William Neill (rugby league)

William Neill
Personal information
Nickname Webby
Playing information
Position Fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1908–09 South Sydney 18 0 0 0 0
1910–13 Newtown 24 0 0 0 0
1914 Glebe 2 0 0 0 0
Total 44 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1909–11 Australia
Source: [1]

William "Webby" Neill was a pioneer Australian rugby league footballer of the early 20th century who later became a leading referee in the NSWRFL.

Neill played for Souths in the first ever New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership season in 1908[1] and that year went on to play in the first ever Grand final, which his team won. The following season Souths also won the premiership and he was first selected for the Australian national side that year. Neill moved to Newtown the following season, playing in their grand final-winning team to make it three premierships in three years. In 1911 he was selected for the second Kangaroo tour of Britain. He played for another three seasons at Newtown before a final season with Glebe.[2]

Neill later took to refereeing in the NSWRFL. He oversaw matches in a long refereeing career from 1916 to 1932 and officiated in a number of Grand finals in that time.

References

  1. ^ Webby Neill at rabbitohs.com.au
  2. ^ William Neill at yesterdayshero.com.au

External links