Hugh Waddell (rugby league) explained

Hugh Waddell
Birth Date:13 November 1958
Birth Place:Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland
Year1start:1983
Year1end:87
Appearances1:104
Tries1:18
Goals1:5
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:82
Club2:Oldham
Year2start:1987
Year2end:88
Appearances2:54
Tries2:7
Goals2:0
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:28
Club3:Leeds
Year3start:1988
Year3end:90
Appearances3:53
Tries3:2
Goals3:0
Fieldgoals3:0
Points3:8
Year4start:1989
Appearances4:12
Tries4:1
Goals4:0
Fieldgoals4:0
Points4:4
Club5:Sheffield Eagles
Year5start:1990
Year5end:92
Appearances5:83
Tries5:6
Goals5:0
Fieldgoals5:0
Points5:24
Club6:Swinton Lions
Year6start:1993
Appearances6:8
Tries6:0
Goals6:0
Fieldgoals6:0
Points6:0
Year7start:1993
Appearances7:5
Tries7:0
Goals7:0
Fieldgoals7:0
Points7:0
Club8:Rochdale Hornets
Year8start:1993
Appearances8:3
Tries8:0
Goals8:0
Fieldgoals8:0
Points8:0
Club9:Carlisle
Year9start:1994
Year9end:95
Appearances9:41
Tries9:13
Goals9:0
Fieldgoals9:0
Points9:52
Club10:South Wales RLFC
Year10start:1996
Appearances10:15
Tries10:1
Goals10:0
Fieldgoals10:0
Points10:4
Club11:Barrow
Year11start:1997
Year11end:98
Appearances11:19
Tries11:2
Goals11:1
Fieldgoals11:0
Points11:10
Teama:England
Yearastart:1984
Appearancesa:1
Triesa:0
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:0
Teamb:Scotland
Yearbstart:1995
Appearancesb:4
Triesb:1
Goalsb:0
Fieldgoalsb:0
Pointsb:4
Teamc:Great Britain
Yearcstart:1988
Yearcend:89
Appearancesc:5
Triesc:0
Goalsc:0
Fieldgoalsc:0
Pointsc:0
Coachteam1:Carlisle RLFC
Coachyear1start:1994
Coachgames1:0
Coachwins1:0
Coachdraws1:0
Coachlosses1:0
New:yes
Retired:yes
Source:[1] [2] [3] [4]

Hugh Waddell (13 November 1958 – 1 November 2019) was a Scottish professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s as a or . He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Scotland, and at club level for Blackpool Borough, Oldham, Leeds, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Sheffield Eagles, Swinton Lions, Wakefield Trinity, Rochdale Hornets, Carlisle, South Wales, and Barrow.[1] [5]

Waddell died on 1 November 2019, at the age of 60.[6]

Background

Hugh Waddell was born on 13 November 1958 in Irvine, Ayrshire in Scotland. During his childhood, he moved south with his family to Rolleston on Dove, a village near Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire in England.[7] Waddell initially played football, and had trials with Leicester City before switching to rugby union to play for Burton RFC.[8]

Rugby league career

Club career

In 1980, Waddell had trials with rugby league club Keighley, but was not offered a contract. In 1983, while on holiday in Blackpool, he asked for a trial at Blackpool Borough, and subsequently accepted an offer to sign for the club.[9]

In January 1987, Waddell was signed by Oldham for a fee of £15,000.[10] [11]

Waddell joined Leeds in September 1988. He played in Leeds' 33–12 victory over Castleford in the 1988 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1988–89 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Sunday 16 October 1988.

Waddell joined Sheffield Eagles in 1990, and went on to play for Swinton, Wakefield Trinity and Rochdale Hornets. In 1994, he joined Carlisle. He was briefly appointed as player-coach at the club following the departure of Cameron Bell, but was replaced as coach a few months later by Paul Charlton. He played for South Wales RLFC in 1996 before finishing his professional career with Barrow.[12]

Representative career

Waddell made his international debut in 1984 while at Blackpool Borough, making his first (and only) appearance for England against Wales.[2]

He debuted for Great Britain while at Oldham in 1988, playing in two matches against France. He was selected for the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour later that year, and was the only player from a Second Division club to be chosen in the squad. He played in two Test matches during the tour; the 26–12 victory against Australia in the 3rd Ashes Test, and the 10–12 defeat against New Zealand. He made one further appearance for Great Britain while at Leeds in 1989 against France.[3]

Waddell also made four appearances for the newly-formed Scotland national team in 1995, including playing all three games for the team at the 1995 Emerging Nations Tournament.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  2. Web site: England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk. englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  3. Web site: Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk. englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  4. Rothman Rugby League Yearbooks 1984–95
  5. Web site: Biography at therhinos.co.uk. therhinos.co.uk. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  6. Web site: RIP Hugh Waddell | A Tribute . Rugby Football League . 2 November 2019 . 3 November 2019.
  7. Web site: Vallance . Matt . Obituary: Hugh Waddell, Scottish Rugby League player who deserved to be better known . The Scotsman . National World Publishing . 7 June 2022 . 20 November 2019.
  8. Web site: Globe-trotting former Raiders star Hugh Waddell dies aged 60 . The Mail . 7 June 2022 . Barrow-in-Furness . 10 November 2019.
  9. Web site: Obituary: Hugh Waddell, rugby league internationalist . The Herald . Newsquest Media Group . Glasgow . 19 November 2019.
  10. Web site: Halstead . Roger . Rugby league fraternity mourns passing of Hugh Waddell . The Oldham Times . 7 June 2022 . 4 November 2019.
  11. News: Fitzpatrick . Paul . Waddell bridges the class chasm . The Guardian . 26 January 1988 . 31 . . subscription.
  12. Web site: Hadfield . Dave . Rugby League: Waddell leads the border raiders . The Independent . 7 June 2022 . 6 December 1998.