Name Joe Riley Role Rugby league | Height 1.77 m | |
Died 1954, Halifax, United Kingdom | ||
Joseph "Joe" G. Riley (April→June 1876 – death registered October→December 1954 (aged 77–78)) born in Sowerby Bridge, was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1890s, 1900s, and 1910s, and coached rugby union (RU) in the 1910s, and 1920s, playing representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Sowerby Bridge, and Halifax, as a centre, Stand-off/Five-eighth, or scrum-half/halfback, i.e. number 3 or 4, 6, or 7, and coaching rugby union at the newly established Halifax RUFC (formed 1919), after completing his playing career, with fellow Halifax Hall Of Fame Inductee Archie Rigg, Riley's death was registered in Halifax district, he is buried in Sowerby Bridge cemetery.
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International honours
Joe Riley won caps for England while at Halifax in 1910 against Wales, in 1911 against Australia, and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax on the 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand against Australia, and Australasia.
County Honours
Joe Riley won caps for Yorkshire while at Halifax.
Club career
Joe Riley suffered a badly broken leg in the match against Bradford Northern on Saturday 2 January 1915, this fracture ended his rugby league playing career.
Testimonial match
A testimonial match at Halifax was shared by Joe Riley, and Asa Robinson at Thrum Hall, Halifax in 1920, 20,000 people attended the match, and Joe Riley received £420 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £43,830 in 2013).
Honoured at Halifax
Joe Riley is a Halifax Hall Of Fame Inductee.