| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | (1976-07-15) 15 July 1976 (age 48) Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Second-row, Lock, Hooker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source: As of 24 January 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
William Leyshon is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He played for North Sydney, Northern Eagles, Melbourne Storm and finally Parramatta.
Playing career
Leyshon made his first grade debut as an 18 year old for the North Sydney Bears against Parramatta in round 14 of the 1995 ARL season at North Sydney Oval.
In the 1998 NRL season, Leyshon made 24 appearances as Norths finished 5th on the table but were eliminated from the finals series after losing both matches against Parramatta and Canterbury-Bankstown.
Leyshon played with the club up until their controversial merger with arch rivals Manly-Warringah to form the Northern Eagles. Leyshon was one of the few Norths players offered a contract to play for the new side. While with the Northern Eagles, Leyshon struggled with knee injuries and after three ACL reconstructions was limited to only 11 appearances over three seasons.
In 2002, Leyshon joined Melbourne and played one season with them before announcing his retirement from rugby league just before the start of the 2003 NRL season
Leyshon would later join Parramatta during the 2003 season, but managed only two appearances for the Eels, retiring again at the end of the season.
Coaching career
On 11 October 2017, Leyshon was announced as the inaugural coach for the new North Sydney Bears Under 20's side.
References
- "William Leyshon – Career Stats & Summary – Rugby League Project". Rugby League Project.
- "Manly Sea Eagles and North Sydney Bears must merge into a 'behemoth' club, says Brad Fittler". Sporting News.
- "Why the demise of the North Sydney Bears has Sydney Roosters officials worried". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- 2002 Melbourne Storm Info Guide. Melbourne Storm. p. 48.
- "Official Player Numbers". Parramatta Eels.
- "Press release". northsydneybears.com.au.