James Archer Rigg (c. 1872 – 29 May 1951), also known by the

nickname A nickname, in some circumstances also known as a sobriquet, or informally a "moniker", is an informal substitute for the proper name of a person, place, or thing, used to express affection, playfulness, contempt, or a particular character trait ...

of "Archie ", was an English

rugby union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...

, and professional

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as rugby league in English-speaking countries and rugby 13/XIII in non-Anglophone Europe, is a contact sport, full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular Rugby league playin ...

footballer who played in the 1890s and 1900s, and

coach Coach may refer to: Guidance/instruction * Coach (sport), a director of Athletes' training and activities * Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process ** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers Transportation * Coac ...

ed rugby union in the 1910s and 1920s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Halifax, and representative level rugby league (RL) for

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ) is an area of Northern England which was History of Yorkshire, historically a county. Despite no longer being used for administration, Yorkshire retains a strong regional identity. The county was named after its county town, the ...

, and at club level for Halifax and

Bradford Northern The Bradford Bulls are a professional rugby league club in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, and compete in the Championship, the second tier of British rugby league. The club have won the League Championship six times, the Challenge Cup f ...

, as a and coached rugby union at the newly established Halifax RUFC (formed 1919), after completing his playing career, with fellow Halifax Hall Of Fame Inductee Joe Riley. Prior to Tuesday 27 August 1895, Halifax was a

club.

Background

Archie Rigg's birth was registered in Halifax district,

West Riding of Yorkshire The West Riding of Yorkshire was one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the riding was an administrative county named County of York, West Riding. The Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire, lieu ...

. He died at his home in Halifax on 29 May 1951, aged 79.

Playing career

County Honours

Archie Rigg won

cap A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head. They made their first appearance as early as 3200 BC. The origin of the word "cap" comes from the Old French word "chapeau" which means "head co ...

s for

(RL) while at Halifax.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Archie Rigg played, and was

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

in Halifax's 7-0 victory over by

Salford Salford ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in Greater Manchester, England, on the western bank of the River Irwell which forms its boundary with Manchester city centre. Landmarks include the former Salford Town Hall, town hall, ...

in the 1903 Challenge Cup final, during the 1902–03 season at

Headingley Headingley is a suburb of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, approximately two miles out of the city centre, to the north west along the A660 road. Headingley is the location of the Beckett Park campus of Leeds Beckett University and Headingley ...

Leeds Leeds is a city in West Yorkshire, England. It is the largest settlement in Yorkshire and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough, which is the second most populous district in the United Kingdom. It is built aro ...

, in front of a crowd of 32,507.Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 7 – 1902–03". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a

Testimonial match

Archie Rigg's

Testimonial match A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, particularly in association football in the United Kingdom and South America, where a club has a match to honour a player for servic ...

at Halifax took place against

Huddersfield Huddersfield is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, England. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Kirklees district. The town is in the foothills of the Pennines. The River Holme's confl ...

Thrum Hall Thrum Hall was a rugby league stadium on Hanson Lane in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. It was the home of Halifax R.L.F.C., Halifax for 112 years. The site on which the ground stood is now occupied by a supermarket. History In 1878, Halifa ...

, Halifax on Saturday 23 January 1904, Halifax's first ever matchday programme was produced for the match.

Club career records

Archie Rigg made his début on Saturday 19 September 1891 under

rules, he was

's 1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season top point scorer, with 112-points, and he played for Halifax until 1906 before moving to

Bradford Bradford is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in West Yorkshire, England. It became a municipal borough in 1847, received a city charter in 1897 and, since the Local Government Act 1972, 1974 reform, the city status in the United Kingdo ...

Honoured at Halifax

Archie Rigg is a Halifax Hall Of Fame Inductee.

References

External links

Search for "Archie Rigg" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.ukSearch for "Archer Rigg" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.ukSearch for "James Archer Rigg" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.ukSearch for "James Rigg" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rigg, Archie 1870s births 1951 deaths Bradford Bulls players English rugby league players English rugby union coaches English rugby union players Great Britain national rugby league team players Halifax Panthers captains Halifax Panthers players Halifax RUFC coaches People from Sowerby Bridge Sportspeople from Calderdale Rugby league halfbacks Rugby league players from Halifax, West Yorkshire Rugby union players from Halifax, West Yorkshire Yorkshire rugby league team players Yorkshire County RFU players