George Parsons (rugby)

George W. Parsons (21 April 1926 – 24 November 2009) was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Wales, and at club level for Abertillery RFC, Cardiff RFC, Newport RFC (two spells), and Newbridge RFC, as a lock, i.e. number 4 or 5,[3][4] and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for St. Helens, Rochdale Hornets and Salford, as a second-row, i.e. number 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums.[5][6] He coached Salford from 1960 to 1963.[7]

George W. Parsons
Personal information
Full nameGeorge W. Parsons
Born21 April 1926
Newbridge, Wales
Died24 November 2009(2009-11-24) (aged 83) or 27 November 2009(2009-11-27) (aged 83)
Llangynidr or Crickhowell, Wales
Playing information
Weight14 st 0 lb (89 kg)
Rugby union
PositionLock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Cardiff RFC
≤1945–45 Abertillery RFC
1945 Newport RFC 1
1945–46 Newbridge RFC
1946–47 Newport RFC 18
Total 19 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1947 Wales 1
Rugby league
PositionSecond-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1948–57 St. Helens 296 45 40 0 215
1957–58 Rochdale Hornets 52 4 0 0 12
1958–60 Salford 42 3 0 0 9
Total 390 52 40 0 236
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1948–59 Wales 13 1 0 0 3
1951–53 [1] Great Britain 2 1 0 0 3
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1960–63 [2] Salford 117 36 4 77 31
Source: [3][4][5]

Playing career

International honours

George Parsons represented Wales XV (RU) while at Abertillery RFC in the 'Victory International' non-Test match(es) between December 1945 and April 1946, won a cap for Wales (RU) while at Newport RFC in 1947 against England, won caps for Wales (RL) while at St. Helens, and Salford.

Parsons also represented Great Britain (RL) while at St. Helens in 1951 against Australasia at Headingley in a Festival of Britain match,[5] and in 1953 against France (1 non-Test match) in Lyons.[8]

Along with William "Billy" Banks, Edward "Ted" Cahill, Gordon Haynes, Keith Holliday, William "Billy" Ivison, Robert "Bob" Kelly, John McKeown and Edward "Ted" Slevin, Parsons' only Great Britain appearance came against France prior to 1957, these matches were not considered as Test matches by the Rugby Football League, and consequently caps were not awarded.[8]

Challenge Cup Final appearances

George Parsons played left-second-row, i.e. number 11, in St. Helens' 10–15 defeat by Huddersfield in the 1953 Challenge Cup Final during the 1952–53 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 25 April 1953.[9] and played left-second-row in the 13-2 victory over Halifax in the 1956 Challenge Cup Final during the 1955–56 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 28 April 1956, in front of a crowd of 79,341.

County Cup Final appearances

George Parsons played left-second-row, i.e. number 11, in St. Helens' 5–22 defeat by Leigh in the 1952 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1952–53 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 29 November 1952, played left-second-row in the 16–8 victory over Wigan in the 1953 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1953–54 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 24 October 1953, played left-second-row in the 3–10 defeat by Oldham in the 1956 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1956–57 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 20 October 1956.

Honoured at St Helens R.F.C.

George Parsons is a St Helens R.F.C. Hall of Fame inductee.[10]

Outside of rugby

Parsons was a senior manager at the Pilkington glass factory in St. Helens, he was also a magistrate, and a Liberal Party councillor.[11]

References
  1. History of Rugby League Volume 56 1950-51 page 17 edited by Irvin Saxton
  2. Salford City Reds A Willows Century (2002) by Graham Morris, published by Vertical Editions, page 115
  3. "Statistics at en.espn.co.uk (RU)". espn.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. "Statistics at wru.co.uk (RU)". wru.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. Williams, Graham; Lush, Peter; Farrar, David (2009). The British Rugby League Records Book. London League. pp. 108–114. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6.
  7. Salford City Reds A Willows Century (2002) by Graham Morris, published by Vertical Editions, page 115
  8. Edgar, Harry (2007). Rugby League Journal Annual 2008 [Page-110]. Rugby League Journal Publishing. ISBN 0-9548355-3-0
  9. McCorquodale, London S.E (25 April 1953). The Rugby League Challenge Cup Competition – Final Tie – Huddersfield v St. Helens – Match Programme. Wembley Stadium Ltd. ISBN n/a
  10. "St Helens Hall of Fame". saints.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  11. "Last farewell to true rugby great". southwalesargus.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
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