Halifax R.L.F.C.


Halifax R.L.F.C. is a professional rugby league club in Halifax, West Yorkshire, which formed in 1873. Halifax were one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895. They have been Rugby League Champions four times and have won the Challenge Cup five times. They were known as the Halifax Blue Sox between 1996 and 2002.
They have rivalries with neighbours Bradford and Huddersfield and with fellow Championship side Featherstone Rovers.
Known as 'Fax', the club colours are blue and white hoops, white shorts and blue and white socks. They share the Shay stadium with the town's football club, Halifax Town.

History

1873–1939: Early years

The club was founded as Halifax in 1873. After winning the first Yorkshire Cup in 1878, they went on to win it on another four occasions. Several players were picked for the Yorkshire County side in these years, and five were for the England rugby union team. In 1886, the club moved to Thrum Hall, which would be their home ground for the next 112 years. The first game there was played on 18 September 1886 against Hull F.C. and drew 8,000 spectators.
After the 1890-91 season, Halifax along with other Yorkshire Senior clubs Batley, Bradford, Brighouse, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Hull, Hunslet, Leeds, Liversedge, Manningham and Wakefield decided that they wanted their own county league starting in 1891 along the lines of a similar competition that had been played in Lancashire. The clubs wanted full control of the league but the Yorkshire Rugby Football Union would not sanction the competition as it meant giving up control of rugby football to the senior clubs.
Halifax were founding members of the breakaway Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895. In 1896, Halifax lost out on winning the first ever Rugby Football League Championship by a single point, with Manningham becoming the inaugural champions. In 1902–03, they achieved the 'double' by winning the Challenge Cup and finishing top of Division One. They won the cup again the following season, and were the first ever Championship play-off winners in 1906–07.
Halifax won their first Wembley Challenge Cup final in 1931, beating York F.C. 22–8. An estimated 100,000 people lined the route to a civic reception at the town hall.
Towards the end of the 1937 season, Streatham and Mitcham folded after just one full season in the league. The club had made a number of high-profile signings from the New Zealand All Blacks, including George Nepia and Charles Smith, and these players now joined Halifax.
In 1938, Halifax reached the semi-final of the Challenge Cup, after winning three replays in a row, before they were knocked out by Barrow at Fartown, Huddersfield in the dying seconds of the game.
In 1939, Halifax became the last team to win the Challenge Cup final before the war. Favourites Salford were beaten 20–3 in front of a record 55,453 spectators.

Post-Second World War

In 1947 Halifax's Hudson Irving died from a heart attack while playing at Dewsbury.
In 1949, Halifax's David Craven died after breaking his neck playing against Workington Town.
The 1949 Challenge Cup final was sold out for first time as 95,050 spectators saw Bradford Northern beat Halifax.
In the 1950s, Halifax were Championship runners-up three times, beat Hull F.C. in Yorkshire Cup finals in 1954 and 1955, and were Yorkshire League winners in 1950, 1953, 1954 and 1956. Halifax were unbeaten at their home ground of Thrum Hall between December 1952 and November 1956. They played in a Wembley final of the 1953–54 Challenge Cup, featuring in the first ever drawn final against Warrington in 1954, losing in the replay at Odsal Stadium, Bradford in front of what was then a world record rugby league crowd officially given as 102,569, although estimates suggest another 20,000 plus entered unofficially.
After securing a Yorkshire league and cup double in 1955–56, the club was in sight of winning "All Four Cups". Wembley was reached after an 11–10 Challenge Cup semi-final victory over Wigan at Odsal and Halifax beat St. Helens 23–8 in the Championship semi-final. However, St Helens ran out 13–2 winners in the Challenge Cup and a week later, Halifax lost in the Championship match against Hull at Maine Road, Manchester, a last minute penalty goal securing a 10–9 victory for Hull.
In 1959, Halifax hosted Wigan before a club record 29,153 people in the third round of the Challenge Cup.
Halifax won their third Championship in 1964-65 after finishing 7th in the league table and progressing through the new 16-team play-offs. They became Champions by beating St Helens 15-7 in the Championship Final held at Station Road, Swinton. Terry Fogerty of Halifax was awarded the Harry Sunderland Trophy for man-of-the-match.
In 1965-66 Halifax again reached the Championship Final through the play-offs, after finishing 10th in the league table. Their opponents were again St Helens who this time ran out comfortable winners by 35-12.

