Name Jim Challinor Died 1976 | Height 1.83 m | |
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James Pevitt Challinor (2 August 1934 – 18 December 1976) birth registered in Warrington district, Lancashire, was an English rugby union and professional Rugby League World Cup winning footballer who played in the 1950s, and 1960s, and coached in the 1960s, and 1970s, playing representative level rugby union (RU) for Royal Air Force Rugby Union, and at club level for Altrincham Kersal RFC, and playing representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, and at club level for Orford Tannery ARLFC, Warrington, and Barrow (Captain), as a wing, or centre, i.e. number 2 or 5, or, 3 or 4, and coaching representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, and at club level for Barrow, Liverpool City, and St. Helens, during his period of national service he served with the Royal Air Force (RAF), and was based at RAF Padgate in Warrington, he was vice-president of Lymm RFC, he died in Warrington district.
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Playing career
Challinor had been offered a trial at Manchester United, but made his début aged-18 for Warrington against St. Helens in October 1952, he initially played on the Wing, but later moved into the Centres. Challinor played right-centre, i.e. number 3, and scored the first try in Warrington's 8–4 victory over Halifax in the 1954 Challenge Cup Final replay during the 1953–54 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Wednesday 5 May 1954, in front of a record crowd of 102,575 or more, played in the 5–4 victory over St. Helens in the 1959 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1959–60 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 31 October 1959, in front of a crowd of 39,237.
Jim Challinor played in Warrington's 8–7 victory over Halifax the Championship Final during the 1953–54 season at Maine Road, Manchester on Saturday 8 May 1954, in front of a crowd of 36,519, played in the 7–3 victory over Oldham the Championship Final during the 1954–55 season at Maine Road, Manchester on Saturday 14 May 1955, and played in the 10–25 defeat by victory over Leeds the Championship Final during the 1960–61 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 20 May 1961.
Jim Challinor won caps for Great Britain while at Warrington on the 1958 Great Britain Lions tour against Australia, and New Zealand, and in the 1960 Rugby League World Cup against France.
He made 282 appearance for Warrington, scoring 135 tries, kicking 2 goals for 409 points. Challinor also played in the 1960 Rugby League World Cup, helping Great Britain to victory.
In 1963 Challinor moved to Barrow, he played right-centre, i.e. number 3, and was captain, and coach in Barrow's 12–17 defeat by Featherstone Rovers in the 1967 Challenge Cup Final during the 1966–67 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1967.
Great Britain
Jim Challinor coached Great Britain to victory in the 1972 Rugby League World Cup in France, he was also coach on the 1974 Great Britain Lions tour, due to an injury crisis he came out of retirement on the New Zealand leg, he scored a try in the 33–2 victory over South Island rugby league team at Greymouth on Tuesday 6 August 1974, however he picked up an injury that resulted in him having a kidney removed.
St. Helens
Jim Challinor was the coach in St. Helens' 5–9 defeat by Leeds in the 1970 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1970–71 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Tuesday 15 December 1970, in front of a crowd of 7,612, the 16–12 victory over Wigan the Championship Final during the 1970–71 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 22 May 1971, the 8–2 victory over Rochdale Hornets the 1971 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1971–72 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 14 December 1971, in front of a crowd of 9,255, the 16–13 victory over Leeds in the 1972 Challenge Cup Final during the 1971–72 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1972, in front of a crowd of 89,495, the 5–9 defeat by Leeds the Championship Final during the 1971–72 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 20 May 1972, and the 11–7 victory over Australia in the 1973 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France tour match during the 1973–74 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 13 November 1973.
Jim Challinor's marriage to Wendy (née Stringer) (birth registered during October→December 1935 in Warrington district) was registered during October→December 1956 in Newton district. They had children; Neil Challinor (birth registered during April→June 1957 (age 59–60) in Newton district), Yvonne Challinor (birth registered during April→June 1960 (age 56–57) in Runcorn district), and Nadine Challinor (birth registered during July→September 1964 (age 52–53) in Barrow-in-Furness district). Jim Challinor opened Challinor Sports at 146 Padgate Lane, Warrington in 1967.
Jim Challinor is a Warrington Wolves Hall of Fame inductee.
Only two men to have played in, and coached Rugby League World Cup winning Great Britain sides; Eric Ashton, and Jim Challinor.