Brian Briggs

For other uses, see Brian Briggs (disambiguation).
Brian Briggs
Personal information
Full name Brian Briggs
Born circa-1934
Died late-1990s
Australia
Playing information
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 13 st 5 lb (84.8 kg; 187.0 lb)
Position Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1952–52 York
1952–14 Feb 58 Huddersfield
14 Feb 1958–7 May 60 St. Helens 83 4 11 0 34
7 May 60–≥1962 Wakefield Trinity
Total 83 4 11 0 34
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1954?–62? Yorkshire ≥2
1956 England 1 0 0 0 0
1954 Great Britain 1 0 0 0 0
Source: rugbyleagueproject.org englandrl.co.uk

Brian Briggs was an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s, playing at representative level for Great Britain, England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Stanley Rangers, York, Huddersfield, St. Helens, and Wakefield Trinity (Heritage #665), as a Second-row, i.e. number 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums.

Playing career

Career at St Helens

Brian Briggs was a stalwart for St. Helens playing over 80 matches mostly in the Second-row position. He was signed by St. Helens from Huddersfield on Friday 14 February 1958, and made his St. Helens début against Oldham on Saturday 15 February 1958. He was a hard running and tough tackling Second-row who added great steel to the St. Helens pack at the time. In 83 matches for St. Helens Brian Briggs scored 4 tries, kicked 11 goals for a total points aggregate of 34 points. Brian Brigg's first try for St. Helens came at Hunslet as St. Helens cruised to a 33 points to two victory. Brian Briggs also had the pleasure of watching Tom van Vollenhoven notch four tries that particular day. On Tuesday 14 April 1959 Brian Briggs scored a try and kicked two goals as St. Helens thumped Hull at Knowsley Road in front of 18,500 spectators. Brian Briggs managed to earn two caps for Yorkshire whilst at St. Helens. He partnered Dick Huddart in the Second-row in the resounding 1959 Championship Final 44 points to 22 thrashing of Hunslet. His final match for St. Helens was against Wigan in the Championship semi-final defeat on Saturday 7 May 1960. He transferred to the emerging great Wakefield Trinity side of the early 1960s for £5,000[1] (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £226,900 in 2013).[2]

International honours

Brian Briggs, won a cap for England while at Huddersfield in 1956 against France,[3] and won a cap for Great Britain while at Huddersfield in 1954 against New Zealand.[4]

Challenge Cup final appearances

Brian Briggs played Left-Second-row, i.e. number 11, in Wakefield Trinity's 12–6 victory over Huddersfield in the 1962 Challenge Cup final during the 1961–62 season at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 12 May 1962.[5]

County Cup final appearances

Brian Briggs played Left-Second-row, i.e. number 11, in St. Helens 2-12 defeat by Oldham in the 1958 Lancashire Cup final during the 1958–59 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 25 October 1958, played Left-Second-row in the 4-5 defeat by Warrington in the 1959 Lancashire Cup final during the 1959–60 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 31 October 1959, played Left-Second-row in Huddersfield's 15–8 victory over York in the 1957 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1957–58 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 19 October 1957, played Left-Second-row in Wakefield Trinity's 16–10 victory over Huddersfield in the 1960 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1960–61 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 29 October 1960,[5] and played Left-Second-row in the 19–9 victory over Leeds in the 1961 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1961–62 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 11 November 1961.

Outside of Rugby League

Circa-1960s, Brian Briggs was the landlord of the Fox And Grapes Inn, 107 Stanley Road, Wakefield, Circa-1980s, He was the landlord of The Sun Inn, 719 Leeds Road, Lofthouse Gate, Wakefield. He was also the landlord of the British Oak Public House at the top of Stanley Hill Wakefield.

References

  1. ↑ Briggs, Cyril & Edwards, Barry (12 May 1962). The Rugby League Challenge Cup Competition - Final Tie - Huddersfield v Wakefield Trinity - Match Programme. Wembley Stadium Ltd. ISBN n/a
  2. ↑ "Measuring Worth - Relative Value of UK Pounds". Measuring Worth. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. ↑ "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC – FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9

External links