Arthur Daniels
Encyclopedia
Arthur Harper Daniels (born 4 September 1922 in Pontyberem
— died 4 October 2001 in Swansea
), was a Rugby league
footballer.
In 1945 he was one of three Welshmen, all from the Llanelli
area, who had trials with the Halifax rugby league club
. A winger, he made a relatively slow start to his rugby league career, which was interrupted with a period in the armed forces. Following a big improvement in his form in 1948-49, he was by 1949 an important part of the Halifax side.
In 1950 he toured Australasia with the Great Britain squad
, but injury forced him to return home early before the first test. He made 13 appearances for Wales
, scoring nine tries.
He was Halifax captain for the 1952/53 season. However, injuries would curtail his season. A splintered ankle bone sustained in the second test against the touring Australian's at Swinton kept him out of the third. A broken arm in a home match against Huddersfield on Christmas Day 1952 ended his season.
His domestic career also included two Challenge Cup
final appearances at Wembley. The first was in 1954 when Halifax drew with Warrington
, the tie was settled in the famous Odsal replay where he had a try disallowed in a defeat for Halifax. His next Wembley appearance came in 1956 against St. Helens where once again, Halifax were the losing side.
while at Halifax 1949…1953 13-caps, and won caps for Great Britain
while at Halifax 1952…1955 3-caps.
, after which he had a brief spell with Bradford Northern
before his retirement.
After retiring, he lived for a time in the Halifax area where he was a publican. He then moved to Pudsey
then Bramley
, before moving back to Pontyberem. He later ran a newsagents in Swansea
. He spent his final years in Neath
.
Pontyberem
Pontyberem is a village situated in the Gwendraeth Valley halfway between Carmarthen and Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, South Wales.- History :...
— died 4 October 2001 in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
), was a Rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer.
In 1945 he was one of three Welshmen, all from the Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
area, who had trials with the Halifax rugby league club
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
. A winger, he made a relatively slow start to his rugby league career, which was interrupted with a period in the armed forces. Following a big improvement in his form in 1948-49, he was by 1949 an important part of the Halifax side.
In 1950 he toured Australasia with the Great Britain squad
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
, but injury forced him to return home early before the first test. He made 13 appearances for Wales
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
, scoring nine tries.
He was Halifax captain for the 1952/53 season. However, injuries would curtail his season. A splintered ankle bone sustained in the second test against the touring Australian's at Swinton kept him out of the third. A broken arm in a home match against Huddersfield on Christmas Day 1952 ended his season.
His domestic career also included two Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final appearances at Wembley. The first was in 1954 when Halifax drew with Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
, the tie was settled in the famous Odsal replay where he had a try disallowed in a defeat for Halifax. His next Wembley appearance came in 1956 against St. Helens where once again, Halifax were the losing side.
International honours
Arthur Daniels won caps for WalesWales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
while at Halifax 1949…1953 13-caps, and won caps for Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
while at Halifax 1952…1955 3-caps.
Career highlight
All footballers during their career have one match which stands out more prominently than others. When Arthur was asked if there was such a game, it was the first test of that seasons series against Australia at Headingley, a game in which he scored his first try at Test level, helping to secure a 19-6 victory.Bradford and Retirement
The 1956-57 season was his last at Thrum HallHalifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
, after which he had a brief spell with Bradford Northern
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
before his retirement.
After retiring, he lived for a time in the Halifax area where he was a publican. He then moved to Pudsey
Pudsey
Pudsey is a market town in West Yorkshire, England. Once an independent town, it was incorporated into the metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds in 1974, and is located midway between Bradford and Leeds city centres. It has a population of 32,391....
then Bramley
Bramley, Leeds
Bramley is a district in west Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is an old industrial area and home to a lot of 19th century architecture alongside 20th century council housing in the east and private suburban housing to the west. It has its own railway station which is on the Caldervale and...
, before moving back to Pontyberem. He later ran a newsagents in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. He spent his final years in Neath
Neath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
.