| First: | RU |
| Jack Riley | |
| Birth Date: | c. 1874 |
| Death Date: | 19 June 1924 (aged 50) |
| Death Place: | Halifax, England |
| Position: | Forward |
| Ru Club1: | Halifax |
| Ru Year1start: | 1893 |
| Ru Year1end: | 95 |
| Club1: | Halifax |
| Year1start: | 1895 |
| Year1end: | 07 |
| Teama: | England |
| Yearastart: | 1904 |
| Appearancesa: | 1 |
| Triesa: | 0 |
| Goalsa: | 0 |
| Fieldgoalsa: | 0 |
| Pointsa: | 0 |
| New: | yes |
| Retired: | yes |
| Updated: | 14 August 2009 |
| Source: | [1] [2] |
Jack Riley (c. 1874 – 19 June 1924) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s. He played at representative level for England, and at club level for Halifax, as a forward, and represented England in the first ever international rugby league game in 1904.[1]
Riley started his rugby career with his local team in the village of Luddenden Foot, aged 17. In October 1893, he was signed by Halifax.[3]
Jack Riley won a cap playing as a forward (in an experimental 12-a-side team), for England in the 3–9 defeat by Other Nationalities at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 5 April 1904,[2] in the first ever international rugby league match.[4]
Jack Riley played as a forward in Halifax's 7–0 victory over Salford in the 1902–03 Challenge Cup Final during the 1902–03 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 25 April 1903, in front of a crowd of 32,507,[5] and played as a forward in the 8–3 victory over Warrington in the 1903–04 Challenge Cup Final during the 1903–04 season at The Willows, Salford on Saturday 30 April 1904, in front of a crowd of 17,041.[6]
After retiring from rugby, Riley became a pub licensee. On 19 June 1924, Riley died at the Old King Cross Inn in Halifax, aged 50. He was buried in Stoney Royd Cemetery.[7]