Bill Hudson (rugby league)

For other persons named William Hudson, see William Hudson.

For other people with the same name, see Bill Hudson.

William Hudson (c. 1918 – 1989) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s, and coached in the 1950s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Batley, Wigan and Wakefield Trinity (captain), as a prop, second-row, or loose forward,^[2] and coached at club level for Featherstone Rovers.

Bill Hudson

Personal information
Full name	William Hudson
Born	c. 1918
Died	1989 (aged 71)[1] Wakefield, England
Playing information
Position	Prop, Second-row, Loose forward
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1935–47 Batley 208 18 0 0 54 1947–50 Wigan 1950–52 Wakefield Trinity 50 12 0 0 36 Total 258 30 0 0 90 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1946–49 Yorkshire 3 0 0 0 0 1946–49 England 4 0 0 0 0 1949 Great Britain 1 0 0 0 0
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 1956–57 Featherstone Rovers 41 20 21 0 49
Source: [2][3][4]

Playing career

Club career

Hudson started his career at Batley, making his debut in August 1935. He went on to make over 200 appearances for the club.^[5]

In October 1947, Hudson was transferred to Wigan for a record fee of £2,000.^[6] He made his début for the club in the 14–3 victory over Rochdale Hornets at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 8 November 1947, and scored his first try in the 34–13 victory over Castleford at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 21 February 1948. Hudson played loose forward in Wigan's 8–3 victory over Bradford Northern in the 1947–48 Challenge Cup Final during the 1947–48 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 1 May 1948, in front of a crowd of 91,465.^[7]

Hudson played loose forward in Wigan's 14–8 victory over Warrington in the 1948–49 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1948–49 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 13 November 1948.^[8]

During the 1949–50 season, he played at second-row in the 20–7 victory over Leigh in the 1949–50 Lancashire Cup Final at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 29 October 1949.^[9] He scored his last try for Wigan in the 33–2 victory over Widnes at Central Park, Wigan on Wednesday 19 April 1950. In his final appearance for the club, he helped Wigan win the Championship Final for the 1949–50 season with a 20–2 victory over Huddersfield at Maine Road, Manchester on Saturday 13 May 1950.^[10]

Hudson joined Wakefield Trinity in August 1950 for a transfer fee of £1,000,^[11] and was later named as the club's captain.^[12] He played at prop in Wakefield Trinity’s 17–3 victory over Keighley in the 1951–52 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1951–52 season at the Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 27 October 1951.^[13] He announced his retirement in August 1952.^[12]

Representative honours

Bill Hudson was selected for Yorkshire County XIII while at Batley during the 1946–47 season, and at Wakefield Trinity during the 1950–51 season.^[14]

Bill Hudson won caps for England while at Batley in 1946 against Wales, and France, in 1947 against France, while at Wigan in 1949 against France, and won caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1949 against Australia.

Bill Hudson played at second-row in Great Britain's 23–9 victory over Australia in the third Ashes Test Match at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 29 January 1949. Bill Hudson replaced the injured(?) Bob Nicholson of Huddersfield who had played the first and second Ashes Test Matches.

Coaching career

Bill Hudson was appointed as the coach of Featherstone Rovers in 1956. In March 1957, Hudson left the club shortly after becoming landlord of a pub in Scunthorpe.^[15]

References

1. "Bill Hudson dies, aged 71". Wigan Observer. 12 January 1989. p. 39 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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. "Player Summary: Bill Hudson". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
5. "Batley Rlfc Heritage Roll Of Honour". Batley Bulldogs. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
6. "Wigan Pay Record £2,000 Fee for Batley Forward". The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Mercury. 15 October 1947. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
7. "1947-1948 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
8. "1948-1949 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
9. "1949-1950 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
10. "Statistics at wigan.rlfans.com". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
11. "Trinity sign Hudson". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Mercury. 11 August 1950. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
12. "Bill Hudson to retire from Rugby". Yorkshire Observer. 13 August 1952. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
13. Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC - FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9
14. Lindley, John (1960). Dreadnoughts - A HISTORY OF Wakefield Trinity F. C. 1873 - 1960 [Page118]. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a
15. "Bill Hudson". fevarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2024.

Achievements
Preceded by Bill Davies	Rugby League Transfer Record Batley to Wigan 1947-1948	Succeeded by Jimmy Ledgard

External links

• Ashes Series 1948 at rugbyleagueproject.org