1960–1996: Financial difficulties

Halifax was hit hard by the financial situation of the late 1960s, and 1970s. Fortunes on the pitch suffered as the shortfall was met by selling players. In 1970, a concert was held at Thrum Hall in an attempt to alleviate these financial troubles. Horrific weather conditions meant that only around 3,000 arrived to watch the Halifax Pop and Blues Concert which made a loss of £6,000.
Despite victory in the inaugural Regal Trophy Final in 1971–72, financial problems continued for the next decade. In 1983, local businessman, David Brook provided much needed investment in the club.
Chris Anderson was player-coach of Halifax from November 1984 to May 1987 when he retired from playing to be coach in 1987–88. He brought over Australian internationals such as Graham Eadie and Chris Anderson. The team climbed out of the Second Division, won the League Championship in 1985–86, the 1986–87 Challenge Cup against St. Helens and made a second successive appearance in the Challenge Cup final in 1988 when they lost to Wigan. Despite this on-field success, Halifax were banned from signing new players by the RFL after complaints of non-payments in November 1988.
In 1989, John Dorahy took up a position as captain-coach of Halifax for the 1989–90 season. Halifax players threatened strike action over unpaid wages in April 1990. The club sold Neil James for £20,000 to pay wages but were still in financial trouble including an unpaid tax bill of £70,000. Halifax went into the hands of receivers, £760,000 in debt, a take-over bid having failed after the players refused to take a pay cut. The club was re-formed and the assets were purchased by the Marsland/Gartland consortium of local businessmen.
Peter Roe was appointed as head coach at Halifax for season 1990–91 when they achieved promotion along with Salford who were their opponents in the Divisional Final at Old Trafford. The club's record victory was set in October 1990 with an 82–8 win over Runcorn Highfield at Thrum Hall. Roe was removed from office 24-hours later when he refused to re-apply for his own job. The Halifax board stated that he did not have the required experience for a club in the top division.
Roger Millward took the coaching job at Halifax, but was only there 17 months before resigning. Mal Reilly became the coach in 1992. In August 1993, in financial trouble again, Halifax put seven players on the transfer list for a total of £170,000.

1996–2002: Summer era

In 1996, the first tier of British rugby league clubs played the inaugural Super League season and changed from a winter to a summer season. In the lead-up, the Halifax President, Tony Gartland, and former Chairman, Peter Marsland, left the board over plans to merge with rivals Bradford Northern and join the proposed Super League as single club.
Halifax joined the Super League in 1996, the local newspaper did a poll of suggested nicknames for the club with Halifax Bombers topping the list. But the Board upon the recommendation of Chief executive Nigel Wood chose Halifax Blue Sox. However, this proved to be unpopular with most supporters who continued to refer to them as 'Fax'. Halifax finished third in Super League in 1998 under John Pendlebury.
Halifax sold Thrum Hall for £1.5 million to Asda for a supermarket development in 1998, and moved across town to their present home, the Shay stadium, which they share with the town's football club Halifax Town. The proceeds from the sale were supposed to enable Halifax RLFC to make a contribution to the costs of a redevelopment of the Shay stadium, but the money was swallowed up by debts.
Under Chief Executive Nigel Wood, Halifax went to Jacksonville University, Florida, in 2000 to help develop American rugby league, along with Salford.
Steve Linnane joined the club as assistant coach from Rochdale Hornets and took full charge after Gary Mercer's resignation. With the club threatened again by financial problems and the danger of relegation Halifax sacked coach Steve Linnane in August 2002, the morning after a 64–0 loss to St. Helens, which came after nine losses from ten games which put the club at risk of relegation. Replacement Tony Anderson signed a deal that covered the four remaining matches of this season.

2003–2008: Relegation and financial difficulties

The club returned to their traditional Halifax RLFC name at the start of 2003. At the end of the 2003 season they were relegated from Super League to National League One. Halifax's financial troubles meant they were unable to retain a full-time team and they struggled in the new league. In 2004 having been saved from insolvency by their new chairman Howard Posner they narrowly avoided a second relegation to National League 2, with a last-gasp victory in a play-off with York City Knights.
Anthony Farrell was asked to become temporary coach until the end of the year following the sacking of Tony Anderson. After saving the club from relegation the following season and taking the club within a whisker of a place in the grand final, they lost out to Castleford. The year after was less successful and after a poor series of results including a club record loss to Hull Kingston Rovers, Farrell lost his job. Martin Hall took over the role of head coach in June 2006.
In August 2006, Halifax was on the verge of going bust. The club announced that it needed to raise £90,000 or it would go into liquidation. Rugby league fans nationwide rallied behind 'Fax', and through visits to the ground during home fixtures and other fund-raising events, were able to raise £55,000. Howard Posner then came forward and announced that he would loan the club the remaining £35,000 in order to keep Halifax alive, repayment of the loan was waived. Posner and the new Board of Directors subsequently invested further sums to ensure the club could survive and that Halifax would be playing in National League One during 2007. Howard Posner, again became club Chairman and Martin Hall took up the post of director of football in October 2006. Assistant coach Matt Calland was then named the new head coach of Halifax.

