Ernest Ward

Not to be confused with rugby league footballer of the 1900s for England, and Halifax RLFC, Ernest Ward

Ernest Ward was a rugby league player who most famously played for Bradford Northern. He also made 20 test appearances for Great Britain, and at club level has coached for Castleford. Ernest Ward was a Private in the British Army during World War II.[1]

Contents

Bradford Northern

In total he made 391 appearances for the club, scoring 117 tries and 538 goals, with a grand total of 1427 points for the club. He was awarded the Lance Todd Trophy for his man-of-the-match performance in 1949 Rugby League Challenge Cup final.

In September 2006 Ernest was inducted into the Bradford Bulls/Bradford Northern Hall of Fame.

As of September 2010, With 26 goals, Ernest is 4th in the list of England's all-time Goal Scorers, behind George Fairbairn, Andrew Farrell & Kevin Sinfield, with 58 points he is 4th in the list of England's all-time Point Scorers, again behind George Fairbairn, Andrew Farrell & Kevin Sinfield.

International honours

Ernest Ward won caps for England while at Bradford in 1941 against Wales, in 1945 against Wales (2 matches), in 1946 against France (2 matches), and Wales (2 matches), in 1947 against France, and Wales, in 1948 against France (2 matches), in 1949 against Wales, and France (2 matches), in 1950 against Wales (2 matches), and France, in 1952 against Other Nations (2 matches), and Wales, and won caps for Great Britain while at Bradford in 1946 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand, in 1947 against New Zealand (2 matches), in 1948 against Australia (3 matches), in 1950 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (2 matches), in 1951 against New Zealand (3 matches), and in 1952 against Australia (3 matches).[2]

Other notable Games

Ernest Ward played Fullback for Northern Command XIII against a Rugby League XIII at Thrum Hall, Halifax on Saturday 21 March 1942.[1]

Honoured at Bradford

Ernest Ward, has been included in Bradford's; 'Millennium Masters', 'Bull Masters', and in August 2007 he was named in the 'Team Of The Century'. Only six players have been included in all three lists, they are; Karl Fairbank, Trevor Foster, James Lowes, Keith Mumby, Robbie Paul, and Ernest Ward.

References

  1. ^ a b "inside programme, Northern Command v. A Rugby League XIII, 1942". rugbyleagueoralhistory.hud.ac.uk. 2010-12-31. http://rugbyleagueoralhistory.hud.ac.uk/gallery-images/86-large.jpg. Retrieved 2011-01-01. 
  2. ^ "International Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 2008-12-31. http://www.englandrl.co.uk/international_stats.php?GBSearch=Ward&EnSearch=Ward&submit_x=7&submit_y=3&submit.x=7&submit.y=8. Retrieved 2009-01-01. 

External links