Benjamin Gronow

Benjamin Gronow
Personal information
Full name Benjamin Gronow
Nickname Ben
Born 10 March 1887(1887-03-10)
Bridgend, Wales
Died 24 November 1967(1967-11-24) (aged 80)
Huddersfield, England
Playing information
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1908–1910 Bridgend RFC
Glamorgan County
Total 0 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1910–1910 Wales 4 1 0 0 3
Rugby league
Position Prop, Second-row, Loose forward/Lock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1910–≥1920 Huddersfield
1926–≥1926 Grenfell
≥1926–1928 Huddersfield
1928–≥1928 Batley
≥1928–≥1928 Featherstone Rovers <1910
Total 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1910–1923 Wales 8 0 6 0 12
1911–1920 Great Britain 7 0 11 0 22
1921 Other Nationalities
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
Morley R.F.C.
Source: rugbyleagueproject.org englandrl.co.uk

Benjamin "Ben" Gronow (10 March 1887 — 24 November 1967) was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1910s and '20s. At club level Gronow played under the union code for Bridgend RFC, county rugby for Glamorgan and international rugby for Wales union team. He was often used as a utility forward.

When he switched to professional league rugby he represented Huddersfield (twice), Grenfell, Batley, and Featherstone Rovers, while at representative level, Gronow played for Great Britain, and Wales. His playing position varied under the league code being utilised as a Prop, Second-row, and Loose forward/Lock, i.e. number 8 or 10, 11 or 12, or 13, during the era of contested scrums.[1]

He was the coach for Morley R.F.C. in the 1930s, however when a history of the club was produced some years later, due to his previous rugby league associations, he was identified as 'unknown' in a team photograph.[2]

Contents

International honours

Ben Gronow won four caps for Wales under the union code while at Bridgend in 1910, and won eight caps for Wales under the league code, between 1910 and 1923 while playing for Huddersfield. Gronow was also capped for the Great Britain rugby league team while at Huddersfield, in 1911 against Australia (2 matches), and in 1920 against Australia (2 matches), and New Zealand (3 matches). Gronow also played at least one game for the Other Nationalities team, on 5 February 1921 against England. The game was notable for the Other Nationalities side being entirely composed of Welsh players; but despite approaches to have the game recognised as a 'Wales' v England encounter the rugby league authorities refused to accept the request.[3]

Career Records

Ben Gronow is one of less than twenty-five Welshmen to have scored more than 1000-points in their rugby league career.[4]

References

  1. ^ Graham Williams, Peter Lush, David Farrar (November 2009). "The British Rugby League Records Book [Page-108…114]". London League Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6
  2. ^ David Lawrenson (2007). "The Rugby League Miscellany [Page-59]". Vision Sports Publishing. ISBN 9781905326303
  3. ^ Gate, Robert (1986). Gone North: Volume 1. Ripponden: R.E. Gate. p. 154. ISBN 0951119001. 
  4. ^ Robert Gate (1988). "Gone North - Volume 2". R. E. Gate. ISBN 0-9511190-3-6

External links