2009–Present: Rebuilding and Championship Success

In the 2009 Challenge Cup Halifax came within moments of reaching the quarter-finals, losing by one point in extra time to Castleford. They also lost the final of the Co-Operative Championship to Barrow 26 -18. Barrow were later stripped of the title due to salary cap breaches. In April 2010, with the club on a sound financial footing, Howard Posner stepped down as chairman and was replaced by long time supporter and director Michael Steele.
In 2010, Halifax won the Co-Operative Championship, beating Featherstone Rovers 23–22 in the final after extra time. It was the first trophy Halifax had won in 23 years.
In 2011, Halifax reached the Northern Rail Cup Final at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool, losing narrowly to Leigh in the last minute. They were also unable to defend their Championship title, losing heavily to Sheffield Eagles in the play-offs. Karl Harrison took over as head coach at the end of the season.
The following season, Halifax made it to the final of the Northern Rail Cup but this time were victorious over favourites Featherstone Rovers beating them 21–12 in a match watched by over 7,000 spectators.
In 2015 Halifax finished the regular season in the top four of the Championship, earning them a place in the Qualifiers. Despite being the lowest ranked team in the competition, and part time, they beat promotion favourites Leigh and Sheffield Eagles to finish 6th out of 8, and secured improved central funding for 2016.
After a disappointing 6th place finish in 2016, the club again reached the qualifies in 2017 and 2018 finishing 3rd and 4th respectively. This made the club the most successful part-time team in the RFL. Long serving director and chairman Michael Steele stepped down from the Board at the end of 2017.

Kit manufacturers and sponsors

Stadiums

1886–1998: Thrum Hall

Shortly after they were founded in 1873, Halifax bought some land in Halifax from a farmer with the aim to build a multipurpose sports venue. Thrum Hall hosted rugby league finals and test matches as well as speedway. Halifax played at Thrum Hall for 112 years until they sold the land for £1.5 million to ASDA to move to a new stadium in the Super League era.
Thrum Hall was notable for its distinctive slope. As it was built on the side of a hill, the ground had a 4 yard slope from the main grandstand side to the outer wing.
Thrum Hall had a spectator capacity of 9,832 when it closed as a sports venue.

1999–Present: The MBi Shay

Halifax first played at the Shay in the 1998 Super League season and ground shared with association football team Halifax Town. The Shay has a current capacity of 14,061.
The Shay hosted games during the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

Colours and badge

Colours

Halifax have traditionally played in blue and white. Their home jersey is blue and hoops and their away colours have been in recent seasons a combination of red, black and white, replacing their traditional red and white hoops.

Badge

Since its formation in 1873, Halifax used the town's coat of arms as a crest as many other clubs did until the advent of Super League, Halifax and many other clubs, changed their names and badge thus becoming known as the Halifax Blue Soxs from the 1996 season. This however was unpopular with fans and the name was reverted to 'Halifax' and the town coat of arms was reintroduced with Halifax under it.

Ownership and present board of directors

The club is registered as a company Halifax RLFC Ltd
377,706 ordinary shares of the club have been issued. These are registered @ 1 November 2018 to
SharesOwner
160,000Michael Alan Steele
75,000Tony Ray Abbott
46,000Ian Peter Croad
40,000Howard Michael Posner
30,000Michael John Riley
10,000Laurence Turner
10,000Andrew John Binns
4,625Robert Sweeney
2,080Peter McNamara
1Halifax Rugby League Football Club Limited

The present Board of Directors are David Charles Grayson, Laurence Turner, and Gary William Bray.

