Don Vines
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Donald George Vines | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | 6 February 1932 Newbridge (Newport district), Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 17 September 1989 (aged 57) Wakefield, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Centre, Forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Prop, Second-row, Loose forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Donald "Don" George Vines (6 February 1932[3] – 17 September 1989) was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s, and a heel wrestler in professional wrestling of the 1960s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Newbridge RFC, as a centre, or later in the forwards, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, Wales and Other Nationalities, and at club level for Oldham, Wakefield Trinity (Heritage № 649) (two spells), and St. Helens, as a prop, second-row, or loose forward, i.e. number 8 or 10, 11 or 12, or 13, during the era of contested scrums.[1][4]
Background
Don Vines was born in Newbridge, Wales, his birth was registered in Newport district, he worked as a blacksmith at Crigglestone Colliery c. 1960, he worked at Wakefield College c. 1980s, and he died aged 57 in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England.
Playing career
International honours
Don Vines won caps for Wales (RL) while at Wakefield Trinity 1959…1963 2-caps, and won caps for Great Britain (RL) while at Wakefield Trinity in 1959 against France (2 matches), and Australia,[1] and represented Other Nationalities (RL) while at Wakefield Trinity, he played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in the 2-19 defeat by St. Helens at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Wednesday 27 January 1965, to mark the switching-on of new floodlights.[5]
Championship appearances
Don Vines played right-prop, i.e. number 10, in Wakefield Trinity's 3-27 defeat by Wigan in the Championship Final during the 1959–60 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 21 May 1960.[6]
Challenge Cup Final appearances
Don Vines played right-prop, i.e. number 10, in Wakefield Trinity's 38-5 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1959–60 Challenge Cup Final during the 1959–60 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 14 May 1960, in front of a crowd of 79,773,[7] played left-second-row, i.e. number 11, in St. Helens' 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, and played left-second-row in Wakefield Trinity's 25-10 victory over Wigan in the 1962–63 Challenge Cup Final during the 1962–63 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1963, in front of a crowd of 84,492.[7]
County Cup Final appearances
Don Vines played right-prop, i.e. number 10, in Oldham's 13-8 victory over Wigan in the 1957–58 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1957–58 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 19 October 1957, played left-second-row, i.e. number 11, in St. Helens' 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 right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in Wakefield Trinity's 19-9 victory over Leeds in the 1961–62 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1961–62 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 11 November 1961, and played right-prop in the 18-2 victory over Leeds in the 1964–65 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1964–65 season at Fartown, Huddersfield on Saturday 31 October 1964.
Club career
Don Vines made his début for Wakefield Trinity in the 15-14 victory over Huddersfield at Fartown, Huddersfield on Saturday 27 September 1958.
Contemporaneous article extract
"Don Vines. Playing as off-half for the Welsh Association of Boys' Clubs, then at centre for Welsh Youth against Welsh Secondary Schools, Don started his football career with two caps. That was in 1950. There followed three years in the Army and after that a period with the Newbridge R.U. club, still at centre threequarter. A brief break and then resumption with Newbridge, this time as a forward, but after three more months Don decided to change his code, and signed for Oldham Rugby League Club in 1956. Two years later came another move, this time, we are glad to say, to Trinity. Whilst with us he has gained international honours for Wales v. France, twice for Great Britain v. France, and again, during the recent tour of the Australians, for Great Britain v. Australia. Trinity followers are glad to know that Don is happily settled in Wakefield. We shall look forward to many more grand displays such as he has given since coming to Belle Vue."[8]
Don went to Oxford with Les Gant in the 1970's to guest coach the newly formed Oxford University Rugby League Club. He was excellent and the team is still going strong forty years later.
Genealogical information
Don Vines' marriage to Patricia B. (née Cook, birth registered during fourth ¼ 1934 (age 89–90) in Newport district) was registered during second ¼ 1954 in Caerleon district, Wales. They had children; Beverley S. Vines (birth registered during fourth ¼ 1960 (age 63–64) in St. Helens district), and the twins, Belinda J. Vines (birth registered during third ¼ 1962 (age 61–62) in Wakefield district), and Lee J. Vines (birth registered during third ¼ 1962 (age 61–62) in Wakefield district)
References
- ^ a b c "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ Statistics at orl-heritagetrust.org.uk
- ^ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ Graham Williams, Peter Lush, David Farrar (November 2009). "The British Rugby League Records Book [Page-108…114]". London League Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6
- ^ Cook, H.B. (1965). Programme - St. Helens versus Other Nationalities. St. Helens Rugby F.C. Ltd.
- ^ "1959–1960 Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ a b Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC – FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9
- ^ Lindley, John (20 February 1960). Wakefield Trinity RLFC Official Programme: Oldham. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a
External links
- !Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk (statistics currently missing due to not having appeared for both Great Britain, and England)[dead link]
- Profile at saints.org.uk
- Tribute paid to one of Keighley RLFC's 'famous sons'[permanent dead link]
- (archived by web.archive.org) list of matches shown
- Blast from the past 1962
- Big Geoff was star of No 13 shirt
- Wild Angus Campbell
- (archived by web.archive.org) Virtual Rugby League Hall of Fame
- RUGBY LEAGUE: Veteran duo made club a force to be reckoned with
- [permanent dead link] ĎŔƑ Rugby League Fans Forum
- (archived by web.archive.org) Junior Academy Don Vines Players' Player award
- Wrestling Heritage
- Sharing may be answer for 'Cats
- (archived by web.archive.org) Don Vines – Wakefield's toughest Welshman remembered
- Rugby League Cup Final 1960
- Rugby League Final 1963
- Search for "Don Vines" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
- Search for "Donald Vines" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
Template:Wakefield Trinity - 1959–60 Championship Final runners-up
- 1932 births
- 1989 deaths
- Footballers who switched code
- Great Britain national rugby league team players
- Newbridge RFC players
- Oldham R.L.F.C. players
- Other Nationalities rugby league team players
- People from Newbridge, Caerphilly
- Rugby league locks
- Rugby league props
- Rugby league second-rows
- Rugby union centres
- Rugby union forwards
- St Helens R.F.C. players
- Wakefield Trinity players
- Wales national rugby league team players
- Welsh male professional wrestlers
- Welsh rugby league players
- Welsh rugby union players