Bill Telford

Bill "Snow" Telford was a New Zealand rugby league player and coach who coached his country several times, including in the 1957 World Cup.

Bill Telford

Personal information
Born	New Zealand
Playing information
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1928 Glebe 6 1 0 0 3 1929–35 Richmond 21 0 0 63 Total 6 22 0 0 66 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1932–35 Auckland 7 1 0 0 3
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% Ponsonby Representative Years Team Gms W D L W% 1956–1957 New Zealand 1961–1963 New Zealand 1965 New Zealand
Source: RLP

Playing career

Telford played for the Richmond club in the Auckland Rugby League competition.[1]

In 1928 Telford played for Glebe in the NSWRL Premiership.

Coaching career

In 1948 Telford managed the Auckland side for coach Stan Prentice.[1]

Telford first coached New Zealand between 1956 and 1957, leading the 1956 tour of Australia and coaching the team at the 1957 World Cup.[2]

He advised the West Coast when they traveled to Auckland in 1960.[1]

His second spell as head coach of the Kiwis was between 1961 and 1963 and included the 1961 tour of Great Britain and France and the 1963 tour of Australia.

Telfords final spell as head coach came in 1965 when he led the tour of Great Britain and France. Telford finished his New Zealand coaching career with 8 Test victories, 3 draws and 17 losses.

References

1. Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4.
2. New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "New Zealand Team Leaders, 1957". The Rugby League news. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 38 No. 16 (25 June 1957)). nla.obj-760894692. Retrieved 21 Jan 2020 – via Trove.