2020 squad

2020 transfers

Gains
PlayerClubContractDate
Paul BrearleyBatley BulldogsN/ASeptember 2019
Keegan HirstWakefield Trinity2 yearsSeptember 2019
Matt GarsideBradford BullsN/ASeptember 2019
Jodie BroughtonCatalans DragonsN/ASeptember 2019
Tom GilmoreWidnes VikingsN/ASeptember 2019
Scott GrixHuddersfield GiantsN/AOctober 2019

Losses
PlayerClubContractDate
Chester ButlerHuddersfield Giants3 yearsAugust 2019
Ben KayeReleasedN/ASeptember 2019
Shane GradyWidnes Vikings2 yearsSeptember 2019
Ben JohnstonYork City KnightsN/AOctober 2019
Will SharpYork City KnightsN/AOctober 2019
Adam BrookOldham R.L.F.C.1 yearNovember 2019
Jordan SymeRochdale Hornets1 yearNovember 2019
Harry KiddHunslet1 yearJanuary 2020

Staff

Coaching team

Youth and community development

Activities:
Blue Base Study Support Centre was a community sporting initiative sponsored by Halifax, and part of the national Playing For Success educational scheme launched for school pupils to interact with professional sports teams, to help provide motivation to young people. Locally, Blue Base was working with an initiative established by the DfES, in partnership with Calderdale Children and Young People's Services and Halifax. The funding ceased in March 2011, when the Blue Base Centre closed.
The centre existed to support Calderdale schools in their drive to raise attainment levels with their pupils. This is achieved by developing young peoples' levels of motivation, self-esteem and helping them to have a more positive attitude towards learning by concentrating particularly upon literacy, numeracy and the use of ICT.
Retired player, Frank Watene, leads Calderdale Community Coaching Trust which is the club's Foundation providing a wide range of educational programmes designed to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles amongst people of all ages in the Calderdale area. Activities include Touch Rugby League, healthy heart circuit training and an 'Over 50s Club which plays Kurling at the Shay stadium.

Mascots

Original Mascot: Smut the Cat
Recent Mascots: Billy & Bluey, Fat Cat, Bruno the Bear.
Present Mascots: Halicat.

Honours

Major titles
CompetitionWinsYears won
RFL Championship / Super League41902–03, 1906–07, 1964–65, 1985–86
Challenge Cup51902–03, 1903–04, 1930–31, 1938–39, 1986–87

Other titles
CompetitionWinsYears won
League Cup11971–72
RFL Yorkshire League61908–09, 1920–21, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1955–56, 1957–58
RFL Yorkshire Cup51908–09, 1944–45, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1963–64
RFU Yorkshire Cup51878, 1886, 1888, 1893, 1894
Charity Shield11986–87
Championship Cup1'''2012

Past coaches

  • Ken Roberts 1982
  • Colin Dixon 1982–84
  • Chris Anderson 1984–88
  • Ross Strudwick 1988–89
  • John Dorahy 1989–90
  • Peter Roe 1991–92
  • Roger Millward 1992
  • Mal Reilly 1993–94
  • Steve Simms 1994–96
  • John Pendlebury 1997–98
  • Gary Mercer 1999-00
  • Steve Linnane 2001
  • Tony Anderson
  • Anthony Farrell 2006
  • Martin Hall 2006
  • Matt Calland 2008–11
  • Richard Marshall 2015-19

    All-time statistics

Match

Season

Career

Halifax appearances

Representative appearances

Highest score

Biggest loss

Record crowd

  • Thrum Hall: 29,153 vs Wigan, 21 March 1959
  • The Shay: 9,827 vs Bradford Bulls, 12 March 2000
  • All-time: 102,569 vs Warrington, 5 May 1954 at Odsal Stadium – 1954 Challenge Cup Final Replay
  • vs International touring team: 18,773 vs Australia, 20 September 1952 – 1952–53 Kangaroo Tour
All club statistics are courtesy of Andrew Hardcastle

