Billy Cunliffe

William Cunliffe (1897 – 10 August 1942) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Pemberton Rovers ARLFC (in Pemberton, Lancashire), and Warrington (Heritage № 211), as a prop, i.e. number 8 or 10, during the era of contested scrums.[3] Cunliffe is a Warrington Wolves Hall of Fame inductee.[6]

For other people named Bill Cunliffe, see Bill Cunliffe.

Billy Cunliffe
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Cunliffe
Born1897
Wigan, England[1]
Died10 August 1942 (aged 45)[2]
Ince-in-Makerfield, England
Playing information
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1914–30 Warrington 438 38 6 0 126
1930–31 Broughton Rangers 2 0 0 0 0
Total 440 38 6 0 126
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1921–26 England 10 0 0 0 0
1920–26 Great Britain 11 0 0 0 0
1919–27 Lancashire 18 1 0 0 3
Source: [3][4][5]

Background

Cunliffe was born in Wigan, Lancashire, England, and he died aged 45 in Ince-in-Makerfield, Lancashire, England.

Playing career

International honours

Cunliffe was selected to go on the 1920 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand and 1924 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand. He won caps for Great Britain while at Warrington in 1920 against Australia, and New Zealand (2 matches), in 1921-22 against Australia (3 matches), in 1924 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand, and in 1926 against New Zealand.[5] and also won caps for England while at Warrington in 1921 against Wales, Other Nationalities, and Australia, in 1922 against Wales, in 1923 against Wales (2 matches), in 1925 against Wales (2 matches), in 1926 against Wales, and Other Nationalities,[4]

Championship final appearances

Cunliffe played left-prop, i.e. number 8, in Warrington's 10-22 defeat by Wigan in the Championship Final during the 1925–26 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 8 May 1926, in front of a crowd of 20,000.[7][8]

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Cunliffe played left-prop, i.e. number 8, in Warrington's 3-5 defeat by Swinton in the 1927–28 Challenge Cup Final during the 1927–28 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 14 April 1928, in front of a crowd of 33,909.[9]

Genealogical information

Billy Cunliffe was the older brother of the forward for Warrington (Heritage № 213); Tom Cunliffe, the brothers shared a joint testimonial match in the 1927–28 season.

References
  1. California, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1959 for William Cunliffe, League Football Club Leeds, from Wellington, 1924
  2. "R.L. Player's Death". Hull Daily Mail. 11 August 1942. p. 3.
  3. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. "Hall of Fame at Wire2Wolves.com (archived)". wire2wolves.com. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  7. Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 31 – 1925–26". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
  8. "1925-1926 Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 27 August 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  9. Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 33 – 1927–28". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
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