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Austin Rhodes

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English RL coach and former GB international rugby league footballer (1937–2019)

Austin Rhodes
Personal information
Full nameAustin J. Rhodes
Born(1937-02-25)25 February 1937
St. Helens, England
Died12 February 2019(2019-02-12) (aged 81)
St. Helens, England
Playing information
PositionFullback, Centre, Stand-off, Scrum-half
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1955–62 St. Helens 221 90 800 0 1870
1962–65 Leigh 81 9 51 0 129
1965–68 Swinton 87 7 15 0 51
1968–69 St. Helens 44 7 15 0 51
Total 433 113 881 0 2101
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1957–59 Lancashire 2 0 1 0 2
1957–61 Great Britain 4 2 3 0 12
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1974–75 Swinton
1976–78 Pilkington Recs
Total 0 0 0 0
Source:

Austin J. Rhodes (25 February 1937 – 12 February 2019) was an English World Cup winning professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s, and coached in the 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and at club level for St Helens (two spells), Leigh and Swinton as a goal-kicking fullback, centre, stand-off or scrum-half, and coached at club level for Swinton and Pilkington Recs.

Background

Rhodes' birth was registered in St Helens, Lancashire, England, and he was a pupil at St Austin's School in Thatto Heath.

Playing career

International honours

Rhodes won caps for Great Britain while at St Helens in the 1957 Rugby League World Cup against New Zealand, in the 1960 Rugby League World Cup against France (2-tries) and Australia (2-goals), and in 1961 against New Zealand.

Championship final appearances

Rhodes played fullback, and scored 10-goals in St. Helens' 44-22 victory over Hunslet in the Championship Final during the 1958–59 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 16 May 1959.

County league appearances

Rhodes played in St. Helens' victory in the Lancashire League during the 1959–60 season and 1968–69 season.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Rhodes played scrum-half, and scored 2-goals in St. Helens 13-2 victory over Halifax in the 1955–56 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, and played fullback, and scored 3-goals and 2-drop goals in the 12-6 victory over Wigan in the 1960–61 Challenge Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1961, in front of a crowd of 94,672.

County Cup Final appearances

Rhodes played stand-off in St. Helens' 3-10 defeat by Oldham in the 1956–57 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1956–57 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 20 October 1956, played fullback, and scored 2-goals in the 4-5 defeat by Warrington in the 1959–60 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1959–60 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 31 October 1959, played stand-off, and scored 1-try, and 3-goals in the 15-9 victory over Swinton in the 1960–61 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 29 October 1960, played fullback, and scored 1-try, and 5-goals in the 25-9 victory over Swinton in the 1961–62 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1961–62 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 11 November 1961, played stand-off in Leigh's 4-15 defeat by St. Helens in the 1963–64 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1963–64 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 26 October 1963, and played fullback in St. Helens' 30-2 victory over Oldham in the 1968–69 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1968–69 season at Central Park, Wigan on Friday 25 October 1968.

Tour matches

Rhodes played stand-off, and scored 1-try, and 7-goals in St. Helens 44-2 victory over Australia in the 1956-57 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France during the 1956–57 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 24 November 1956, played fullback, and scored 1-goals in St. Helens 2-15 defeat by Australia in the 1959-60 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France during the 1959–60 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 10 October 1959.

Genealogical information

Rhodes' marriage to Marlene L. (née May) was registered during third ¼ 1963 in St. Helens district. They had children; Martyn J. Rhodes (birth registered during first ¼ 1964 (age 59–60) in Prescot district), and Karen L. Rhodes (birth registered during fourth ¼ 1965 (age 58–59) in Widnes district).

Rhodes died on 12 February 2019, aged 81.

References

  1. "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ^ Rhodes, Austin (2012). A Lad from Donkey Common : A Rugby League Life. London League Publications. ISBN 978-1903659649.
  5. Critchley, Mike (12 February 2019). "Saints World Cup winner Austin Rhodes has died". St Helens Star.
  6. ^ "Profile at saints.org.uk". saints.org.uk. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  7. "Marriage details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  8. "Tribute to Austin Rhodes". Leigh Journal. 12 February 2019.

External links

St Helens squad – 1955–56 Challenge Cup Final winners
St Helens RLFC squad – 1958–59 Championship Final Winners
St Helens squad – 1960–61 Challenge Cup Final winners
United Kingdom Great Britain squad – 1957 Rugby League World Cup

(The figures in parentheses refer to the number of games played in the 1968 World Cup.)

Great Britain squad – 1960 Rugby League World Cup champions (2nd title)
Swinton Lions coaches
St Helens R.F.C. Hall of Fame Inductees
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