George Bennett (rugby)

George Henry Bennett (8 July 1913[3] – 31 August 1970) was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Weston-super-Mare RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Wigan and Bradford Northern as a centre, stand-off, or scrum-half, i.e. number 3 or 4, 6, or 7.[2][4]

For other people named George Bennett, see George Bennett (disambiguation).

George Bennett
Personal information
Full nameGeorge Henry Bennett[1]
Born(1913-07-08)8 July 1913
Forden, Wales
Died31 August 1970(1970-08-31) (aged 57)
Playing information
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1927–30 Risca
1929–30 Weston-super-Mare
Total 0 0 0 0 0
Rugby league
PositionCentre, Stand-off, Scrum-half
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1930–37 Wigan 232 101 5 313
1937–≥45 Bradford Northern 151
Total 383 101 5 0 313
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1935–36 Wales 3 2 0 0 6
Source: [2]

Background

Bennett was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, and he died aged 57.

Rugby union career

Bennett started his career as a rugby union player, joining Weston-super-Mare in 1929. He left Wales due to the racism of the Welsh Rugby Union preventing him from playing for the national team,[5] and signed for rugby league side Wigan in November 1930.[1]

Rugby league career

Wigan

Bennett played stand-off in Wigan's 15–3 victory over Salford in the Championship Final during the 1933–34 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 28 April 1934.[6] He also played stand-off in Wigan's 30-27 victory over France at Central Park, Wigan, on Saturday 10 March 1934.[7] Bennett played left-centre, i.e. number 4, and scored a try in Wigan's 12-21 defeat by Salford in the 1934–35 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1934–35 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 20 October 1934. In December 1937, after losing his place as a first team regular, he joined Bradford Northern.[1]

Bradford Northern

Bennett played 151 games for Bradford, including the final of the 1944 Challenge Cup victory over Wigan.[1]

International honours

Bennett won three caps for Wales (RL) in 1935–1936 while at Wigan,[2] becoming the first black man to represent a British national team at rugby league. In 1936 he was to tour Australia with the England team but was omitted to "avoid criticism" due to the colour of his skin.[8]

Note

George Bennet's surname is variously spelt with two T's as Bennett, or with a single T as Bennet.

References
  1. Morris, Graham (2005). Wigan Rugby League Football Club: 100 Greats. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-7524-3470-4.
  2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  4. Williams, Graham; Lush, Peter; Farrar, David (2009). The British Rugby League Records Book. London League. pp. 108–114. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6.
  5. "The struggle and the scrum". International Socialism. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  6. "1933–1934 Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  7. "1934 Tour Match: Wigan 30 France 27". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  8. "Colour Line in Rugby League". Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 55. 5 March 1936. p. 7. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
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