George Bennett (rugby)
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Full name | George Henry Bennett[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Forden, Wales | 8 July 1913||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 31 August 1970 | (aged 57)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Position | Centre, Stand-off, Scrum-half | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [2] |
George Henry Bennett (8 July 1913[3] – 31 August 1970) was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Weston-super-Mare RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Wigan and Bradford Northern as a centre, stand-off, or scrum-half, i.e. number 3 or 4, 6, or 7.[2][4]
Background
Bennett was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, and he died aged 57.
Rugby union career
Bennett started his career as a rugby union player, joining Weston-super-Mare in 1929. He left Wales due to the racism of the Welsh Rugby Union preventing him from playing for the national team,[5] and signed for rugby league side Wigan in November 1930.[1]
Rugby league career
Wigan
Bennett played stand-off in Wigan's 15–3 victory over Salford in the Championship Final during the 1933–34 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 28 April 1934.[6] He also played stand-off in Wigan's 30-27 victory over France at Central Park, Wigan, on Saturday 10 March 1934.[7] Bennett played left-centre, i.e. number 4, and scored a try in Wigan's 12-21 defeat by Salford in the 1934–35 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1934–35 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 20 October 1934. In December 1937, after losing his place as a first team regular, he joined Bradford Northern.[1]
Bradford Northern
Bennett played 151 games for Bradford, including the final of the 1944 Challenge Cup victory over Wigan.[1]
International honours
Bennett won three caps for Wales (RL) in 1935–1936 while at Wigan,[2] becoming the first black man to represent a British national team at rugby league.
Note
George Bennet's surname is variously spelt with two T's as Bennett, or with a single T as Bennet.
References
- ^ a b c d Morris, Graham (2005). Wigan Rugby League Football Club: 100 Greats. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-7524-3470-4.
- ^ a b c "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
- ^ Williams, Graham; Lush, Peter; Farrar, David (2009). The British Rugby League Records Book. London League. pp. 108–114. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6.
- ^ "The struggle and the scrum". International Socialism. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "1933–1934 Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "1934 Tour Match: Wigan 30 France 27". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
External links
- Statistics at wigan.rlfans.com
- The struggle and the scrum
- (archived by web.archive.org) Photograph "Hallmark Family"
- Photograph "Hallmark Family"
- Photograph "Wigan Rugby Players"
- Photograph "Wigan Rugby Players"
- Photograph "Hallmark Family"
Template:Bradford Northern - 1944–45 Challenge Cup Final runners-up
- 1913 births
- 1970 deaths
- Black British sportspeople
- Bradford Bulls players
- Footballers who switched code
- People from Montgomeryshire
- People from Powys
- People from Welshpool
- Rugby league centres
- Rugby league five-eighths
- Rugby league halfbacks
- Wales national rugby league team players
- Welsh rugby league players
- Welsh rugby union players
- Wigan Warriors players