George Parsons (rugby)


George W. Parsons was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played representative level rugby union for Wales, and at club level for Abertillery RFC, Cardiff RFC, Newport RFC, and Newbridge RFC, as a lock, i.e. number 4 or 5, and representative level rugby league for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for St. Helens, Rochdale Hornets and Salford, as a, i.e. number 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums.

Playing career

International honours

George Parsons represented Wales XV while at Abertillery RFC in the 'Victory International' non-Test match between December 1945 and April 1946, won a cap for Wales while at Newport RFC in 1947 against England, won caps for Wales while at St. Helens, and Salford.
Parsons also represented Great Britain while at St. Helens in 1951 against Australasia, and between 1952 and 1956 against France.
Along with William "Billy" Banks, Edward "Ted" Cahill, Gordon Haynes, Keith Holliday, William "Billy" Ivison, Robert "Bob" Kelly, John McKeown and Edward "Ted" Slevin, Parsons' only Great Britain appearance came against France prior to 1957, these matches were not considered as Test matches by the Rugby Football League, and consequently caps were not awarded.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

George Parsons played left-, i.e. number 11, in St. Helens' 10–15 defeat by Huddersfield in the 1953 Challenge Cup Final during the 1952–53 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 25 April 1953. and played left- in the 13-2 victory over Halifax in the 1956 Challenge Cup Final during the 1955–56 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 28 April 1956, in front of a crowd of 79,341.

County Cup Final appearances

George Parsons played left-, i.e. number 11, in St. Helens' 5–22 defeat by Leigh in the 1952 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1952–53 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 29 November 1952, played left- in the 16–8 victory over Wigan in the 1953 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1953–54 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 24 October 1953, played left- in the 3–10 defeat by Oldham in the 1956 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1956–57 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 20 October 1956.

Honoured at St Helens R.F.C.

George Parsons is a St Helens R.F.C. Hall of Fame inductee.

Outside of rugby

Parsons was a senior manager at the Pilkington glass factory in St. Helens, he was also a magistrate, and a Liberal Party councillor.