History of the Sport

Hall of Fame

Ellery Hanley MBE

 

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2005

more details to appear here shortly 

Eric Ashton MBE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eric Ashton sadly passed away earlier this year.
He was born in St Helens but spent his entire career playing for Wigan.  He is regarded as not only one of the club’s best ever players but also as one of Rugby League’s greatest ever talents.

Playing as a centre, Ashton was known for his elegant style and class on the field and formed a famous and formidable partnership with Wigan winger Billy Boston (also a member of the sport’s Hall of Fame).
He made 497 first class appearances, scoring 1,589 career points and won 26 international caps for Great Britain.

Eric Ashton captained the Lions to an Ashes series victory over Australia and lead GB to World Cup triumph in 1960.

He appeared in six Challenge Cup Finals at Wembley and won the trophy three times.

Aston is also the only person to have been the captain, coach and chairman of a  Challenge Cup winning side.
In 1966, Eric Ashton became the first Rugby League player to be honoured by Her Majesty the Queen with an MBE.

He was inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2005.   

Martin Hodgson

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2005

more details to appear here shortly

Douglas Clark

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2005

more details to appear here shortly 

Billy Batten

Position: Centre-threequarter

Born: Fitzwilliam

Career Dates: 1907-27

Clubs: Hunslet, Hull, Wakefield, Castleford

Tours: 1910

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 1988 

Brian Bevan

Postion: Wing-threequarter

Born: Sydney

Career Dates: 1945-64

Clubs: Warrington, Blackpool

General Info: Scored world record 796 tries in 688 matches

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 1988 

Billy Boston 

 

Postion: Wing-threequarter

Born: Cardiff

Career Dates: 1953-70

Clubs: Wigan, Blackpool

Tours: 1954, 1957 (World Cup), 1962

General Info: Scored 571 tries in 565 matches

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 1988 

Neil Fox

Position: Centre-threequarter

Born: Sharlston

Career Dates: 1956-79

Clubs: Wakefield, Bradford, Hull KR, York, Bramley, Huddersfield

Tours: 1962

General Info: Scored record 6,220 career points

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 1989 

Vince Karalius 

Position: Loose-forward

Born: Widnes

Career Dates: 1952-66

Clubs: St Helens, Widnes

Tours: 1958

Nickname: 'The Wild Bull of the Pampas'

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2000 

Roger Millward MBE

 

Position: Stand-off half

Born: Castleford

Career Dates: 1964-80

Clubs: Castleford, Hull KR

Tours: 1968 (World Cup), 1970, 1974, 1975  (World Cup), 1977 (World Cup), 1979

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2000 

Alex Murphy

Position: Scrum-half

Born: St Helens

Career Dates: 1956-75

Clubs: St Helens, Leigh, Warrington

Tours: 1958, 1962

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 1988 

Jonty Parkin 

Position: Scrum-half

Born: Sharlston

Career Dates: 1913-32

Clubs: Wakefield, Hull KR

Tours: 1920, 1924, 1928

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 1988 

Gus Risman

Position: Centre-threequarter

Born: Cardiff

Career Dates: 1929-1954

Clubs: Salford, Workington, Batley

Tours: 1932, 1936, 1946

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 1988 

 

Albert Rosenfeld

Position: Wing-threequarter

Born: Sydney

Career Dates: 1909-24

Clubs: Huddersfield, Wakefield, Bradford

General Info: Scored 386 tries in 378 matches

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 1988

  

 

Jim Sullivan

Position: Full-back

Born: Cardiff

Career Dates: 1921-46

Clubs: Wigan

Tours: 1924, 1928, 1932

General Info: World record holder for games played (928) and goals kicked (2,867)

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 1988 

Tom Van Vollenhoven 

Position: Wing-threequarter

Born: Orange Free State

Career Dates: 1957-68

Clubs: St Helens

General Info: Scored 395 tries in 413 matches

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2000 

Harold Wagstaff 

Position: Centre-threequarter

Born: Holmfirth

Career Dates: 1906-1925

Clubs: Huddersfield

Tours: 1914, 1920

General Info: Professional debut at 15 years, 175 days

Nickname:  'The Prince of Centres'

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 1988