Position Fullback Died 1 June 1985 | Years Club / team | |
Full name William Gordon MacGregor Bonner Date of birth (1907-09-08)8 September 1907 Place of birth Wakefield, Yorkshire, England Date of death 1 June 1985(1985-06-01) School Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield | ||
Gordon Bonner was a rugby union international who was part of the British and Irish Lions team that toured New Zealand and Australia in 1930. He never represented England, and later changed code to play Rugby League.
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Early life
William Gordon MacGregor Bonner was born in 1907 in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England. He was the son of Arthur Alexander Bonner, a cattle dealer and also magistrate for Wakefield. His father was also a prominent member of the Rugby League establishment, at one time being president of the Wakefield Trinity rugby league club, and also between 1936 and 1938 was chairman of the Rugby League Council.
William went on to be educated at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield.
Rugby career
Bonner went on to play for Bradford and for Yorkshire as fullback. He played in ten of the matches on the toured New Zealand and Australia in 1930 at fullback. but he did not play in any of the tests. He scored two conversions during these games. Despite playing for the British team, he was never selected for England.
By 1934 Bonner had changed codes and was playing for Wakefield Trinity (Heritage № 378) rugby league club as a full-back.
Personal life
William Bonner married Mary Wood in August 1934.