Name George Nicholls | Role Rugby Player | |
George Nicholls (born 14 May 1944) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s, and '80s. A Great Britain and England international representative forward, he played his club rugby for English clubs Widnes and St. Helens. Eventually becoming a St Helens R.F.C. Hall of Fame inductee, he also became the first player to win the Man of Steel Award, Harry Sunderland Trophy and Lance Todd Trophy with the club. With Great Britain, Nicholls also won the 1972 Rugby League World Cup.
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Widnes
George Nicholls was born on 14 May 1944 in Widnes, Lancashire. He played for Rugby Football League club Widnes at prop forward in their 8-15 loss to Wigan in the 1971 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1970–71 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 28 August 1971. While playing club football for Widnes, Nicholls played at Loose forward for the Great Britain Lions who retained the 1972 World Cup.
During the 1972-73 season Nicholls played at loose forward in Widnes' 0-5 loss to Leigh in the 1972 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 19 December 1972.
St Helens
The St. Helens club acquired Nicholls' services in 1973 for £9,000. In the 1975–76 Northern Rugby Football League season's Challenge Cup Final Nicholls helped the St Helens side to victory.
During the 1975–76 Northern Rugby Football League season Nicholls played at second-row forward in St. Helens' 22-2 victory over Dewsbury in the 1975 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 16 December 1975.
Nicholls played at second-row forward in St. Helens' 2-25 defeat by the 1975 NSWRFL season premiers, Eastern Suburbs Roosters in the unofficial 1976 World Club Challenge at Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday 29 June 1976.
In the 1978 Challenge Cup Final Nicholls was in the St Helens team which lost 14-12 to Leeds, but he won the Lance Todd Trophy. The voting for the Lance Todd Trophy took place after 70 minutes when St Helens were leading 12-5. That year Nicholls was also voted the best player in the Championship, claiming the second-ever Man of Steel Award.
During the 1978–79 Northern Rugby Football League season Nicholls played left-second-row in the 7-13 defeat by Widnes in the 1978 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 12 December 1978.
Open Rugby inaugural World XIII
The Open Rugby inaugural World XIII was revealed in June 1978, it was; Graham Eadie, John Atkinson, Steve Rogers, Jean-Marc Bourret[1], Green Vigo, Roger Millward, Steve Nash, Jim Mills, Keith Elwell, Steve Pitchford, Terry Randall, George Nicholls, and Greg Pierce.