Johnny Ward (rugby league)

Johnny Ward (1940/1941 – 30 December 2019) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level Castleford and Salford, as a prop or hooker.^[1][2][3][4]

John Ward

Personal information
Full name	John Ward
Born	1940 or 1941 Castleford, West Yorkshire, England
Died	30 December 2019 (aged 78) Glasshoughton, England
Playing information
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight	13 st 7 lb (86 kg)
Position	Prop, Hooker
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1960–70 Castleford 262 42 0 3 132 1970–73 Salford 81 Total 343 42 0 3 132 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1965–69 Yorkshire 4 0 0 0 0 1969–70 England 3 0 0 0 0 1963–70 Great Britain 4 1 0 0 3
Source: [1]

Career

Ward was born in Castleford, West Yorkshire and signed for Featherstone Rovers in 1959. He failed to make any appearance for Featherstone and signed for his home town team, Castleford, the following year. After spending 10 years with Castleford he moved to Salford in 1970 for whom he played until he retired at the end of the 1972/73 season.^[5]

Castleford

Ward played in Castleford's Yorkshire League victory during the 1964–65 season.^[5]

Ward played at prop in Castleford's 11–22 defeat by Leeds in the 1968 Yorkshire Cup Final at Belle Vue, Wakefield, on 19 October 1968.

Ward played hooker in Castleford's 4–0 victory over St. Helens in the 1965 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on 14 December 1965, and played hooker in the 8-5 victory over Leigh in the 1967 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at Headingley, Leeds, on Saturday 16 January 1968.

Ward played at prop in Castleford's 11-6 victory over Salford in the 1969 Challenge Cup Final during the 1968–69 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 17 May 1969, in front of a crowd of 97,939.^[6]

Salford

Ward played at prop in Salford's 25–11 victory over Swinton in the 1972 Lancashire Cup Final at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on 21 October 1972. He also played at prop in Salford's 7–12 defeat by Leeds in the Player's No.6 Trophy Final at Fartown, Huddersfield, on 24 March 1973.

Representative honours

Ward won caps for England while at Castleford in 1969 against Wales and France, while at Salford in 1970 against France,^[1] and won caps for Great Britain while at Castleford in 1963 against Australia, in 1964 against France (two matches), and while at Salford in 1970 against New Zealand.^[1]

Ward won caps for Yorkshire while at Castleford playing hooker in the 15-9 victory over New Zealand at Castleford's stadium on 20 September 1965, playing hooker in the 16-13 victory over Lancashire at Swinton's stadium on 10 November 1965, playing at prop in the 10–5 victory over Lancashire at Hull Kingston Rovers' stadium on 25 September 1968, and played at prop in the 42–3 victory over Cumberland at Hull Kingston Rovers' stadium on 1 October 1969.^[5]

Honoured at Castleford Tigers

Ward is a Tigers Hall Of Fame inductee.^[7]

References

1. "Career Statistics: Johhny Ward". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
2. David Smart & Andrew Howard (1 July 2000) "Images of Sport - Castleford Rugby League - A Twentieth Century History". The History Press Ltd. ISBN 978-0752418957
3. "Cas Great Johnny Ward Passes Away". castlefordtigers.com. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
4. "Castleford Tigers mourning Challenge Cup-winning GB forward Johnny Ward". yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
5. "Johnny Ward - Cas' maestro". Rugby League Journal. No. 70. Spring 2020. p. 36.
6. "Sat 17th May 1969 - Challenge Cup - Neutral Ground - 97,939". thecastlefordtigers. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 31 December 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
7. "Hall of Fame at castigers.com". castigers. 31 December 2008. Archived from the original on 6 May 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2009.