William Bischoff Jr. (12 March 1938 – 6 June 2023) was an Australian professional

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played for

Balmain Balmain may refer to: Places * Balmain, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia * Electoral district of Balmain, an electoral division in New South Wales, Australia * Balmain East, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia * Balmain Hou ...

in the

New South Wales Rugby League The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory and is a member of the Australian Rugby League Commission. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was ...

(NSWRL) competition. His father,

Billy Bischoff William James Bischoff (1912–1988) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s. Playing career Billy 'Bok' Bischoff was a five-eighth for Balmain between 1937 and 1940. He won a premiership with Balmain, ...

also played for Balmain and was a member of the 1939 premiership winning team.

Playing career

Bischoff made his first grade debut for Balmain in 1957. In 1958, Bischoff played at five-eighth in the club's preliminary final loss scoring a try against

St George Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldier ...

. In 1961, Bischoff was selected to play for New South Wales against Queensland and featured in one game. At club level, Balmain reached the preliminary final against Western Suburbs but were defeated 8-5 with Bischoff playing at centre. In 1962, Bischoff was selected to play for NSW City. In 1963, Balmain reached the semi-final but were defeated by

Parramatta Parramatta () is a suburb and major Central business district, commercial centre in Greater Western Sydney, located in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately west of the Sydney central business district on the ban ...

. The following season in 1964, Balmain reached the grand final after defeating North Sydney and Parramatta. Bischoff played at halfback in the final as Balmain took a shock halftime lead over St George before Saints came back in the second half to win 11-6 at the

Sydney Cricket Ground The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is a sports stadium in Sydney, Australia. It is used for Test, One Day International and Twenty20 cricket, as well as, Australian rules football and occasionally for rugby league, rugby union and association fo ...

. Bischoff left Balmain at the end of 1965 having played 151 games for the club. In 1966, Bischoff joined West Tamworth in the New South Wales country competition as captain-coach. He was selected in 1967 and 1968 for the NSW Country side. Bischoff retired from playing at the end of 1968. He would go on to coach the Werris Creek Magpies RLFC to a Group 4 first-division Premiership in 1979 and help break a 27-year premiership drought.

Death

Bischoff died in June 2023, at the age of 85.Vale , Billy Bischoff Jr
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bischoff Jr., Billy 1938 births 2023 deaths Australian rugby league players Balmain Tigers players Country New South Wales Origin rugby league team players New South Wales City Origin rugby league team players New South Wales rugby league team players Place of death missing Rugby league centres Rugby league five-eighths Rugby league halfbacks Rugby league players from Sydney 20th-century Australian sportsmen