Austin Rhodes

Austin J. Rhodes (25 February 1937 – 12 February 2019)[5] 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 (Heritage No. 727) (two spells), Leigh (Heritage No. 712) and Swinton as a goal-kicking fullback, centre, stand-off or scrum-half, i.e. number 1, 3 or 4, 6 or, 7,[2] and coached at club level for Swinton and Pilkington Recs.[3]

Austin Rhodes
Personal information
Full nameAustin J. Rhodes[1]
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 265 90 800 1870
1962–65 Leigh 81 9 51 129
1965–68 Swinton 87 7 15 51
1968–69 St. Helens 44 7 15 51
Total 477 113 881 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: [2][3][4]

Background

Austin Rhodes' birth was registered in St Helens, Lancashire, England, and he was a pupil at St Austin's School in Thatto Heath.[4]

Playing career

International honours

Austin 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.[2]

Championship Final appearances

Austin 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.[6]

County league appearances

Austin Rhodes played in St. Helens' victory in the Lancashire County League during the 1959–60 season and 1968–69 season.[6]

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Austin 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.[6]

County Cup Final appearances

Austin Rhodes played stand-off in St. Helens' 3-10 defeat by Oldham in the 1956–57 Lancashire County 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 County 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 County 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 County 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 County 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 County Cup Final during the 1968–69 season at Central Park, Wigan on Friday 25 October 1968.[6]

Tour matches

Austin 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.[6]

Genealogical information

Austin Rhodes' marriage to Marlene L. (née May) was registered during third ¼ 1963 in St. Helens district.[7] They had children; Martyn J. Rhodes (birth registered during first ¼ 1964 (age 55–56) in Prescot district), and Karen L. Rhodes (birth registered during fourth ¼ 1965 (age 54–55) in Widnes district).

Austin Rhodes died on 12 February 2019, less than 2 weeks before his 82nd birthday, at the same town where he was born, St. Helens.[8]

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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.
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