Austin J. Rhodes (25 February 1937 – 12 February 2019) was an English World Cup winning professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s, and coached in the 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and at club level for St Helens (two spells), Leigh and Swinton as a goal-kicking or , and coached at club level for Swinton and Pilkington Recs.

Background

Austin Rhodes' birth was registered in St Helens, Lancashire, England, and he was a pupil at St Austin's School in Thatto Heath.

Playing career

International honours

Austin Rhodes won caps for Great Britain while at St Helens in the

1957 Rugby League World Cup The second Rugby League World Cup was held in Australia in 1957. As before a group stage was held first, with matches being held at locations in Sydney and Brisbane. The 1957 World Cup marked the 50th anniversary of rugby league in Australia bu ...

against New Zealand, in the

1960 Rugby League World Cup The 1960 Rugby League World Cup was the third staging of the tournament and the first Rugby League World Cup to be held in Great Britain. The same format as used in 1957 was used, with a group stage leading to a final table. The 1960 World Cup ...

against France (2- tries) and Australia (2- goals), and in 1961 against New Zealand.

Championship final appearances

Austin Rhodes played , and scored 10- goals in St. Helens' 44-22 victory over Hunslet in the Championship Final during the 1958–59 season at

Odsal Stadium Odsal Stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, is the home of Bradford Bulls Rugby League team. It has also been used by the Bradford Dukes speedway team, BRISCA F1 and F2 stock cars, the football team Bradford City, following the Valley ...

Bradford Bradford is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Bradford district in West Yorkshire, England. The city is in the Pennines' eastern foothills on the banks of the Bradford Beck. Bradford had a population of 349,561 at the 2011 ...

on Saturday 16 May 1959.

County league appearances

Austin Rhodes played in St. Helens' victory in the Lancashire League during the 1959–60 season and 1968–69 season.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Austin Rhodes played , and scored 2- goals in St. Helens 13-2 victory over Halifax in the

1955–56 Challenge Cup The 1955–56 Challenge Cup was the 55th staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup. First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final In the Challenge Cup tournament's final St. Helens faced Halifax ...

Final during the 1955–56 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 28 April 1956, in front of a crowd of 79,341, and played , and scored 3- goals and 2- drop goals in the 12-6 victory over Wigan in the

1960–61 Challenge Cup The 1960–61 Challenge Cup was the 60th staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup. The final was contested by St Helens and Wigan at Wembley Stadium was played on Saturday 13 May 1961, where St Helens beat Wigan ...

Final during the 1960–61 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1961, in front of a crowd of 94,672.

County Cup Final appearances

Austin Rhodes played in St. Helens' 3-10 defeat by Oldham in the

1956–57 Lancashire Cup 1956–57 was the forty-fourth occasion on which the Lancashire Cup completion had been held. Oldham won the trophy by beating St. Helens by the score of 10-3 The match was played at Central Park, Wigan, (historically in the county of Lancashir ...

Final during the 1956–57 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 20 October 1956, played , and scored 2- goals in the 4-5 defeat by Warrington in the

1959–60 Lancashire Cup The 1959–60 Lancashire Cup was the forty-seventh occasion on which the competition had been held. Warrington won the trophy by beating St. Helens by the score of 5-4. Background With again no invitation to a junior club this season, the to ...

Final during the 1959–60 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 31 October 1959, played , and scored 1- try, and 3- goals in the 15-9 victory over Swinton in the 1960–61 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 29 October 1960, played , and scored 1- try, and 5- goals in the 25-9 victory over Swinton in the

1961–62 Lancashire Cup 1961–62 was the forty-ninth occasion on which the Lancashire Cup completion had been held. St Helens R.F.C., St. Helens won the trophy by beating Swinton Lions, Swinton by the score of 25–9. The match was played at Central Park (Wigan), Cen ...

Final during the 1961–62 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 11 November 1961, played in Leigh's 4-15 defeat by St. Helens in the 1963–64 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1963–64 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 26 October 1963, and played in St. Helens' 30-2 victory over Oldham in the 1968–69 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1968–69 season at Central Park, Wigan on Friday 25 October 1968.

Tour matches

Austin Rhodes played , and scored 1- try, and 7- goals in St. Helens 44-2 victory over

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

in the 1956-57 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France during the 1956–57 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 24 November 1956, played , and scored 1- goals in St. Helens 2-15 defeat by

in the 1959-60 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France during the 1959–60 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 10 October 1959.

Genealogical information

Austin Rhodes' marriage to Marlene L. (

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

May) was registered during third ¼ 1963 in St. Helens district. They had children; Martyn J. Rhodes (birth registered during first ¼ in Prescot district), and Karen L. Rhodes (birth registered during fourth ¼ in Widnes district). Rhodes died on 12 February 2019, aged 81.

References

External links

*(archived by web.archive.org
Saints slaughter Kangaroos
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhodes, Austin 1937 births 2019 deaths English rugby league coaches English rugby league players Great Britain national rugby league team players Lancashire rugby league team players Leigh Leopards players Pilkington Recs coaches Rugby league centres Rugby league five-eighths Rugby league fullbacks Rugby league halfbacks Rugby league players from St Helens, Merseyside St Helens R.F.C. players Swinton Lions coaches Swinton Lions players