Bill Carson (rugby league)

Bill Carson (1933–1985) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. An Australia national and New South Wales state representative forward, he played his club football in the New South Wales Rugby Football League for Sydney's Western Suburbs club.[2]

Bill Carson

Personal information
Full name	William Clarence Carson
Born	1933 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died	1985 (aged 51–52) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Position	Prop
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1954–64 Western Suburbs 118 24 0 0 72 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1962 New South Wales 2 0 0 0 0 1962 Australia 2 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]

Playing career

Carson played for Wests in the 1958 NSWRFL season's and 1961 NSWRFL season's grand finals. His two international appearances were for Australia in the 2nd and 3rd games of the 1962 Ashes series.

Carson was involved in one of the most talked about and controversial passages of play in rugby league test match history in 1962. In the third Ashes test against Great Britain at the Sydney Cricket Ground, referee Darcy Lawler awarded a try to Ken Irvine late in the game, ignoring a forward pass from Bill Carson amid howls of protest from Lions players.[3]

He is listed on the Australian Players Register as Kangaroo No.373.[4]

Post playing

After retiring, Carson commenced a long career in administration with the Wests club, serving as club president in the 1970s and 1980s.[5]

In 2004 Bill Carson was honoured by being named in the Western Suburbs Team of the Century.

References

1. "Bill Carson - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org.
2. "Player Profile - Bill Carson". yesterdayshero.com.au. SmartPack International. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
3. "Western Suburbs Magpies First Grade Players". Wests Magpies.
4. ARL Annual Report 2005
5. Bill Carson at rugbyleagueproject.org