Billy Rhodes (English rugby league)

For other people with the same name, see William Rhodes.

For the Welsh rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s for Wales, Pontypridd, and Warrington, see Billy Rhodes (Welsh rugby league).

William Rhodes

Godfrey Phillips Cigarette card featuring William Rhodes
Personal information
Full name	William Rhodes
Born	unknown England
Died	unknown
Playing information
Position	Wing, Prop
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1906–08 Leeds 1908–23 Dewsbury Total 0 0 0 0 0 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1921 England 2 1 13 0 29
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 1926–58 Castleford 826 400 35 391 48
Source: [1][2][3]

William Rhodes (birth unknown – death unknown) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s, and coached in the 1920s through to the 1950s. He played at representative level for England, and at club level for Dewsbury (two spells), as a wing, and later as a prop,^[1] and coached at club level for Castleford.^[4]

Playing career

Club career

Rhodes started his career with Leeds, but was transferred to Dewsbury in September 1908.^[5]

Rhodes played on the wing and scored two tries in Dewsbury's 8-5 victory over Oldham in the 1911–12 Challenge Cup Final during the 1911-12 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 27 April 1912 in front of a crowd of 16,000,^[6][7]

Rhodes playing career was initially thought to be over after breaking his leg in September 1921 in a match against Huddersfield, but he made a brief comeback two years later.^[8]

International honours

Billy Rhodes won caps for England while at Dewsbury in 1921 against Wales, and Other Nationalities.

Coaching career

Rhodes was the coach of Castleford on four occasions; 1926–27 season to 1928, 1932 to 1951, 1952 to November 1953, and December 1957 to 1958, his first game in charge was on Saturday 28 August 1926, and his last game in charge was on Wednesday 23 April 1958.^[4]

Rhodes was the coach in Castleford's 11-8 victory over Huddersfield in the 1934–35 Challenge Cup Final during the 1934–35 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 4 May 1935, in front of a crowd of 39,000.^[9]

References

1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
2. "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
3. "Player Summary: William Rhodes". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
4. "Coach Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk". thecastlefordtigers.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
5. "Dewsbury Secure Two New Players". Yorkshire Evening Post. 18 September 1908. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
6. "Ray French selects his top 10 Challenge Cup final shocks. No 6: 1912, Dewsbury 8-5 Oldham". bbc.co.uk. 27 February 2004. Retrieved 1 January 2005.
7. Hoole, Les (1998). The Rugby League Challenge Cup – An Illustrated History. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-094-3
8. "Rugby League Items". Yorkshire Evening Post. 3 December 1923. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
9. "Sat 4th May 1935 - Challenge Cup - Neutral Ground - 39,000". thecastlefordtigers. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2018.

External links

• Ray French selects his top 10 Challenge Cup final shocks. No 6: 1912, Dewsbury 8-5 Oldham
• Profile at Dewsbury Heroes