Players earning international caps while at Halifax

  • Alvin Ackerley won caps for England while at Halifax 1952 Other Nationalities, Wales, 1953 France, Wales, and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax 1952 Australia, 1958 New Zealand
  • Albert Akroyd won caps for England while at Halifax 1921 Wales
  • Asa Amone won caps for Tonga while at Halifax 1995 ?-caps
  • Albert Atkinson won caps for England while at Halifax 1930 Other Nationalities
  • Simon Baldwin won caps for England while at Halifax 1995 Wales, France
  • Ike Bartle won caps for England while at Halifax 1906 Other Nationalities
  • Arthur Bassett won caps for Wales while at Halifax 1939…1946 3-caps, and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax in 1946 against Australia
  • David Bates won caps for Ireland while at Gateshead Thunder, Halifax and York City Knights 2003…2006 3-caps + 3-caps
  • Jack Beames won a cap for Other Nationalities while at Halifax, won caps for Wales while at Halifax 1914…1921 2-caps, and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax in 1921 against Australia
  • Nat Bentham won caps for England while at Wigan Highfield 1928 Wales, while at Halifax: 1929 Other Nationalities, while at Warrington 1930 Other Nationalities, and won caps for Great Britain while at Wigan Highfield 1928 Australia, New Zealand, while at Halifax: 1929–30 Australia, while at Warrington: Australia
  • John Bentley won caps for England while at Halifax 1995 France, Australia, Fiji, South Africa, 1996 Wales, and won caps for Great Britain while at Leeds 1992 France, Halifax 1994 France
  • Dai Royston Bevan won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax ?-caps
  • Harry Beverley won caps for England while at Hunslet 1935 Wales, 1936 France, 1937 France, 1938 Wales, France, and won caps for Great Britain while at Hunslet 1936 Australia, 1937 Australia, Halifax 1937 Australia
  • Anthony Blackwood won caps for Wales while at Halifax, and Celtic Crusaders 2005…present 7-caps 3-tries 12-points
  • Billy Bulmer won caps for England while at Halifax 1904 Other Nationalities
  • Oliver Burgham won caps for Wales while at Ebbw Vale in 1908 against New Zealand, and England, and won a cap for Great Britain while at Halifax in 1911 against Australia
  • Phil Cantillon won caps for and captained ‘’Ireland’’ while at Halifax 2003-2006
  • Gavin Clinch won caps for Ireland while at Huddersfield-Sheffield Giants, and Halifax 2000…2001 1-cap + 1-cap
  • Mike Condon won caps for Wales while at Halifax 1952…1953 3-caps
  • Terry Cook won caps for Wales while at Halifax 1951…1953 4-caps
  • Arthur Daniels won caps for Wales while at Halifax 1949…1953 13-caps, and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax 1952…1955 3-caps
  • Ivor Davies? won caps for Wales while at Halifax, and represented Great Britain while at Halifax
  • Will Davies, Will T. Davies won caps for Wales while at Batley and Halifax 1909…1912 4-caps, and won a cap for Great Britain while at Halifax in 1911 against Australia
  • Ken Dean won caps for England while at Halifax 1951 Other Nationalities, 1952 Other Nationalities
  • Colin Dixon won caps for Wales while at Halifax, Salford and Hull Kingston Rovers 1963…1981 16-caps, and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax, Salford and Hull Kingston Rovers 1968…1981 14-caps
  • Percy Eccles won caps for England while at Halifax 1908 New Zealand, and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax 1908 New Zealand
  • Arthur 'Candy' Evans won caps for Wales while at Halifax, Leeds, Castleford, and Warrington 1928…1933 4-caps
  • Fred Firth, won caps for England while at Halifax in 1894 against Wales, Ireland, and Scotland
  • Ben Fisher won caps for Scotland while at Halifax, and Hull Kingston Rovers 2005…present 6-caps + 1-cap
  • Terry Fogerty represented Commonwealth XIII while at Halifax in 1965 against New Zealand at Crystal Palace National Recreation Centre, London on Wednesday 18 August 1965, and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax in 1966 against New Zealand, while at Wigan in 1967 against France, and while at Rochdale in 1974 against France
  • Damian Gibson won caps for Wales while at Halifax, Salford, and Castleford 1999…present 16-caps + 2-caps 8-tries 32-points
  • Tony Halmshaw won a cap for Great Britain while at Halifax in 1971 against New Zealand
  • Karl Harrison won caps for England while at Halifax 1995 Wales, Australia, South Africa, Wales, 1996 France, and won caps for Great Britain while at Hull F.C. 1990 Australia, while at Halifax 1991 Papua New Guinea, 1992 Australia , New Zealand, New Zealand, 1993 France, New Zealand, 1994 Australia
  • James "Jimmy" Hilton won caps for England while at Halifax 1908 Wales, 1912 Wales
  • Hudson Irving won caps for England while at Halifax 1938 Wales, 1940 Wales, 1941 Wales, 1943 Wales
  • Michael Jackson won caps for Great Britain while at Wakefield Trinity 1991 Papua New Guinea, 1992 France, Australia, New Zealand, while at Halifax 1993 New Zealand
  • Walter Jesse Jackson, won caps for England while at Halifax in 1894 against Scotland
  • Neil James won a cap for Great Britain while at Halifax in 1986 against France
  • David Jones won caps for Wales while at Halifax 1968…1969 2-caps
  • Phil Joseph won caps for Wales while at Hull Kingston Rovers and Halifax 2005…2007 7-caps 1-try 4-points
  • Martin Ketteridge won caps for Scotland while at Halifax 1996 3-caps + 1-cap
  • Stanley "Stan" Kielty won caps for England while at Halifax 1953 Wales, France, Other Nationalities
  • George Langhorn won caps for England while at Halifax 1905 Other Nationalities
  • Jason Lee won caps for Wales while at Warrington, Keighley and Halifax 1994…2001 5-caps + 2-caps 2-tries 8-points
  • William "Billy" B. Little won caps for England while at Halifax 1904 Other Nationalities
