Billy Thompson (rugby league)

William Thompson (23 September 1923 – 25 April 1992) was an Australian rugby league player.^[1]

Billy Thompson

Personal information
Full name	William Thompson
Born	(1923-09-23)23 September 1923
Died	25 April 1992(1992-04-25) (aged 68)
Playing information
Position	Halfback / Five-eighth
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1942–46 South Sydney 32 1 0 0 3 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1947–50 Queensland 10 5 0 0 15 1948 Australia 1 0 0 0 0

A local junior from the Cleveland Street club, Thompson was a five-eighth and halfback with South Sydney from 1942 to 1946. He was a New South Wales City representative player in 1944 and appeared for New South Wales in a match against Services. After leaving South Sydney, Thompson had a season as captain-coach of Moree.^[2]

Thompson relocated to Queensland in 1947 to play for Toowoomba Valleys and gained Queensland selection during his first season.^[3] One of three halfbacks on the 1948–49 tour of Great Britain, Thompson made his Test debut for Australia in the 2nd Test against Great Britain in Swinton, partnering captain Wally O'Connell in the halves. He also toured New Zealand the following year, but didn't add to his solitary Test appearance.^[4]

References

1. "Coach Says Thompson To Play". Daily Mirror. 19 May 1950. p. 29 – via National Library of Australia.
2. "Thompson Next State R.L. Half?". The Telegraph. 30 June 1947. p. 10 – via National Library of Australia.
3. "Thompson To Get Qld. R.L. Chance". The Daily Telegraph. 2 June 1947. p. 31 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "QLD. Half In Second Test". The Telegraph. 2 November 1948. p. 15 – via National Library of Australia.

External links

• Billy Thompson at Rugby League Project