Ken Day (rugby league) explained

Ken Day
Birth Date:16 May 1936
Birth Place:Caboolture, Queensland, Australia
Club1:Wests (Brisbane)
Club2:Manly-Warringah
Year2start:1965
Year2end:68
Appearances2:69
Tries2:4
Goals2:0
Fieldgoals2:1
Points2:14
Club3:Souths (Townsville)
Teama:Australia
Yearastart:1961
Yearaend:64
Appearancesa:9
Triesa:2
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:6
Teamb:Queensland
Yearbstart:1961
Yearbend:64
Appearancesb:14
Teamc:City NSW
Yearcstart:1965
Appearancesc:1
Triesc:0
Goalsc:0
Fieldgoalsc:0
Pointsc:0
Teamd:Townsville
Coachteam1:Redcliffe
Coachyear1start:1972

Ken Day (1936–1998), also known by the nickname of "High Tower", was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s.[1] An Australian international and Queensland representative forward, he played his club football in Brisbane for Western Suburbs and in Sydney for Manly-Warringah.[2]

Biography

Originally from Caboolture, while playing in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for Western Suburbs in 1961, Day was selected to make his debut for the Queensland Maroons and then the Australian national team, becoming Kangaroo No. 363.[3] Despite receiving offers of over 1,000 Australian pounds from Townsville and North Sydney clubs at the end of the season,[4] he opted to stay in Brisbane.

Day was selected to go on the 1963–64 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, playing for Australia at second-row forward in the second Ashes series Test match against Great Britain, and in the third Test match against France. He made his test début in 1963 and was part of the Australia touring team that won The Ashes in Britain for the first time ever.[5]

From 1965 to 1968 Day played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership for the Manly-Warringah club.[6] Whilst there he also represented City New South Wales.

Day played out the remainder of his career for Townsville's Souths club. He also represented Townsville in the Foley Shield competition.

In 1972 Day coached in the Brisbane Rugby League Premiership with the Redcliffe Dolphins.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ken Day. rugbyleagueproject.org. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. 18 December 2011.
  2. Web site: qrl.com.au . Queensland Representative Players . History . . 18 December 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111201055656/http://www.qrl.com.au/default.aspx?s=history-players . 1 December 2011 .
  3. Web site: Kangaroos Player Register . australianrugbyleague.com.au . . 18 December 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927000601/http://www.australianrugbyleague.com.au/kangaroos/register.php . 27 September 2011 .
  4. News:
    • £1,000 bid
    . 18 December 2011. The Sun-Herald. 3 December 1961.
  5. Web site: sahof.org.au. 1963 Kangaroos Team. Team Sport Australia Award. Sport Australia Hall of Fame. 27 September 2020.
  6. Web site: Player Profile - Ken Day . https://archive.today/20121231024404/http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Ken-Day_2337.aspx . dead . 31 December 2012 . yesterdayshero.com.au . SmartPack International Pty Ltd . 18 December 2011 .
  7. Web site: First Grade Captains and Coaches. redcliffedolphins.com.au. Redcliffe Dolphins. 18 December 2011.