William Neill (rugby league)

William "Webby" Neill (1884–1964) was a pioneer Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s, who later became a leading referee in the New South Wales Rugby Football League.

William Neill
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Gladstone Neill
Born(1884-06-21)21 June 1884
Paddington, New South Wales, Australia
Died19 March 1964(1964-03-19) (aged 79)
Bexley, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
PositionFullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1908–09 South Sydney 18 0 0 0 0
1910–13 Newtown 24 0 0 0 0
1914 Glebe 2 0 0 0 0
Total 44 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1909–11 Australia 4 0 0 0 0
1910–11 New South Wales 11 0 0 0 0
Source: [1][2]

Playing career

Neill played for South Sydney in the first ever NSWRFL premiership season in 1908[3] and that year went on to play in the first ever Grand final, which his team won. The following season Souths also won the premiership and he was first selected for the Australian national side that year. Neill moved to Newtown the following season, playing in their 1910 NSWRFL season grand final-winning team to make it three premierships in three years. The following year he was selected to go on the 1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain, the second-ever. He played for another three seasons at Newtown before a final season with Glebe.[4][5]

Post playing

Neill later took to refereeing in the NSWRFL. He oversaw matches in a long refereeing career from 1916 to 1932 and officiated in a number of Grand finals in that time.

He was awarded Life Membership of the New South Wales Rugby League in 1931.[6]

Neill is listed on the Australian Players Register as Kangaroo No. 50

References
  1. William Neill at rugbyleagueproject.org
  2. Player ListArchived 23 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Webby Neill at rabbitohs.com.au
  4. William Neill at yesterdayshero.com.au
  5. Whittacker/Hudson: The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. 1995 ISBN 1875169571
  6. Referee, Sydney "New Life Members" 13 Jan 1931 (Page 14).


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