  • "Bobby"/"Robbie" Lloyd won 7-caps for Wales while at Pontypool RFC, won a cap for Wales while at Halifax in 1921, and won a cap for Great Britain while at Halifax in 1920 against Australia
  • Tommy Lynch won caps for Other Nationalities while at Halifax.
  • Melvyn "Mel" Meek won caps for Wales while at Halifax 1935…1949 14-caps
  • Alf Milnes won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax in 1920 against Australia
  • Paul Moriarty won caps for Wales while at Widnes, Halifax, South Wales, and unattached 1991…2000 15-caps + 1-cap
  • Chris Morley won caps for Wales while at St. Helens in 1996 against France, and England, while at Salford in 1999 against Ireland and Scotland, while at Sheffield Eagles in 2000 against South Africa, while at Leigh in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup against Lebanon, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Australia, while at Oldham in 2001 against England, while at Halifax in 2003 against Russia, and Australia, while at Swinton in 2006 against Scotland, 1996…2006 13-caps + 4-caps 1-try 4-points
  • Johnny Morley won caps for England while at Halifax 1904 Other Nationalities
  • Walter Morton won caps for England while at Halifax 1905 Other Nationalities
  • Andrew Murdison won cap for Other Nationalities while at Halifax
  • Garfield Owen a won cap for Wales while at Halifax 1959 1-cap
  • Sean Penkywicz won caps for Wales while at Halifax 2007…present 1-cap + 3-caps 1-try 4-points
  • Mark Perrett won caps for Wales while at Halifax 1994…1996 9-caps
  • Daio Powell won caps for Wales while at Halifax?/Bradford Northern? 1994 1-caps + 2-caps 2-tries 8-points
  • Stuart Prosser won a cap for Great Britain while at Halifax in 1914 against Australia
  • Dai Rees won a cap for Other Nationalities while at Halifax, won caps for Wales while at Halifax 1921…32 6-caps, and won a cap for Great Britain while at Halifax in 1926 against New Zealand
  • Charlie Renilson won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax 1965 New Zealand, 1967 Australia, 1968 France, Australia, France, New Zealand, France
  • Jack Riley won caps for England while at Halifax 1904 Other Nationalities
  • Joe Riley won caps for England while at Halifax 1910 Wales, 1911 Australia, and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax 1910 Australia
  • Ken Roberts won caps for Great Britain whilst at Halifax 1963 Australia, 1964 against France, in 1965 against France, and New Zealand, and in 1966 against France, and New Zealand
  • Mark Roberts won a cap for Wales while at Halifax 2007 1-cap
  • Asa Robinson won caps for England while at Halifax 1908 Wales, New Zealand, 1909 Australia, and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax 1908 New Zealand, 1908–09 Australia
  • Paul Rowley won caps for England while at Halifax 1996 France, 2000 Australia, Russia, Ireland
  • Derrick Schofield won caps for England while at Rochdale Hornets 1952 Wales, 1953 France, and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax 1955 New Zealand
  • John Schuster won caps for Western Samoa while at Halifax 1995 ?-caps
  • S. John "Joby" Shaw won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax 1960 France, Australia, France, 1961 France, 1962 New Zealand
  • Matthew Silva won a cap for Wales while at Halifax 1991 1-cap
  • George Slicker won a cap for Ireland while at Halifax 1995 1-cap + 1-cap
  • Herbert Smith won caps for England while at Halifax 1927 Wales, and won caps for Great Britain while at Bradford 1926–27 New Zealand
  • Cyril Stacey won a cap for Great Britain while at Halifax in 1920 against New Zealand
  • Dai Thomas won caps for Wales while at Halifax 1908, against England in 1908 3-caps
  • George Thomson, won caps for England while at Halifax in 1878 against Scotland, in 1882 against Ireland, Scotland and Wales, in 1883 against Ireland, and Scotland, in 1884 against Ireland and Scotland, and in 1885 against Ireland
  • John Thorley won caps for Other Nationalities while at Halifax circa-1952…60 2-caps, won caps for Wales while at Halifax 1953…1959 3-caps, and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax in the 1954 Rugby League World Cup against Australia, France, New Zealand, and France, and also represented Great Britain while at Halifax between 1952 and 1956 against France
  • Frank Todd won caps for England while at Halifax 1921 Australia, 1923 Wales, 1924 Other Nationalities
  • Ernest Ward won caps for England while at Halifax 1909 Australia
  • Les White won caps for England while at York 1946 France, Wales, 1947 France, Wales, while at Wigan 1947 Wales, 1948 France, while at Halifax 1951 Wales, and won caps for Great Britain while at York 1946 Australia, New Zealand, while at Wigan 1947 New Zealand
  • Jack Wilkinson won caps for England while at Halifax 1953 Other Nationalities, 1955 Other Nationalities, and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax 1954 Australia, New Zealand, 1955 New Zealand, Wakefield Trinity 1959 Australia, 1960 France, New Zealand, France, Australia, 1962 New Zealand
  • Harry Wilkinson, won a cap for England while at Halifax in 1889 against New Zealand Natives
  • Frank Williams won a cap for Wales while at Halifax in 1914, and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax in 1914 against Australia
  • William Williams won caps for Wales while at Halifax 1908…10 4-caps
  • David Willicombe won caps for Wales while at Halifax in 1970 against England, while at Wigan in 1975 against France, and England, in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup against France, England, Australia, New Zealand, New Zealand and France, and in 1978 against France, England and Australia, and won caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1974 against France, and New Zealand
  • Albert Wood, won a cap for England while at Halifax in 1884 against Ireland

