George Nicholls (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
George Nicholls is an English
former Rugby League World Cup
and multiple award winning footballer of the 1970s.
While playing club football for Widnes
, he played at / for the 1972 Great Britain Lions
who retained the World Cup
that year. The St Helens club acquired his services in 1973 for £9,000.
In the 1976 Challenge Cup
final Nicholls helped the St Helens side to victory. In the 1978 final he was in the St Helens team which lost 14-12 to Leeds but won the Lance Todd Trophy
. The voting for the Lance Todd Trophy took place after 70 minutes when St Helens were leading 12-5. Leeds scored 9 points (2 tries, a goal and a drop goal) in the last ten minutes to win the match. Several journalists said that if the vote had been at the end of the match they would have voted for the Leeds player John Holmes. That year Nicholls was also voted the best player in the Rugby Football League Championship, claiming the second-ever Man of Steel Award.
, Harry Sunderland Trophy
, and the Man of Steel Award, they are; George Nicholls, Joe Lydon, and Paul Wellens
.
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...
former Rugby League World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
and multiple award winning footballer of the 1970s.
While playing club football for Widnes
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
, he played at / for the 1972 Great Britain Lions
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"....
who retained the World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
that year. The St Helens club acquired his services in 1973 for £9,000.
In the 1976 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final Nicholls helped the St Helens side to victory. In the 1978 final he was in the St Helens team which lost 14-12 to Leeds but won the Lance Todd Trophy
Lance Todd Trophy
The Lance Todd Trophy is awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in rugby league football's Challenge Cup Final.The trophy was introduced in 1946, in memory of Lance Todd, the New Zealand-born player and administrator, who was killed in a road accident during the Second World War...
. The voting for the Lance Todd Trophy took place after 70 minutes when St Helens were leading 12-5. Leeds scored 9 points (2 tries, a goal and a drop goal) in the last ten minutes to win the match. Several journalists said that if the vote had been at the end of the match they would have voted for the Leeds player John Holmes. That year Nicholls was also voted the best player in the Rugby Football League Championship, claiming the second-ever Man of Steel Award.
Player Awards
Only three players have won the Lance Todd TrophyLance Todd Trophy
The Lance Todd Trophy is awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in rugby league football's Challenge Cup Final.The trophy was introduced in 1946, in memory of Lance Todd, the New Zealand-born player and administrator, who was killed in a road accident during the Second World War...
, Harry Sunderland Trophy
Harry Sunderland Trophy
The Harry Sunderland Trophy is awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in the Super League Grand Final by the Rugby League Writers' Association. It is named after Harry Sunderland, who was an Australian rugby league football administrator in both Australia and the United Kingdom...
, and the Man of Steel Award, they are; George Nicholls, Joe Lydon, and Paul Wellens
Paul Wellens
Paul Simon Wellens is an English multi-award–winning rugby league footballer. Wellens plays for St. Helens in the European Super League. Wellens is a Great Britain and England international...
.