Tyssul Griffiths

Tyssul "Tuss" Griffiths (6 June 1919 – 25 August 1978) was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played representative level rugby union for Wales XV, and at club level for Newport RFC, as a full-back, and representative level rugby league for Wales, and at club level for Hunslet, Doncaster (Heritage № 12), Halifax (Heritage № 647), and Dewsbury, as a fullback.[2][3]

Tuss Griffiths
Personal information
Full nameTyssul Griffiths
Born6 June 1919
Bridgend, Wales
Died25 August 1978(1978-08-25) (aged 59)[1]
Leeds, England
Playing information
Rugby union
PositionFull-back
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1945–46 Newport RFC 20 1 1
Rugby league
PositionFullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1946–51 Hunslet 167 7 184 389
1951–52 Doncaster 59 3 140 289
1952–56 Halifax
1956 Dewsbury
Total 226 10 324 0 678
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1946–51 Wales 2 0 0 0 0
Source: [2]

Background

Tuss" Griffiths was born in Bridgend, Wales, and he died aged 59 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.

Rugby union career

Griffiths was born on 6 June 1919 in Blaengarw, Bridgend. He made his rugby union début for Newport RFC in October 1945. Griffiths represented Wales while at Newport RFC in the 'Victory International', but was not awarded a cap.

Rugby league career

Hunslet

Griffiths switched to rugby league, and joined Hunslet in 1946, and went on to make 167 appearances for the club.[4]

Doncaster

Griffiths, who had been transfer listed by Hunslet, was signed by newly-founded Doncaster in July 1951.[5] He played in Doncaster's inaugural league game on 18 August 1951, scoring two conversions in a 10–3 victory over Wakefield Trinity.[6] He played 59 games for Doncaster,[7] and was the club's top points scorer for the 1951–52 and 1952–53 seasons.[8][9]

Halifax

In December 1952, Griffiths was signed by Halifax for a fee of around £1,000.[10] He played fullback in Halifax's 4-4 draw with Warrington in the 1954 Challenge Cup Final during the 1953–54 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 24 April 1954, in front of a crowd of 81,841, in front of a crowd of 81,841, and played fullback, and kicked two penalty goals (2 points each) in the 4-8 defeat by Warrington in the 1954 Challenge Cup Final replay during the 1953–54 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Wednesday 5 May 1954, in front of a record crowd of 102,575 or more,[11] and played fullback, and kick a goal in Halifax's 2-13 defeat by St. Helens in the 1955–56 Challenge Cup Final during the 1955–56 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 28 April 1956, in front of a crowd of 79,341.

Griffiths is one of less than twenty-five Welshmen to have scored more than 1000-points in their rugby league career.[12]

International honours

Griffiths won two caps for Wales; his first appearance was in 1946 while at Hunslet, and he won his second cap in 1951 as a Doncaster player.[2]

References
  1. "Statistics at blackandambers.co.uk (RU)". blackandambers.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. Williams, Graham; Lush, Peter; Farrar, David (2009). The British Rugby League Records Book. London League. pp. 108–114. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6.
  4. "Player Stats". Hunslet Rugby Foundation. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  5. "Doncaster sign Tyssul Griffiths". Yorkshire Evening Post. 24 July 1951. p. 2.
  6. "Rugby League: Great Opening Victory by Doncaster". Star Green 'un. 18 August 1951. p. 4.
  7. "Player Statistics". R.Terrace, R.Green and Doncaster RLFC. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  8. "Doncaster RLFC 1951 Season - Player Statistics". R.Terrace, R.Green and Doncaster RLFC. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  9. "Doncaster RLFC 1952 Season - Player Statistics". R.Terrace, R.Green and Doncaster RLFC. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  10. "Tyssul Griffiths Signs for Halifax". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 17 December 1952. p. 13.
  11. "Mud, blood and memories of the day when 102,575 made history at Odsal". independent.co.uk. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  12. Robert Gate (1988). "Gone North - Volume 2". R. E. Gate. ISBN 0-9511190-3-6
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