Douglas Clark (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Douglas "Duggy" Clark MM
(born 1891 in Ellenborough
, Cumberland
, died 1951) was an English rugby league
footballer, wrestler and World War I veteran. He played at , or for Huddersfield
, Cumberland, England
and the Great Britain national side
. Clark also served in World War I on the front line in France in 1917, earning the Military Medal
for his deeds. He then returned to wrestling with great success, becoming World heavyweight champion.
Clarke scored a hat-trick of tries in his side's victory in the Championship final of 1913. Going on the 1914 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand
, he played for in the famous "Rorke's Drift Test" in Sydney when his side won with 11 men. Clark was a member of Fartown's "Team of all talents" which won all four cups
in 1915.
After that Clark joined World War I
and spent time in France.
By the time of his retirement from football in 1927 he had helped his club to three Challenge Cup
s and seven Yorkshire Cup
s. In 2005 he was inducted into the British Rugby League Hall of Fame
.
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
(born 1891 in Ellenborough
Ellenborough, Cumbria
Ellenborough is a suburb of the town of Maryport, located in the Allerdale District in the county of Cumbria, England. Ellenborough is a residential area and has a post office, a school and a few places of worship...
, Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
, died 1951) was an English 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, wrestler and World War I veteran. He played at , or for Huddersfield
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
, Cumberland, England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
and the Great Britain national side
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"....
. Clark also served in World War I on the front line in France in 1917, earning the Military Medal
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
for his deeds. He then returned to wrestling with great success, becoming World heavyweight champion.
Clarke scored a hat-trick of tries in his side's victory in the Championship final of 1913. Going on the 1914 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand
1914 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand
The 1914 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand was the British national rugby league team's second ever tour of Australasia, where it was winter and matches were played against the Australian and New Zealand national sides, as well as several local teams...
, he played for in the famous "Rorke's Drift Test" in Sydney when his side won with 11 men. Clark was a member of Fartown's "Team of all talents" which won all four cups
All Four Cups
Between 1905 and 1970 there were four trophies available to any British rugby league side:* Challenge Cup* Rugby Football League Championship* County league * County cup...
in 1915.
After that Clark joined World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and spent time in France.
By the time of his retirement from football in 1927 he had helped his club to three 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....
s and seven Yorkshire Cup
Yorkshire Cup
Yorkshire Cup may refer to:*Yorkshire Cup , a rugby union competition for Yorkshire clubs*Yorkshire Cup , a horse race held at York Racecourse*Rugby league county cups, a rugby league competition for Yorkshire clubs...
s. In 2005 he was inducted into the British Rugby League Hall of Fame
British Rugby League Hall of Fame
The British Rugby League Hall of Fame was established by the Rugby Football League in 1988 to commemorate the greatest ever players in British rugby league...
.