    Halifax RLFC Hall of Fame

  • George Thomson Forward 1875–85
  • Jimmy Dodd Centre 1876–93
  • Archie Rigg Half-Back 1891–1915
  • George Langhorn Forward 1897–1913;
  • Joe Riley Centre 1901–15
  • Billy Little Full-Back 1901–10
  • Asa Robinson Forward 1904–23
  • Jack Beames Forward 1913–22
  • Cyril Stacey Three-Quarter 1915–29
  • Frank Todd Stand-Off 1916–28
  • Dai Rees Forward 1921–32
  • Hudson Irving Forward 1933–47
  • Hubert Lockwood Full-Back 1934–46 Rugby League XIII 1942
  • Charles Smith Centre 1936–48
  • Harry Beverley Loose Forward 1937–41
  • Arthur Bassett Winger 1939–48
  • Arthur Daniels Winger 1945–57
  • Stan Kielty Scrum-Half 1946–58
  • Ken Dean Stand-Off 1948–60
  • Jack Wilkinson Prop 1948–59
  • Alvin Ackerley Hooker 1948–58
  • Albert Fearnley Second Row 1950–56
  • Tommy Lynch Centre 1951–56
  • John Thorley Prop 1952–60
  • John Burnett Centre 1953–67
  • Johnny Freeman Winger 1954–67
  • Alan Kellett Scrum-Half 1954
  • Garfield Owen Full-Back 1956–61
  • Charlie Renilson Loose Forward 1957–69
  • Jack Scroby Prop 1959–70
  • Terry Fogerty Second Row 1961–73
  • Ronnie James Full-Back 1961–72
  • Colin Dixon Centre 1961–68
  • Ken Roberts Prop 1963–67
  • Gordon Baker Scrum-Half 1964–82
  • Mick Scott Second Row 1974–91
  • Chris Anderson Stand-Off 1984–87
  • John A Martin Second-Row 1967–1980

    Other notable players

These players have either; played in a Challenge Cup, Rugby Football League Championship, Yorkshire County Cup, or Yorkshire League Final, played during Super League -to- Super League VIII, have received a Testimonial match, were international representatives before, or after, their time at Halifax, or are notable outside of rugby league.