Billy Hall (rugby)

William Hall
Godfrey Phillips Cigarette card featuring William Hall
Personal information
Full name William M. Hall
Nickname Billy
Born Gloucester, England
Playing information
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1913–13 Gloucester RFC
Rugby league
Position Centre, Stand-off/Five-eighth
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1913–25 Oldham 250 53 2 163
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1914–21 England 2 0 0 0 0
1914 Great Britain 4 0 0 0 0
Source: rugbyleagueproject.org englandrl.co.uk

William "Billy" M. Hall (born in Gloucester) was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1910s and '20s, playing club level rugby union (RU) for Gloucester RFC, and playing representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Oldham, as a Centre, or Stand-off/Five-eighth, i.e. number 3 or 4, or 6.

Playing career

International honours

Billy Hall won caps for England (RL) while at Oldham in 1914 against Wales, in 1921 against Australia,[1] and won caps for Great Britain (RL) while at Oldham in 1914 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand.[2]

Billy played in the famous "Rorkes Drift" test against Australia in 1914, where Great Britain were level going in to the third test. Great Britain were winning 9–3 and due to injuries were down to 10 men against 13 for the last 30 minutes. Hall was one of those injured with concussion and came back onto the field with ten minutes to go. Great Britain were victorious, and won 14–6.

Club career

In 1913, both Billy Hall, and Dave Holland left Gloucester RFC to join Oldham, following Alf Wood who had made the same journey in 1908. Alf Wood and Dave Holland both played at Oldham until 1921, and Billy Hall played there until 1925. All three men played in Great Britain's "Rorke's Drift" Test match against Australia in 1914, with Alf Wood kicking the four goals that would be the difference in the end.

Rugby Football League Championship final appearances

Billy Hall played Centre, i.e. number 3, in Oldham's 2–13 defeat by Wigan in the 1921–22 Rugby Football League Championship final at The Cliff, Broughton on Saturday 6 May 1922.[3]

Challenge Cup final appearances

Billy Hall played Centre, i.e. number 3, in Oldham's 4–21 defeat by Wigan in the 1924 Challenge Cup final during the 1923–24 season at Athletic Grounds, Rochdale on Saturday 12 April 1924.[4]

Family information

Billy was one of seven brothers who all played rugby union for Gloucester RFC. His older brother Charles Hall played two tests for England (RU) in 1901 against Ireland, and Scotland.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. ↑ "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "1921–1922 Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. ↑ "1923-1924 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. ↑ "Charles Hall's International Statistics at espnscrum.com (misnamed Colin)". espnscrum.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.

External links