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Kevin Ward (rugby league)

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Kevin Ward
Personal information
Full nameKevin Allan Ward
Born (1957-08-05) 5 August 1957 (age 67)
Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Playing information
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight16 st 1 lb (102 kg)
PositionProp, Second-row, Loose forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1978–89 Castleford 313 74 0 0 249
1987–88 Manly Sea Eagles 15 2 0 0 8
1990–93 St Helens 86+3 8 0 0 32
Total 417 84 0 0 289
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1980–81 Great Britain U24 3 0 0 0 0
1982–87 Yorkshire 2 1 0 0 3
1984–92 Great Britain 17 0 0 0 0
Source: [1][2]

Kevin Ward (born 5 August 1957) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level as a prop for Great Britain and Yorkshire, and at club level in England for Castleford and St. Helens, and in Australia for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, as prop, second-row, or loose forward.[1] Ward was inducted into the Castleford Tigers Hall of Fame.[3]

Background

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Ward was born in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Playing career

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Castleford

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A product of Stanley Rangers ARLFC, he began his career as a centre, but soon moved to the forward pack.

Ward's biggest career highlight at Castleford was winning the 1986 Challenge Cup, playing at prop in the club's 15–14 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 3 May 1986.[4]

Ward also played right-second-row in Castleford's 10–5 victory over Bradford Northern in the 1981 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1981–82 season at Headingley, Leeds, on Saturday 3 October 1981, played left-prop in the 18–22 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1985 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1985–86 season at Headingley, Leeds, on Sunday 27 October 1985, played left-prop, and scored a try in the 31–24 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1986 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1986–87 season at Headingley, Leeds, on Saturday 11 October 1986, played right-prop in the 12–12 draw with Bradford Northern in the 1987 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1987–88 season at Headingley, Leeds, on Saturday 17 October 1987, played left-prop in the 2–11 defeat by Bradford Northern in the 1987 Yorkshire Cup Final replay during the 1987–88 season at Elland Road, Leeds, on Saturday 31 October 1987, played left-prop in the 12–33 defeat by Leeds in the 1988 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1988–89 season at Elland Road, Leeds, on Sunday 16 October 1988.

While at Castleford, he spent time in Australia playing for Manly, where he won the 1987 NSWRL Premiership.

St Helens

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In July 1990, Ward was signed by St Helens for a fee of £80,000.[5]

Ward played right-prop in St Helens' 24–14 victory over Rochdale Hornets in the 1991 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1991–92 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington, on Sunday 20 October 1991, and played right-prop in the 4–5 defeat by Wigan in the 1992 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1992–93 season at Knowsley Road, St Helens, on Sunday 18 October 1992.[6]

His final game for the club was on 9 April 1993 (Good Friday) at Central Park against Wigan, where Ward sustained a badly broken leg.[7] The injury required several operations, and forced him to retire from the game.[8][9]

Representative honours

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Ward won a cap as a prop for Yorkshire while at Castleford in the 16-10 victory over Lancashire at Wigan's stadium on 16 September 1987.[10]

Ward was selected to go on the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour. He was named man-of-the-match in the first Ashes Test. It was announced during the tour that Ward would rejoin Manly-Warringah for the remainder of their season once the tour was completed.[11]

Ward won caps for Great Britain in 1984 against France, in 1986 against Australia (2 matches), in 1986 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Australia, in 1987 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Papua New Guinea, in 1988 against France (2 matches), in 1988 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Papua New Guinea, Australia (2 matches), in 1988 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Australia, and New Zealand, in 1989 against France (2 matches), in 1990 against Australia (2 matches), and in 1992 in the 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup against Australia.[1] His last international appearance was in the 1992 World Cup Final against Australia at Wembley Stadium, London.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Castleford Tigers Profile". Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ^ "Hall of Fame at castigers.com". castigers. 31 December 2008. Archived from the original on 6 May 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  4. ^ "Sat 3rd May 1986 - Challenge Cup - Neutral Ground - 82,134". thecastlefordtigers. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. ^ "Sport in brief". The Guardian. London. 9 July 1990. p. 18. ProQuest 187100166.
  6. ^ "1992 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Rugby League: Absent Ward becomes the title motivator: Wigan and St Helens take their chase for the title into the final week. Dave Hadfield reports". The Independent. 11 April 1993. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Rugby League: A giant fears the final cut: Dave Hadfield meets a mighty Saint laid low by a chapter of accidents". The Independent. 5 December 1993. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Kevin Ward - A warrior for Cas, St Helens, Manly and GB". St Helens Star. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk". 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  11. ^ Tait, Paul (30 June 1988). "Ward's Return to lift Manly". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
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