David Topliss

David Topliss (29 December 1949 – 16 June 2008), also known by the nickname of "Toppo", was an English World Cup winning professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and coached in the 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, at club level for Wakefield Trinity (Heritage № 746) (two spells) (captain), Penrith Panthers, Balmain Tigers, Hull F.C.(Heritage №) (captain) and Oldham (Heritage №), as a stand-off, i.e. number 6,[1] and coached at club level for Wakefield Trinity.[4]

David Topliss
Personal information
Full nameDavid John Topliss
Born29 December 1949
Wakefield, England
Died16 June 2008(2008-06-16) (aged 58)
Crofton, Wakefield, England
Playing information
PositionStand-off
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1968–81 Wakefield Trinity 418 195 2 12 602
1976 Penrith Panthers 12 0 0 0 0
1977 Balmain Tigers 18 10 0 1 31
1981–85 Hull F.C. 113+6 56 0 2 189
1985–87 Oldham 48+1 9 0 0 36
1987–88 Wakefield Trinity 8+4 1 0 0 4
Total 628 271 2 15 862
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1971–80 Yorkshire 10+5 5 0 0 15
1975 England 1 0 0 0 0
1973–82 Great Britain 4 0 0 0 0
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1987–94 Wakefield Trinity 240 111 11 118 46
Source: [1][2][3][4]

[5]

Background

David Topliss was born in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, and he died aged 58 after suffering a heart attack during a five-a-side football game at Crofton Community Centre, in Crofton, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England.[6]

Playing career

David Topliss' playing career started at Normanton Juniors ARLFC before spending 13 years with Wakefield Trinity from 1968–81, he played right wing, i.e. number 2, and he made his début for Wakefield Trinity against Halifax at Thrum Hall, Halifax on Monday 2 September 1968, and won the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match in the 1979 Challenge Cup Final even though he was on the losing side.

He joined Hull F.C. at age 31 for a fee of £15,000. He captained them to six finals in his four years at the club including when they won the Challenge Cup in 1982. He was captain of Hull during the 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85 seasons.[7]

Topliss played in the summer in Australia for Penrith Panthers (1976) and Balmain Tigers (1977).

International honours

David Topliss won caps for England while at Wakefield Trinity in 1975 against France,[2] and won caps for Great Britain while at Wakefield Trinity in 1973 against Australia (2 matches), in 1979 against Australia, and while at Hull F.C. in 1982 against Australia.[3]

David Topliss was selected for Great Britain Squad while at Wakefield Trinity for the 1972 Rugby League World Cup in France. However, David Topliss did not participate in any of the four matches.

He went on the 1973 and 1979 Ashes tours of Australia, playing twice on the 1973 tour, and once on the 1979 tour, and whilst at Hull he captained Great Britain against the Kangaroos in 1982.[8]

David Topliss played stand-off in Great Britain's 7–8 defeat by France in the friendly at Stadio Pierluigi Penzo, Venice on Saturday 31 July 1982.

He left Hull in 1985 and finished his playing career with Oldham (1985–87). During his time at the side he became synonymous with local supporters, earning the chant and slogan 'Go Topliss!'. At one game against Wrexham Topliss decided to remove his rugby shirt playfully in response to the chant, which resulted in him being banned from the game for 1 year

County honours

David Topliss won cap(s) for Yorkshire while at Wakefield Trinity.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

David Topliss played stand-off, was captain, and won the Lance Todd Trophy in Wakefield Trinity's 3–12 defeat by Widnes in the 1978–79 Challenge Cup Final during the 1978–79 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1979, in front of a crowd of a crowd of 94,218.[9] played stand-off in Hull F.C.'s 14-14 draw with Widnes in the 1981–82 Challenge Cup Final during the 1981–82 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 1 May 1982, in front of a crowd of 92,147, and played stand-off, and scored 2-tries in the 18-9 victory over Widnes in the 1981–82 Challenge Cup Final replay during the 1981–82 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Wednesday 19 May 1982, in front of a crowd of 41,171.[10]

County Cup Final appearances

David Topliss played stand-off in Wakefield Trinity's 2–7 defeat by Leeds in the 1973–74 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1973–74 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 20 October 1973, played stand-off in the 13–16 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1974–75 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1974–75 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 26 October 1974, played stand-off in Hull F.C.'s 18–7 victory over Bradford Northern in the 1982–83 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1982–83 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 2 October 1982, played stand-off in Hull F.C.'s 13–2 victory over Castleford in the 1983–84 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1983–84 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 15 October 1983, was an interchange/substitute, i.e. number 15, in Hull FC's 29–12 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1984–85 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1984–85 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 27 October 1984, and played stand-off in Oldham's 6–27 defeat by Wigan in the 1986–87 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1986–87 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 19 October 1986.[11]

Player's No.6 Trophy Final appearances

David Topliss played stand-off, and scored a try in Wakefield Trinity's 11-22 defeat by Halifax in the 1971–72 Player's No.6 Trophy Final during the 1971–72 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 22 January 1972, and played stand-off, and was captain in Hull F.C.'s 0-12 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1984–85 John Player Special Trophy Final during the 1984–85 season at Boothferry Park, Kingston upon Hull on Saturday 26 January 1985 in front of a crowd of 25,326.

Drop-goals (field-goals)

David Topliss appears to have scored twelve drop-goals (or field-goals as they are currently known in Australasia) for Wakefield Trinity, but prior to the 1974–75 season all goals, whether; conversions, penalties, or drop-goals, scored 2-points, consequently prior to this date drop-goals were often not explicitly documented.

Testimonial match

David Topliss' Testimonial match at Wakefield Trinity took place in 1980.

Coaching career

Topliss coached Wakefield Trinity from 1987–94 and also had a spell in charge of Great Britain under-21s in 1989. In his first season with Trinity, he guided them to promotion back into the old First Division, retiring as a player after the last match of the season. He remained at Wakefield as coach until 1994 when he stepped down to concentrate on his business.

County Cup Final appearances

David Topliss was the coach in Wakefield Trinity's 8–11 defeat by Castleford in the 1990–91 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1990–91 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Sunday 23 September 1990, and was the coach in the 29–16 victory over Sheffield Eagles in the 1992–93 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1992–93 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Sunday 18 October 1992.

Honoured by Arriva Yorkshire

Arriva Yorkshire honoured 13 rugby league footballers on Thursday 20 August 2009, at a ceremony at The Jungle, the home of the Castleford Tigers. A fleet of new buses were named after the 'Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team'. Members of the public nominated the best ever rugby league footballers to have played in West Yorkshire, supported by local rugby league journalists; James Deighton from BBC Leeds, and Tim Butcher, editor of Rugby League World. The 'Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team' is; Trevor Foster MBE, Neil Fox MBE, Albert Goldthorpe, Alan Hardisty, Stan Kielty, Lewis Jones, Roger Millward MBE, Malcolm Reilly, Garry Schofield, Keith Senior, David Topliss, Dave Valentine and Adrian Vowles.[12]

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. RL Record Keepers' Club
  6. "Rugby league star Topliss mourned". BBC News. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  7. "Coaches and Captains". hullfc.com. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  8. "David Topliss". Lastingtribute.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008.
  9. Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC – FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9
  10. "A complete history of Hull FC's Challenge Cup finals". Hull Daily Mail. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  11. "1986–1987 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  12. "Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team". Arriva Yorkshire. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
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