Dave Chisnall (rugby league)

David Chisnall (10 April 1948 – 11 January 2013) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Leigh (two spells), Warrington (two spells) (captain), Swinton, St. Helens and Barrow, as a prop.^[1]

Dave Chisnall

Personal information
Full name	David Chisnall
Born	10 April 1948 St. Helens, England
Died	11 January 2013(2013-01-11) (aged 64) St. Helens, England
Playing information
Position	Prop
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1967–71 Leigh 138+2 26 0 0 78 1971–75 Warrington 137+3 24 0 0 72 1975–76 Swinton 24 0 0 0 0 1976–77 Leigh 25+1 2 0 0 6 1977–79 St. Helens 114+5 12 0 0 36 1980–81 Barrow 38+1 2 0 0 6 1981–84 Warrington 57+13 5 0 0 15 1984–85 Rochdale 6+4 0 0 0 15 1984–85 Mansfield 6+4 0 0 0 15 Total 578 71 0 0 243 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1975 England 4 0 0 0 0 1970 Great Britain 2 0 0 0 0 1970–74 Lancashire 6 1 0 0 3
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 1989–90 Runcorn Highfield 0 0 0 0
Source: [1][2][3][4]

Background

Chisnall was born in St. Helens, England – when it was part of Lancashire county – in 1948. He is the younger brother of rugby league footballers Les and Eric Chisnall. All three Chisnalls played for Leigh at times during their careers, with Dave and Les playing there together for at least one season.^[5] Chisnall died aged 64 in St Helens.

Playing career

Leigh

Chisnall played at prop, in Leigh's 2–11 defeat by Swinton in the 1969 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1969–70 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 1 November 1969, and played at prop in the 7–4 victory over St. Helens in the 1970 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1970–71 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 28 November 1970.

Chisnall played at prop in Leigh's 11–6 victory over Wigan in the 1969 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1969–70 season at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 16 December 1969.

He missed out on Leigh's victory in the 1971 Challenge Cup final due to suspension.^[6]

In his second spell with Leigh, he played at prop in Leigh's 4–12 defeat by Castleford in the 1976 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1976–77 season at Hilton Park, Leigh on Tuesday 14 December 1976.

Warrington

Chisnall joined Warrington for a club record fee of £8,000,^[7] making his début for the club on 20 August 1971.^[8] He played at prop in Warrington's 24–9 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1974 Challenge Cup Final during the 1973–74 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1974, in front of a crowd of 77,400, and played at prop, and was captain in the 7–14 defeat by Widnes in the 1975 Challenge Cup Final during the 1974–75 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 10 May 1975, in front of a crowd of 85,998.

He played at prop in Warrington's 0–0 draw with Salford in the 1974 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1974–75 season at The Willows, Salford on Tuesday 17 December 1974, and played at prop in the 5–10 defeat by Salford in the 1974 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final replay during the 1974–75 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Tuesday 28 January 1975,

Chisnall played at prop in Warrington's 4–0 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1973–74 Captain Morgan Trophy Final during the 1973–74 season at The Willows, Salford on Saturday 26 January 1974, in front of a crowd of 5,259.

Chisnall played at prop in Warrington's 27–16 victory over Rochdale Hornets in the 1973–74 Player's No.6 Trophy Final during the 1973–74 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 9 February 1974.

He was transferred from Warrington to Swinton in exchange for Brian Butler.

St Helens

After a short spell with Swinton and a brief return to Leigh, Chisnall joined St Helens in January 1977.^[9] He played at prop in St Helens' 11–26 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1977 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1977–78 season at Craven Park, Hull on Tuesday 13 December 1977, and played at prop, and scored a try in the 7–13 defeat by Widnes in the 1978 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1978–79 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 12 December 1978.

Later career

He played at prop in Barrow's 5–12 defeat by Warrington in the 1980–81 John Player Trophy Final during the 1980–81 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 24 January 1981.

He returned for a second spell with Warrington, appearing as a substitute, (replacing prop Tony Cooke) in the club's 16–0 victory over St Helens in the 1982 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1982–83 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 23 October 1982. He played his last match for Warrington (in his second spell) on Monday 23 April 1984.

International honours

Chisnall won caps for England while at Warrington in 1975 against Wales (interchange/substitute), in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup against France, Wales, and New Zealand, in 1975 against Papua New Guinea (non-test),^[2] and won caps for Great Britain while at Leigh in 1970 against Australia, and in the 1970 Rugby League World Cup against New Zealand.^[3]

Honoured at Warrington Wolves

Dave Chisnall is a Warrington Wolves Hall of Fame inductee.^[10]

References

1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
2. "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 18 February 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
3. "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 18 February 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
4. Rothmans RL Yearbooks
5. "They Played For Leigh". Leigh Centurions Rugby League Club. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
6. Hadfield, Dave. "Dave Chisnall: Powerful, pacey Warrington prop". The Independent. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
7. "Dave Chisnall, Challenge Cup final captain for Warrington, dies at 64". The Guardian. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
8. "Dave Chisnall". Warrington Guardian. 4 July 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
9. "Dave Chisnall – one of the big characters of rugby league – passes away". St Helens Star. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
10. "Hall of Fame at Wire2Wolves.com (archived)". wire2wolves.com. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2018.

External links

• Warrington's World Cup heroes – Dave Chisnall
• (archived by web.archive.org) Back on the Wembley trail
• Statistics at wolvesplayers.thisiswarrington.co.uk
• Never be another like former Warrington Wolves prop Chissie
• Profile at saints.org.uk