Austin Rhodes
{{Short description|English RL coach and former GB international rugby league footballer (1937–2019)}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Austin Rhodes
|fullname = Austin J. Rhodes{{cite web|url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=ksXFgVSLpYaUWOM7HliLiw&scan=1|title=Birth details at freebmd.org.uk|publisher=freebmd.org.uk|date=31 December 2013|access-date=1 January 2014}}
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date|1937|2|25|df=y}}
|birth_place = St. Helens, England
|death_date = {{death date and age|2019|2|12|1937|2|25|df=y}}
|death_place = St. Helens, England
|height =
|weight =
|position = {{rlp|FB|CE|SO|SH}}
|club1 = St. Helens
|year1start = 1955
|year1end = 62
|appearances1 = 221
|tries1 = 90
|goals1 = 800
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 1870
|club2 = Leigh
|year2start = 1962
|year2end = 65
|appearances2 = 81
|tries2 = 9
|goals2 = 51
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 129
|club3 = Swinton
|year3start = 1965
|year3end = 68
|appearances3 = 87
|tries3 = 7
|goals3 = 15
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 51
|club4 = St. Helens
|year4start = 1968
|year4end = 69
|appearances4 = 44
|tries4 = 7
|goals4 = 15
|fieldgoals4 = 0
|points4 = 51
|teamA = Lancashire
|yearAstart = 1957
|yearAend = 59
|appearancesA = 2
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 1
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 2
|teamB = Great Britain
|yearBstart = 1957
|yearBend = 61
|appearancesB = 4
|triesB = 2
|goalsB = 3
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 12
|coachteam1 = Swinton
|coachyear1start = 1974
|coachyear1end = 75
|coachgames1 =
|coachwins1 =
|coachdraws1 =
|coachlosses1 =
|coachteam2 = Pilkington Recs
|coachyear2start = 1976
|coachyear2end = 78
|coachgames2 =
|coachwins2 =
|coachdraws2 =
|coachlosses2 =
|new = yes
|retired = yes
|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/austin-rhodes/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/austin-rhodes/summary.html|title=Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}{{cite book|last1=Rhodes|first1=Austin|title=A Lad from Donkey Common : A Rugby League Life|date=2012|publisher=London League Publications|isbn=978-1903659649}}
}}
Austin J. Rhodes (25 February 1937 – 12 February 2019){{cite news|last=Critchley|first=Mike|url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/17427039.saints-world-cup-winner-austin-rhodes-has-died/|title=Saints World Cup winner Austin Rhodes has died|work=St Helens Star|date=12 February 2019}} was an English World Cup winning professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s, and coached in the 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and at club level for St Helens (two spells), Leigh and Swinton as a goal-kicking {{rlp|fb|ce|so}} or {{rlp|sh}}, and coached at club level for Swinton and Pilkington Recs.
Background
Rhodes' birth was registered in St Helens, Lancashire, England, and he was a pupil at St Austin's School in Thatto Heath.
Playing career
=International honours=
Rhodes won caps for Great Britain while at St Helens in the 1957 Rugby League World Cup against New Zealand, in the 1960 Rugby League World Cup against France (2-tries) and Australia (2-goals), and in 1961 against New Zealand.
=Championship final appearances=
Rhodes played {{rlp|fb}}, and scored 10-goals in St. Helens' 44-22 victory over Hunslet in the Championship Final during the 1958–59 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 16 May 1959.{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=10&num=16225|title=Profile at saints.org.uk|publisher=saints.org.uk|date=31 December 2014|access-date=1 January 2015}}
=County league appearances=
Rhodes played in St. Helens' victory in the Lancashire League during the 1959–60 season and 1968–69 season.
=Challenge Cup Final appearances=
Rhodes played {{rlp|sh}}, and scored 2-goals in St. Helens 13-2 victory over Halifax in the 1955–56 Challenge Cup Final during the 1955–56 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 28 April 1956, in front of a crowd of 79,341, and played {{rlp|fb}}, and scored 3-goals and 2-drop goals in the 12-6 victory over Wigan in the 1960–61 Challenge Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1961, in front of a crowd of 94,672.
=County Cup Final appearances=
Rhodes played {{rlp|so}} in St. Helens' 3-10 defeat by Oldham in the 1956–57 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1956–57 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 20 October 1956, played {{rlp|fb}}, and scored 2-goals in the 4-5 defeat by Warrington in the 1959–60 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1959–60 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 31 October 1959, played {{rlp|so}}, and scored 1-try, and 3-goals in the 15-9 victory over Swinton in the 1960–61 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 29 October 1960, played {{rlp|fb}}, and scored 1-try, and 5-goals in the 25-9 victory over Swinton in the 1961–62 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1961–62 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 11 November 1961, played {{rlp|so}} in Leigh's 4-15 defeat by St. Helens in the 1963–64 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1963–64 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 26 October 1963, and played {{rlp|fb}} in St. Helens' 30-2 victory over Oldham in the 1968–69 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1968–69 season at Central Park, Wigan on Friday 25 October 1968.
=Tour matches=
Rhodes played {{rlp|so}}, and scored 1-try, and 7-goals in St. Helens 44-2 victory over Australia in the 1956-57 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France during the 1956–57 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 24 November 1956, played {{rlp|fb}}, and scored 1-goals in St. Helens 2-15 defeat by Australia in the 1959-60 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France during the 1959–60 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 10 October 1959.
Genealogical information
Rhodes' marriage to Marlene L. (née May) was registered during third ¼ 1963 in St. Helens district.{{cite web|url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=ODX15NpcAl60c1%2FyPhANrg&scan=1|title=Marriage details at freebmd.org.uk|publisher=freebmd.org.uk|date=31 December 2014|access-date=1 January 2015}} They had children; Martyn J. Rhodes (birth registered during first ¼ {{birth year and age|1964}} in Prescot district), and Karen L. Rhodes (birth registered during fourth ¼ {{birth year and age|1965}} in Widnes district).
Rhodes died on 12 February 2019, aged 81.{{cite news|url=https://www.leighjournal.co.uk/sport/17427366.tribute-to-austin-rhodes/|title=Tribute to Austin Rhodes|work=Leigh Journal|date=12 February 2019}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- (archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20100114185005/http://totalrl.com/features/content.php?feat_id=285&featcat_id=32 Saints slaughter Kangaroos]
{{St. Helens - 1955–56 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{St Helens - 1958–59 Championship Final Winners}}
{{St. Helens - 1960–61 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Great Britain squad – 1957 World Cup}}
{{Great Britain squad – 1960 World Cup champions}}
{{Swinton Lions coaches}}
{{St Helens RLFC Hall of Fame Inductees}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhodes, Austin}}
Category:English rugby league coaches
Category:English rugby league players
Category:Great Britain national rugby league team players
Category:Lancashire rugby league team players
Category:Leigh Leopards players
Category:Pilkington Recs coaches
Category:Rugby league five-eighths
Category:Rugby league fullbacks
Category:Rugby league halfbacks
Category:Rugby league players from St Helens, Merseyside
Category:St Helens R.F.C. players
Category:Swinton Lions coaches