Kevin Ward (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Kevin Ward is an English
former rugby league
footballer of the 1970s, '80s and 90s. A product of Stanley Rangers
, he was a , and occasionally , who represented Castleford
and St. Helens in England
. He also represented the Manly Sea Eagles during a spell in Australia
. During his playing career, Ward was also chosen to represent Great Britain
on twelve occasions, the last being the 1992 World Cup Final against Australia
at Wembley.
Ward was a highly regarded player in both the English and Australian games. His playing strengths were considered to be his strong style of running, courageous play and ball handling skills which were respected by followers of the sport. He began his career as a , but moved to the pack very quickly.
At club level, arguably his biggest career highlights were winning the 1986 Challenge Cup
with Castleford, The 1987 NSWRL Premiership with Manly and the 1992 Lancashire Cup
with St. Helens.
His career was ended on Good Friday
(9 April) 1993 at Central Park
, the old home of Wigan
while playing for St Helens where Ward sustained a badly broken leg. He almost lost his leg in the weeks that followed. Even now he can't walk long distances, let alone run.
in 1984 against France, in 1986 against Australia (2 matches), in 1986 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Australia, in 1987 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Papua New Guinea, in 1988 against France (2 matches), in 1988 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Papua New Guinea, Australia (2 matches), in 1988 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Australia, and New Zealand, in 1989 against France (2 matches), in 1990 against Australia (2 matches), and in 1992 in the 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup against Australia.
's 15-14 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers
in the 1986 Challenge Cup
final at Wembley Stadium on 3 May 1986.
Grand Final
winning teams, they are; for St. George Dragons
in 1966 Dick Huddart
; for Balmain Tigers
in 1969 David "Dave" Bolton
; for Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
in 1972 and 1973 Malcolm "Mal" Reilly
; in 1976 Phil Lowe
, Steve 'Knocker' Norton
, and Gary Stephens
; in 1987 Kevin Ward; and for Sydney Roosters
in 2002 Adrian Morley
.
Hall Of Fame Inductee.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former 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 of the 1970s, '80s and 90s. A product of Stanley Rangers
Stanley Rangers
Stanley Rangers is an amateur rugby league club situated in the village of Stanley near Wakefield.Players range from 8-years old and receive training in all aspects of the sport...
, he was a , and occasionally , who represented Castleford
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
and St. Helens in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He also represented the Manly Sea Eagles during a spell in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. During his playing career, Ward was also chosen to represent 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"....
on twelve occasions, the last being the 1992 World Cup Final against Australia
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
at Wembley.
Ward was a highly regarded player in both the English and Australian games. His playing strengths were considered to be his strong style of running, courageous play and ball handling skills which were respected by followers of the sport. He began his career as a , but moved to the pack very quickly.
At club level, arguably his biggest career highlights were winning the 1986 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....
with Castleford, The 1987 NSWRL Premiership with Manly and the 1992 Lancashire Cup
Rugby league county cups
Historically, British rugby league clubs competed for the Lancashire Cup and the Yorkshire Cup, known collectively as the county cups. The leading rugby clubs in Yorkshire had played in a cup competition for several years prior to the schism of 1895...
with St. Helens.
His career was ended on Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
(9 April) 1993 at Central Park
Central Park (Wigan)
Central Park was a rugby league stadium in Wigan, England. It was the home of Wigan RLFC before the club moved to the JJB Stadium in 1999. Its final capacity was 18,000.-History:...
, the old home of Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
while playing for St Helens where Ward sustained a badly broken leg. He almost lost his leg in the weeks that followed. Even now he can't walk long distances, let alone run.
International honours
Kevin Ward won caps for Great BritainGreat 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"....
in 1984 against France, in 1986 against Australia (2 matches), in 1986 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Australia, in 1987 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Papua New Guinea, in 1988 against France (2 matches), in 1988 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Papua New Guinea, Australia (2 matches), in 1988 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Australia, and New Zealand, in 1989 against France (2 matches), in 1990 against Australia (2 matches), and in 1992 in the 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup against Australia.
Challenge Cup final appearances
Kevin Ward played Loosehead-, i.e. number 8, in CastlefordCastleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
's 15-14 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
in the 1986 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 at Wembley Stadium on 3 May 1986.
National Rugby League Grand Finals
Kevin Ward is one of only eight Englishmen to have played in Australian National Rugby LeagueNational Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
winning teams, they are; for St. George Dragons
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
in 1966 Dick Huddart
Dick Huddart
Dick Huddart is an English-Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1950s, '60s and '70s. He played in the for Whitehaven and St. Helens in England, and for the St. George Dragons in Australia...
; for Balmain Tigers
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
in 1969 David "Dave" Bolton
Dave Bolton
David "Dave" R. Bolton is an English former rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s who later became a coach in the NSWRFL premiership...
; for Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
in 1972 and 1973 Malcolm "Mal" Reilly
Mal Reilly
Malcolm J. Reilly is an English former rugby league footballer and coach. A Great Britain international representative , Reilly played club football for Castleford Tigers in England and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in Australia...
; in 1976 Phil Lowe
Phil Lowe
Phil Lowe is an English former Rugby League World Cup winning footballer of the 1960s, '70s and '80s. A Great Britain and England international representative second-row forward, he played club football in England for Hull Kingston Rovers and in Australia with Manly-Warringah, whom he helped to...
, Steve 'Knocker' Norton
Steve Norton
Steve 'Knocker' Norton is an English former rugby league footballer. He represented Yorkshire, England and Great Britain and played club football for Castleford before moving to Hull, and Wakefield Trinity. Norton was widely regarded as one of the greatest exponents of the game, with a distinctive...
, and Gary Stephens
Gary Stephens
Gary Stephens is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s, '70s and '80s, and coach of the 1980s and '90s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Castleford, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Wigan, Halifax, and...
; in 1987 Kevin Ward; and for Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
in 2002 Adrian Morley
Adrian Morley
Adrian Morley is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Warrington Wolves of Europe's Super League...
.
Honoured at Castleford Tigers
Kevin Ward is a TigersCastleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
Hall Of Fame Inductee.