Kevin Ward (rugby league)

Kevin Ward (born 5 August 1957) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level as a prop, or hooker for Great Britain and Yorkshire, and at club level in England for Stanley Rangers ARLFC (in Wakefield), Castleford and St. Helens, and in Australia for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, as prop, second-row, or loose forward.[1] Ward was inducted into the Castleford Tigers Hall Of Fame.[3]

Kevin Ward
Personal information
Born (1957-08-05) 5 August 1957
Wakefield, England
Playing information
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight102 kg (16 st 1 lb)
PositionProp, Hooker, Second-row, Loose forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1978–89 Castleford 313 74 0 0 249
1987–88 Manly Sea Eagles 15 2 0 0 8
1990–93 St. Helens 86 8 0 0 32
Total 414 84 0 0 289
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1987 Yorkshire 1 0 0 0 0
1984–92 Great Britain 18 0 0 0 0
Source: [1][2]

Background

Ward was born in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Playing career

A product of Stanley Rangers ARLFC, he began his career as a centre, but soon moved to the forward pack.

At club level, arguably his biggest career highlights were winning the 1986 Challenge Cup with Castleford, the 1987 NSWRL Premiership with Manly, and the 1992 Lancashire County Cup with St. Helens.

Ward played at left-prop, i.e. number 8, in Castleford's 15-14 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1986 Challenge Cup Final during the 1985–86 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 3 May 1986.[4]

Ward won a cap as a prop, i.e. number 8 for Yorkshire while at Castleford in the 16-10 victory over Lancashire at Wigan's stadium on 16 September 1987.[5]

Ward was selected to go on the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour. He was named man-of-the-match in the first Ashes Test. It was announced during the tour that Ward would rejoin Manly-Warringah for the remainder of their season once the tour was completed.[6]

Ward won caps for Great Britain in 1984 against France, in 1986 against Australia (2 matches), in 1986 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Australia, in 1987 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Papua New Guinea, in 1988 against France (2 matches), in 1988 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Papua New Guinea, Australia (2 matches), in 1988 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Australia, and New Zealand, in 1989 against France (2 matches), in 1990 against Australia (2 matches), and in 1992 in the 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup against Australia.[1] His last international appearance was in the 1992 World Cup Final against Australia at Wembley Stadium, London.

His career ended on 9 April 1993 (Good Friday) at Central Park, the old home of Wigan while playing for St Helens where Ward sustained a badly broken leg. He almost lost his leg in the weeks that followed. Even now he can't walk long distances, let alone run.

County Cup Final appearances

Kevin Ward played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in Castleford's 10-5 victory over Bradford Northern in the 1981 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1981–82 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds, on Saturday 3 October 1981, played left-prop, i.e. number 8, in the 18-22 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1985 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1985–86 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds, on Sunday 27 October 1985, played left-prop, and scored a try in the 31-24 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1986 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1986–87 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds, on Saturday 11 October 1986, played right-prop, i.e. number 10, in the 12-12 draw with Bradford Northern in the 1987 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1987–88 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds, on Saturday 17 October 1987, played left-prop in the 2-11 defeat by Bradford Northern in the 1987 Yorkshire County Cup Final replay during the 1987–88 season at Elland Road, Leeds, on Saturday 31 October 1987, played left-prop in the 12-33 defeat by Leeds in the 1988 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1988–89 season at Elland Road, Leeds, on Sunday 16 October 1988, played right-prop in St. Helens' 24-14 victory over Rochdale Hornets in the 1991 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1991–92 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington, on Sunday 20 October 1991, and played right-prop in the 4-5 defeat by Wigan in the 1992 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1992–93 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens, on Sunday 18 October 1992.[7]

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "Castleford Tigers Profile". Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2014.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  3. "Hall of Fame at castigers.com". castigers. 31 December 2008. Archived from the original on 6 May 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  4. "Sat 3rd May 1986 - Challenge Cup - Neutral Ground - 82,134". thecastlefordtigers. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 31 December 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. "Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk". thecastlefordtigers.co.uk ℅ web.archive.org. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  6. Tait, Paul (30 June 1988). "Ward's Return to lift Manly". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  7. "1992–1993 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
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