by St. Helens in the 1956 Challenge Cup final during the 1955–56 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 28 April 1956. Wilkinson was selected for Yorkshire County XIII while at Halifax in 1959.[3] Wilkinson's Testimonial match at Halifax took place in 1958.

Wakefield Trinity

Jack Wilkinson joined Wakefield Trinity from Halifax in 1959 for £4,500[4] (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £207,900 in 2013).[5] During the 1959–60 Kangaroo tour Wilkinson was selected to play for Great Britain at prop forward in their victory in the third and deciding Ashes test. During the 1959–60 season Wikinson played as a front row forward in Wakefield Trinity's 38–5 victory over Hull in the 1960 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 14 May 1960. He then played in Wakefield Trinity's 3–27 loss against Wigan in the Rugby Football League Championship final at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday, 21 May 1960.[6]

Wilkinson helped Great Britain to victory in the 1960 World Cup, playing in all three games, and scoring a try in the 33–7 victory over France on Saturday 1 October 1960 at Station Road, Swinton. During the 1960–61 season Wilkinson played for Wakefield Trinity at prop forward in their victory over Huddersfield in the 1960 Yorkshire Cup final at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 29 October 1960,[7] The following year he again played at prop forward in Wakefield's victory in the 1961 Yorkshire Cup final, this time over Leeds. During the 1961–62 season Wilkinson played at prop forward in Wakefield Trinity's 12–6 victory over Huddersfield in the 1962 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 12 May 1962. During the 1962–63 season Wilkinson played at prop forward in Wakefield's 25–10 victory over Wigan in the 1963 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1963.[7]

Bradford Northern

Jack Wilkinson moved to Bradford Northern, as captain-coach in 1963. That year the film This Sporting Life which starred Richard Harris was released and in it Wilkinson is clearly visible as a rugby player in several scenes.

References

  1. ↑ "Halifax RLFC Hall of Fame". halifaxrlfc.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. ↑ Edgar, Harry (2007). Rugby League Journal Annual 2008 Page-110. Rugby League Journal Publishing. ISBN 0-9548355-3-0
  3. ↑ Lindley, John (1960). Dreadnoughts – A HISTORY OF Wakefield Trinity F. C. 1873 – 1960 [Page118]. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a
  4. ↑ Briggs, Cyril & Edwards, Barry (12 May 1962). The Rugby League Challenge Cup Competition – Final Tie – Huddersfield v Wakefield Trinity – Match Programme. Wembley Stadium Ltd. ISBN n/a
  5. ↑ "Measuring Worth – Relative Value of UK Pounds". Measuring Worth. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "1959–1960 Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  7. 1 2 Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC – FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9

External links

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