Billy Blan

William Blan
Personal information
Full name William Blan
Nickname Billy
Born April→June 1922
Wigan district, England
Died 30 April 2008(2008-04-30) (aged 86)
Wigan, England
Playing information
Position Second-row, Loose forward/Lock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1945–1953 Wigan 251 78 3 0 240
1953–1954 Leeds
1954–1955 St. Helens 17
Total 268 78 3 0 240
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1951–1952 England 3 0 0 0 0
1951–1951 Great Britain 3 1 0 0 3
Source: rugbyleagueproject.org englandrl.co.uk

William "Billy" Blan (birth registered April→June 1922 in Wigan district[1] — died 30 April 2008(2008-04-30) (aged 86) in Wigan) was an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s who at representative level played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Wigan, Leeds, and St. Helens, playing at Second-row, or Loose forward/Lock, i.e. number 11 or 12, or, 13, during the era of contested scrums.

Contents

International honours

Billy Blan won caps for England while at Wigan in 1951 against Wales, and France, in 1952 against Other Nations, and won caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1951 against New Zealand (3 matches).[2]

Club career

Billy joined Wigan from the Royal Air Force straight after the World War II and won a Championship medal in his first season. In his Wigan career he won two Challenge Cup Winners medals, three Championship medals, and five Lancashire Cup winners medals.

Genealogical information

Billy Blan was the younger brother of Wigan, and Salford rugby league Loose forward/Lock, John Blan/Jack Blan, and the older brother of rugby league footballer, Albert Blan.

Honoured at Wigan

Billy Blan was a life mmeber at Wigan.[3]

After playing

After Billy Blan finished his playing career, he worked as Wigan's Lottery Manager in Pools Office.

Note

The Civil Registration index gives William Blan's district of birth as being Barnsley, whereas other sources state Wigan.

References

  1. ^ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 2010-12-31. http://www2.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?scan=1&r=146534381&d=bmd_1295915451. Retrieved 2011-01-01. 
  2. ^ "International Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 2008-12-31. http://www.englandrl.co.uk/international_stats.php?GBSearch=Blan&EnSearch=Blan&submit_x=7&submit_y=3&submit.x=7&submit.y=8. Retrieved 2009-01-01. 
  3. ^ "Club Personnel - Life Members". wiganwarriors.com. 2010-12-31. http://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.aspx?id=4. Retrieved 2011-01-01. 

External links