Name Jim Brough | ||
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Died September 16, 1986, Workington, United Kingdom | ||
Jim brough and family
James Wasdale Brough (5 November 1903 – 16 September 1986) was an English dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s, and 1930s, and coached rugby league in the 1950s, playing representative level rugby union (RU) for England, and Cumberland, and at club level for Silloth RUFC, as a fullback, and playing representative level rugby league for Great Britain (Captain), and England, and at club level for Leeds, as a fullback, or centre, and coaching representative level rugby league for Great Britain, and at club level for Workington Town. He died in Workington, Cumbria.
Contents
- Jim brough and family
- Rugby Union
- Rugby League
- International honours
- Coaching career
- Honoured at Silloth RUFC
- References
Rugby Union
Brough was working in the fishing industry and his main interest was sailing model yachts until, aged 17, he joined some other young men in forming a rugby union club. This short-lived club, set up by friends who could not get a game with Silloth RUFC, gave him an interest in the sport and he soon found himself playing for the Silloth club itself. By the age of 19, he was playing rugby union for the Cumberland county team and by 21 he had played for England. His Test debut was in January 1925 against New Zealand at Twickenham. Two weeks later, he appeared against Wales.
Various rugby league sides were now taking note of Brough's ability, including Barrow, Huddersfield, Hull, Swinton and Warrington. Despite being offered as much as £350 to join the league ranks, Brough chose instead to sign with Liverpool F.C. as an amateur association football player. He then discovered that he was unlikely to supplant Liverpool's incumbent goalkeeper, Elisha Scott, and when Leeds offered him a signing-on fee in excess of £600, he joined the ranks of professional rugby league players.
Rugby League
Brough made his rugby league debut for Leeds against York at Headingley on Wednesday 2 September 1925.
Brough played fullback in Leeds' 11–8 victory over Swinton in the 1931–32 Challenge Cup Final at Central Park, Wigan, on 7 May 1932, then was captain in the 18–2 victory over Huddersfield in the 1935–36 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on 18 April 1936, he missed the 19–2 victory over Halifax in the 1940–41 Challenge Cup Final at Odsal Stadium, Bradford, and played full-back in the 15–10 victory over Halifax in the 1941–42 Challenge Cup Final at Odsal Stadium.
International honours
As a rugby league player, Brough won caps for England in 1926 against Wales, and Other Nationalities, in 1928 against Wales, in 1929 against Other Nationalities, in 1932 against Wales, in 1933 against Other Nationalities, in 1934 against Australia, in 1935 against France, and Wales, in 1936 against Wales, and France, and won caps for Great Britain while at Leeds in 1928 against Australia (2 matches), and New Zealand (2 matches), and in 1936 against Australia (captain).
Coaching career
Brough was the coach in Workington Town's 12–21 defeat by Barrow in the 1955 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on 30 April 1955, and was the coach in the 9–13 defeat by Wigan in the 1958 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley on 10 May 1958.
Aside from his club role, Brough was also coach of the Great Britain rugby league team.
Honoured at Silloth RUFC
In 2005 in honour of Jim Brough, Silloth RUFC renamed its ground, The Jim Brough Rugby Park.