David Ward (rugby league)

David Ward
Personal information
Born 16 December 1953[1]
Morley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Playing information
Position Hooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1971–86 Leeds 482 40 2 15 143
Workington Town
Total 482 40 2 15 143
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1977–81 England 6 0 0 0 0
1977–82 Great Britain 12 0 0 0 0
Yorkshire
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1986–87 Hunslet
1989–90 Hunslet
1990–91 Leeds
1991–94 Batley
1994–96 Featherstone Rovers
1999–2000 Batley
Total 0 0 0 0
Source: rugbyleagueproject.org

David J. Ward (born 16 December 1953) is an English rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s, and coach of the 1980s and '90s, playing at representative level for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Leeds, as a Hooker, and coaching at club level for Hunslet, Leeds, Batley, and Featherstone Rovers. He won a total of 12 Great Britain caps.

Playing career

Ward played Hooker, i.e. number 9 in Leeds' 16-7 victory over Widnes in the 1976–77 Northern Rugby Football League season's Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 7 May 1977, and won the inaugural Man of Steel Award that year.

Ward played in the 14-12 victory over St. Helens in the 1977–78 Northern Rugby Football League season's Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 13 May 1978. Possibly the greatest moment of his playing career was his performance during the 1978 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium against St Helens, where he gave a commanding performance marshalling the Leeds team, and kicked two late drop-goals to complete what was then a record comeback. Ward's Testimonial match at Leeds took place in 1982. In addition to the above Test Matches, David Ward played Hooker, i.e. number 9 in Great Britain’s 7-8 defeat by France in the friendly at Stadio Pierluigi Penzo, Venice on Saturday 31 July 1982.

Coaching career

One of the more notable signings of his coaching career was when Ward brought John Gallagher to Leeds, converting the player from rugby union, but Ward was ultimately unsuccessful at Leeds, despite being in charge of one of only two full-time squads in the league at the time.[2]

Post playing

Ward currently runs Birstall Squash Club, and has done for many years. His son Danny is a rugby league player, with one Great Britain cap; he signed for Harlequins Rugby League in 2008.

References

  1. ↑ Daly, Phil (13 April 2014). "Burrow set to take his place amongst the greats". Leeds Rhinos. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  2. ↑ the other being Wigan

External links