Arthur Daniels

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Arthur Harper Daniels born 1924 in Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire was a dual code rugby player.

Arthur wearing one of his Welsh caps

In 1945 he was one of three Welshmen, all from the Llanelli area, who had trials with the Halifax rugby league club. A winger, he made a relatively slow start to his rugby league career, which was interrupted with a period in the armed forces. Following a big improvement in his form in 1948-49, he was by 1949 an important part of the Halifax side.

In 1950 he toured Australasia with the Great Britain squad, but injury forced him to return home early before the first test. He made 13 appearances for Wales scoring nine tries.

He was Halifax captain for the 1952/53 season. However, injuries would curtail his season. A splintered ankle bone sustained in the second test against the touring Australian's at Swinton kept him out of the third. A broken arm in a home match against Huddersfield on Christmas Day 1952 ended his season.

His domestic career also included two challenge cup final appearances at Wembley. The first being in 1954 when Halifax drew with Warrington, the tie was settled in the famous Odsal replay where he had a try disallowed in a defeat for Halifax. His next Wembley appearance came in 1956 against St Helens where once again, Halifax were the losing side.

[edit] Career Highlight

All footballers during their career have one match which stands out more prominently than others. When Arthur was asked if there was such a game, it was the first test of that seasons series against Australia at Headingley, a game in which he scored his first try at Test level, helping to secure a 19-6 victory.

[edit] Bradford and Retirement

The 1956-57 season was his last at Thrum Hall, after which he had a brief spell with Bradford Northern before his retirement. After retiring, he lived for a time in the Halifax area where he was a publican. He then moved to Pudsey then Bramley, before moving back to Pontyberem. He later ran a newsagents in Swansea. He spent his final years in Neath.

Arthur Daniels became a member of the Halifax Rugby League Hall of Fame in 1993.[1]