John Atkinson (rugby league)

John Atkinson
Personal information
Born (1946-10-03) 3 October 1946[1]
Leeds, England
Playing information
Rugby union

Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Roundhay RUFC
Rugby league
Position Wing

Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1966–82 Leeds 518 340 0 0 1020
1982–83 Carlisle 20
Total 538 340 0 0 1020
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1968–78 England 12 7 0 0 21
1968–80 Great Britain 26 12 0 0 36
Yorkshire 15
Coaching information

Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1983–85 Carlisle

John Atkinson (born 3 October 1946) is an English rugby union and Rugby League World Cup winning rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

He played club level rugby union for Roundhay RUFC, representative level rugby league for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Leeds, and Carlisle. He played as a Left-Wing.[2][3]

Atkinson played in four Rugby League World Cups (1968, 1970, 1972 and 1975), scoring six tries in total.

Playing career

Championship Final appearances

John Atkinson, playing left wing, scored the match-winning try for Leeds against Castleford in a dramatic Championship Final at Odsal Stadium, Bradford, on Saturday, May 24, 1969 as the Loiners triumphed 16-14. He also scored the crucial try in Leeds' 9-5 victory over St. Helens in the 1972 Championship Final at Station Road, Swinton, on Saturday, May 20.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

John Atkinson played left wing, i.e. number 5, in Leeds' 11-10 victory over Wakefield Trinity in the 1968 Challenge Cup "Watersplash" Final during the 1967–68 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1968, in front of a crowd of 87,100, played left wing in the 7-21 defeat by Leigh in the 1971 Challenge Cup Final during the 1970–71 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 15 May 1971, in front of a crowd of 85,514, played left wing in the 16-13 defeat by St. Helens in the 1972 Challenge Cup Final during the 1971–72 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1972, in front of a crowd of 89,495, played left wing and scored a try in the 16-7 victory over Widnes in the 1977 Challenge Cup Final during the 1976–77 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 7 May 1977, in front of a crowd of 80,871, and played left wing, and scored a spectacular try, in the 14-12 victory over St. Helens in the 1978 Challenge Cup Final during the 1977–78 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1978, in front of a crowd of 96,000.

County Cup Final appearances

John Atkinson played left wing, i.e. number 5, and scored a try in Leeds' 22-11 victory over Castleford in the 1968 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1968–69 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 19 October 1968, played left wing,and scored a try in the 23-7 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1970 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1970–71 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 21 November 1970, played left wing, and scored a try in the 36-9 victory over Dewsbury in the 1972 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1972–73 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 7 October 1972, played left wing in the 7-2 victory over Wakefield Trinity in the 1973 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1973–74 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 20 October 1973, played left wing in the 15-11 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1975 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1975–76 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 15 November 1975, played left wing in the 15-6 victory over Halifax in the 1979 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1979–80 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 27 October 1979, and played left wing, or according to Rothmans Yearbooks 1990-91 and 1991–92, Centre, i.e. number 4, in the 8-7 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1980 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1980–81 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 8 November 1980.

BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances

John Atkinson played left wing, i.e. number 5, in Leeds' 9-5 victory over St. Helens in the 1970 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1970–71 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Tuesday 15 December 1970.

Player's No.6 Trophy Final appearances

John Atkinson played left wing, i.e. number 5, and scored 2-tries in Leeds' 12-7 victory over Salford in the 1972–73 Player's No.6 Trophy Final during the 1972–73 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 24 March 1973.

Testimonial match

John Atkinson's testimonial match at Leeds took place in 1976.

Club career

John Atkinson began his playing career with Leeds in 1966 after signing from Roundhay Rugby Union club, and finally left to become player-coach of Carlisle in 1983. He amassed a total of 401 tries during his career,[4] of which 340 were scored for Leeds.

Open Rugby inaugural World XIII

The Open Rugby inaugural World XIII was revealed in June 1978, it was; Graham Eadie, John Atkinson, Steve Rogers, Jean-Marc Bourret, Green Vigo, Roger Millward, Steve Nash, Jim Mills, Keith Elwell, Steve Pitchford, Terry Randall, George Nicholls, and Greg Pierce.

References

  1. ↑ Daly, Phil (13 April 2014). "Burrow set to take his place amongst the greats". Leeds Rhinos. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  2. ↑ "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  4. ↑ Fletcher, Raymond. Rothman's Rugby League Yearbook 1999. London: Headline. ISBN 978-0747275725.
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