Jack Wilkinson (rugby league)

Jack Wilkinson
Personal information
Born 1930
Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Playing information
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 15 st 7 lb (98.4 kg; 217.0 lb)
Position Prop
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1948–59 Halifax 252 22 0 0 66
1959–63 Wakefield Trinity 151 10 0 0 30
Bradford Northern 12 0 0 0 0
Total 415 32 0 0 96
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
195?–6? Yorkshire 10
1956–58 English League XIII 2 1 3
1953–55 England 2 0 0 0 0
1954–62 Great Britain 13 4 0 0 12
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1963 Bradford Northern
Source: rugbyleagueproject.org englandrl.co.uk

Jack Wilkinson was an English professional Rugby League World Cup winning footballer of the 1940s, '50s and '60s, and coach of the 1960s. A classmate of wrestler Shirley Crabtree ("Big Daddy"), he was a Great Britain international Prop, who played at club level for Halifax, Wakefield Trinity (Heritage #657), and Bradford Northern. He also represented Yorkshire, English League XIII, England, and Great Britain.

After retirement from rugby league Jack, together with his wife June, entered the licenced trade and ran West Yorkshire pubs including the Rose & Crown in Greetland, and the Maypole in Warley.

Jack Wilkinson is clearly visible as a rugby player in several scenes of the film This Sporting Life (1963) which starred Richard Harris.

Playing career

International honours

Jack Wilkinson won caps for England while at Halifax in 1953 against Other Nationalities, in 1955 against Other Nationalities, and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax in 1954 against Australia and New Zealand (2 matches), in 1955 against New Zealand (3 matches), and while at Wakefield in 1959 against Australia, in 1960 against France (2 matches), New Zealand, France and Australia, and in 1962 New Zealand.

Jack Wilkinson helped Great Britain to victory in the 1960 Rugby League World Cup, playing in all three games, and scoring a try in the 33-7 victory over France on Saturday 1 October 1960 at Station Road, Swinton.

Jack Wilkinson also represented Great Britain while at Halifax between 1952 and 1956 against France (1 non-Test match).[1]

Jack Wilkinson played for English League XIII while at Halifax against France.

County honours

Jack Wilkinson was selected for Yorkshire County XIII while at Halifax, and was selected for Yorkshire County XIII while at Wakefield Trinity during the 1959/60 season.[2]

Championship final appearances

Jack Wilkinson played Left-Prop, i.e. number 8 in Wakefield Trinity's 3-27 defeat by Wigan in the Rugby Football League Championship final during the 1959–60 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 21 May 1960.[3]

Challenge Cup final appearances

Jack Wilkinson played Right-Prop, i.e. number 10, in Halifax's 4-4 draw with Warrington in the 1954 Challenge Cup final during the 1953–54 season at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 1 May 1954, and the 4-18 defeat in the Challenge Cup final replay during the 1953–54 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Wednesday 5 May 1954 in front of a 102,569+ crowd, played in 2-13 defeat by St. Helens in the 1956 Challenge Cup final during the 1955–56 season at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 28 April 1956, and played Left-Prop, i.e. number 8, in Wakefield Trinity's 38-5 victory over Hull in the 1960 Challenge Cup final during the 1959–60 season at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 14 May 1960, the 12-6 victory over Huddersfield in the 1962 Challenge Cup final during the 1961–62 season at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 12 May 1962, and the 25-10 victory over Wigan in the 1963 Challenge Cup final during the 1962–63 season at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 11 May 1963.[4]

County Cup final appearances

Jack Wilkinson played Left-Prop, i.e. number 8, in Wakefield Trinity's 16-10 victory over Huddersfield in the 1960 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1960–61 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 29 October 1960,[4] and played Left-Prop in Wakefield Trinity's 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.

Club career

Jack Wilkinson joined Wakefield Trinity from Halifax in 1959 for £4,500[5] (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £207,900 in 2013).[6]

Testimonial match

Jack Wilkinson's Testimonial match at Halifax took place in 1958.

Coaching career

Jack Wilkinson coached Bradford Northern in 1963.

Honoured at Halifax RLFC

Jack Wilkinson is a Halifax RLFC Hall of Fame inductee.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Edgar, Harry (2007). Rugby League Journal Annual 2008 Page-110. Rugby League Journal Publishing. ISBN 0-9548355-3-0
  2. ↑ Lindley, John (1960). Dreadnoughts - A HISTORY OF Wakefield Trinity F. C. 1873 - 1960 [Page118]. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a
  3. ↑ "1959-1960 Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC - FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9
  5. ↑ 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
  6. ↑ "Measuring Worth - Relative Value of UK Pounds". Measuring Worth. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  7. ↑ "Halifax RLFC Hall of Fame". halifaxrlfc.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.

External links