Frank Watson (rugby league)

Frank Watson
Personal information
Full name Frank Watson
Born 6 January 1923
Hunslet, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died 30 August 2016(2016-08-30) (aged 93)
Morley, West Yorkshire, England
Playing information
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight 10 st 10 lb (68 kg)
Position Scrum-half

Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1940–49 Hunslet 246 57 0 1 173
1942/43(guest) → York
1949–57 Leeds 122 18 1 0 56
1957–59 Batley
Total 368 75 1 1 229
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≥1940–≤49 Yorkshire
Coaching information

Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1958–62 Batley

Frank Watson (6 January 1923 – 30 August 2016[1]), also known by the nickname of "Shanks", was an English bus conductor, and professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and 1950s, and coach of the 1950s and 1960s. He played at representative level for Yorkshire, and at club level for Hunslet, York (World War II guest), Leeds (Heritage № 865), and Batley, as a centre or scrum-half, i.e. number 3 or 4, or, 7.[2] and coached at club level for Leeds (A-Team), and Batley.[3][4][5][6][7]

Playing career

Watson represented Yorkshire while at Hunslet. He played in Hunslet's 18-10 victory over New Zealand during the 1947–48 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain and France match at Parkside, Hunslet during October 1947. Watson appeared in a Great Britain trial match in advance of the 1946 Great Britain Lions tour while at Hunslet, but ultimately he was not selected for the tour, he made his début for Leeds in the 21-13 victory over Hunslet at Parkside, Hunslet on Saturday 1 October 1949, he broke right-ankle in 1951, he played his last game for the Leeds on Saturday 8 October 1955.

Coaching career

Watson was the player-coach of Leeds' A-Team that included the future 'This Sporting Life' author David Storey, and was the coach of Batley from June 1958 to June 1962.

Personal life

He was married to Lilian (née Duffy), and he died at the Alexander Care Home, Victoria Road, Morley.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Who is Leeds RL's greatest ever scrum half?". yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. ↑ "Profile at leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk". leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 17 November 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "Leeds to pay tribute to legendary scrum-half "Shanks" Watson". yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ↑ "Frank "Shanks" Watson passes away aged 93". hunsletrlfc.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "Frank 'Shanks' Watson". hunsletrlfc.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Obituary - Frank 'Shanks' Watson". funeralzone.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  7. ↑ "Frank 'Shanks' Watson at hunsletrugbyleagueexparksideplayers.co.uk". hunsletrugbyleagueexparksideplayers.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.


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