.gif)
Billy Hall (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
William "Billy" M. Hall (born in Gloucester
) was an English
rugby union
and professional rugby league
footballer of the 1910s and '20s who at club level played rugby union (RU) for Gloucester RFC, and at representative level played rugby league (RL) for Great Britain
, and England
, and at club level for Oldham
, playing at , or /, i.e. number 3 or 4, or 6.
(RL) while at Oldham in 1914 against Wales, in 1921 against Australia, and won caps for Great Britain
(RL) while at Oldham in 1914 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand.
Billy played in the famous "Rorkes Drift" test against Australia in 1914, where Great Britain were level going in to the third test. Great Britain were winning 9-3 and due to injuries were down to 10 men against 13 for the last 30 minutes. Hall was one of those injured with concussion and came back onto the field with ten minutes to go. Great Britain were victorious, and won 14-6.
, following Alf Wood who had made the same journey in 1908. Billy Hall played at Oldham until 1925, Dave Holland and Alf Wood both played there until 1921. All three men played in Great Britain
's "Rorke's Drift" Test match
against Australia
in 1914.
(RU) in 1901 against Scotland, and Ireland.
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
) was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1910s and '20s who at club level played rugby union (RU) for Gloucester RFC, and at representative level played rugby league (RL) for Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
, and England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
, and at club level for Oldham
Oldham Roughyeds
Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
, playing at , or /, i.e. number 3 or 4, or 6.
International honours
Billy Hall won caps for EnglandEngland national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
(RL) while at Oldham in 1914 against Wales, in 1921 against Australia, and won caps for Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
(RL) while at Oldham in 1914 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand.
Billy played in the famous "Rorkes Drift" test against Australia in 1914, where Great Britain were level going in to the third test. Great Britain were winning 9-3 and due to injuries were down to 10 men against 13 for the last 30 minutes. Hall was one of those injured with concussion and came back onto the field with ten minutes to go. Great Britain were victorious, and won 14-6.
Club career
In 1913, both Billy Hall, and Dave Holland left Gloucester RFC to join OldhamOldham Roughyeds
Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
, following Alf Wood who had made the same journey in 1908. Billy Hall played at Oldham until 1925, Dave Holland and Alf Wood both played there until 1921. All three men played in Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
's "Rorke's Drift" Test match
Test match (rugby league)
A Test match in rugby league football is a representative match between teams representing members of the Rugby League International Federation.The definition of a Test match differs from that of an international match...
against Australia
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
in 1914.
Family information
Billy was one of seven brothers who all played rugby union for Gloucester RFC. His older brother Charles Hall played two tests for EnglandEngland national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
(RU) in 1901 against Scotland, and Ireland.