Jim Sullivan

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For other people named Jim Sullivan, see Jim Sullivan (disambiguation).
Jim Sullivan
J. Sullivan - Wigan.jpg
Cigarette card featuring Jim Sullivan
Personal information
Full name James Sullivan
Born 2 December 1903
Cardiff, Wales
Died 1977
Wigan, England
Playing information
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Cardiff RFC
Rugby league
Position Fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1921–40 Wigan 774 2,317 4,883
1946 Batley
Total 774 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Great Britain 25
1921–39 Wales 26 3 60 0 129
England 3
Other Nations 6
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1932–52 Wigan
1952–?? St. Helens
1961 Wigan
Total 0 0 0 0

Jim Sullivan (2 December 1903 — September 1977)[1] was a Welsh rugby league footballer and coach. A Fullback and prodigious goal kicker, he scored 6,022 points in a career that spanned 25 years. Several years after his death he was still the player with the most appearances and most goals for the Wales national rugby league team. He also represented Wales in baseball (British/Welsh).[2]

Sullivan joined Wigan in June 1921 from Cardiff Rugby Union Club as a 17-year-old.[3] On 14 February 1925, he landed 22 goals against amateurs Flimby & Fothergill in the Rugby League Challenge Cup, which is still a record.[4] He toured with the Great Britain Lions three times (1924, 1928 and 1932) and was captain on the final occasion. He top-scored on all three tours. He refused what would have been a record fourth trip, in 1936, for personal reasons.

For twenty years, he dominated at Fullback, representing Great Britain (25 times), Wales (26), England (3), Other Nations (6), Glamorgan (1) and Glamorgan & Monmouthshire (12). Due to the Second World War, his last season was 1939/40, although he played several times when peace resumed, the last for Batley in February 1946.

When he removed his Wigan jersey for the final time, he had made 774 appearances and amassed 2,317 goals and 4,883 points for the club. These figures are still unchallenged. He scored a club record of 161 goals in 1934/35 and a record total of 204 goals in 1933/34[5] (including representative games). He had won three league Championships, two Challenge Cups and three Lancashire Cups.

As a player-coach from 1932, Sullivan continued managing Wigan after retiring as a player, creating one of the club's greatest sides by winning a record 5 Championships and 2 Challenge Cups. In 1952 he joined St Helens RLFC, overseeing their rise to power. He later returned to Wigan as coach in 1961, but left months later due to ill health.

Jim Sullivan died in Wigan in 1977, aged 73. He was one of the inaugural inductees of the British Rugby League Hall of Fame in October 1988. He is also an inductee of the Wigan Hall of Fame.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jim Sullivan profile rugbyrelics.com
  2. ^ Baker, Andrew (1995-08-20). "100 years of rugby league: From the great divide to the Super era". Independent, The (independent.co.uk). http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/100-years-of-rugby-league-from-the-great-divide-to-the-super-era-1597130.html. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 
  3. ^ Birley, Derek (1996). Playing the game: sport and British society, 1910-45. Manchester University Press ND. pp. 176. ISBN 0719044979, 9780719044977. http://books.google.com/books?id=lmK7AAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover. 
  4. ^ "RECORDS" at wiganwarriors.com
  5. ^ Baker, William Joseph (1988). Sports in the Western world. University of Illinois Press. pp. 243. ISBN 0252060423, 9780252060427. http://books.google.com/books?id=KKidfbTe8i4C&printsec=frontcover. 

[edit] External links

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