John Thorley

George M. John Thorley (birth registered third ¼ 1927[2] – 12 July 2005 (aged 78)) born in Mountain Ash, was a Welsh rugby union and World Cup winning professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Glamorgan, and at club level Neath RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, Wales and Other Nationalities, and at club level for Halifax (Heritage № 645) and Dewsbury, as a prop, i.e. number 8 or 10, during the era of contested scrums,[3] he died in Wheatley, Halifax.[4]

For John Thorley (MP), see Lincoln (UK Parliament constituency).

John Thorley
Personal information
Full nameGeorge M. John Thorley
Bornthird ¼ 1927
Mountain Ash, Wales
Died12 July 2005 (aged 78)
Wheatley, Halifax
Playing information
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Neath RFC
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Glamorgan
Rugby league
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
12 Apr 1952–16 Jan 60 Halifax 261 27 0 0 81
1960–≥60 Dewsbury
Total 261 27 0 0 81
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Other Nationalities 2
≥1952–≤60 Wales 2
1954 Great Britain 4 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]

Playing career

International honours

John Thorley won caps for Other Nationalities (RL) while at Halifax circa-1952…60 2-caps, won caps for Wales (RL) while at Halifax 1953…1959 (2?)3-caps, and won caps for Great Britain (RL) while at Halifax in the 1954 Rugby League World Cup against Australia, France, New Zealand, and France.[1]

John Thorley played left-prop, i.e. number 8, in all four of Great Britain's 1954 Rugby League World Cup matches, including Great Britain's 16-12 victory over France in the 1954 Rugby League World Cup Final at Parc des Princes, Paris on 13 November 1954.

John Thorley also represented Great Britain while at Halifax between 1952 and 1956 against France (1 non-Test match).[5]

Challenge Cup Final appearances

John Thorley played left-prop, i.e. number 8, in Halifax's 4-4 draw with Warrington in the 1953–54 Challenge Cup Final during the 1953–54 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 24 April 1954, in front of a crowd of 81,841, and played left-prop in the 4-8 defeat by Warrington in the 1953–54 Challenge Cup Final replay during the 1953–54 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Wednesday 5 May 1954, in front of a record crowd of 102,575 or more.[6]

Club career

John Thorley played his last game for Dewsbury against Halifax at Thrum Hall, Halifax.

Honoured at Halifax

John Thorley is a Halifax Hall Of Fame Inductee.[7]

Genealogical information

John Thorley's marriage to Avona M. (née Rathmell (birth registered during third ¼ 1931 (age 89–90) in Pontypridd district)), a teacher and active in the British Polio Fellowship, was registered during fourth ¼ 1952 in Pontypridd district.[8] They had children; Steven M. S. Thorley (birth registered during third ¼ 1953 (age 67–68) in Calder district), and Elizabeth Anna Thorley (birth registered during fourth ¼ 1954 (age 66–67) in Halifax district).

Outside of rugby

After retiring from playing, John Thorley became a keen supporter of Halifax, he also took up golf and was a member of Halifax West End Golf Club for more than 30 years, was involved in the Welsh Rugby League Past Players organisation, was deputy churchwarden at Halifax Parish Church, and spent a lot of time holidaying with his wife in the south of France.[4]

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 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  3. Williams, Graham; Lush, Peter; Farrar, David (2009). The British Rugby League Records Book. London League. pp. 108–114. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6.
  4. "Halifax star was in historic final". halifaxcourier.co.uk. 13 July 2005. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  5. Edgar, Harry (2007). Rugby League Journal Annual 2008 Page-110. Rugby League Journal Publishing. ISBN 0-9548355-3-0
  6. "Mud, blood and memories of the day when 102,575 made history at Odsal". independent.co.uk. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  7. "Halifax Hall of Fame". halifaxrlfc.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 September 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  8. "Marriage details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
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