Bill Bryant (rugby league)

William Bryant (22 December 1940[2] – 9 June 2019), known as "Big Bill", was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Yorkshire, and at club level for Normanton ARLFC and Castleford, as a second-row, i.e. number 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums.[1][3]

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

William Bryant
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Bryant
Born22 December 1940
Lower Agbrigg, Wakefield, England
Died9 June 2019 (aged 78)
Playing information
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight18 st 0 lb (114 kg)
PositionSecond-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1957–1970 Castleford 253 75 0 0 225
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1964–67 Yorkshire 6 0 0 0 0
1964–67 Great Britain 5 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]

Background

Bill Bryant's birth was registered in Lower Agbrigg district, Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, he was the landlord of The Castlefields (The Honky Tonk) public house, Vickers Street, Castleford, he also owned a bar in Tenerife.

Playing career

International honours

Bill Bryant won caps for Great Britain while at Castleford in 1964 against France (2 matches), in 1966 against Australia (2 matches), and in 1967 against France.[1]

County honours

Bill Bryant won caps playing left-second-row, i.e. number 11, for Yorkshire while at Castleford in the 14–6 victory over Cumberland at Whitehaven's stadium on 9 September 1964, the 3–19 defeat by Cumberland at Hull Kingston Rovers' stadium on 8 September 1965, the 15–9 victory over New Zealand at Castleford's stadium on 20 September 1965, the 16–13 victory over Lancashire at Swinton's stadium on 10 November 65, the 17–22 defeat by Lancashire at Leeds' stadium on 21 September 1966, and the 34–23 victory over Cumberland at Castleford's stadium on 25 October 1967.[4]

County League appearances

Bill Bryant played in Castleford's victory in the Yorkshire County League during the 1964–65 season.[5]

BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances

Bill Bryant played left-second-row, i.e. number 11, in Castleford's 4–0 victory over St. Helens in the 1965 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1965–66 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 14 December 1965, played left-second-row in the 7–2 victory over Swinton in the 1966 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1966–67 season at Wheldon Road, Castleford on Tuesday 20 December 1966, and played left-second-row in the 8–5 victory over Leigh in the 1967 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1967–68 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 16 January 1968.

Club career

Bill Bryant sustained a broken-leg prior to the 1968–69 Challenge Cup Final, and consequently he did not play in the final, he never fully recovered from this injury, and he retired from playing rugby league in 1970.[6]

Death

Bryant died on 9 June 2019, at the age of 78.[7]

Honoured at Castleford Tigers

Bill Bryant is a Tigers Hall of Fame Inductee.[8]

Genealogical information

Bill Bryant's marriage to May (née Rollinson) was registered during first ¼ 1960 in Pontefract district.[9] They had children; Mark A. Bryant (registered during second ¼ 1962 (age 58–59) in Pontefract district). Bill Bryant was the younger brother of the rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s for Castleford and Bramley, Edward Bryant/Eddie Bryant (birth registered third ¼ 1938 in Wakefield district).

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. "Castleford RLFC A to Z Player List (All Time)". thecastlefordtigers.co.uk ℅ web.archive.org. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  4. "Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk". thecastlefordtigers.co.uk ℅ web.archive.org. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  5. "Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk". thecastlefordtigers.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  6. "Five of the best Castleford players from the 1960s". rugbyleagueproject.org. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  7. Carney, James (4 July 2019). "Tributes to Castleford and Great Britain rugby league hero Bill Bryant". Pontefract & Castleford Express.
  8. "Hall of Fame at castigers.com". castigers. 31 December 2008. Archived from the original on 6 May 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  9. Speed (c. 1966). "Picture-Feature Series". Yorkshire Evening Post (Castleford & Pontefract Edition). ISBN n/a
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