John Atkinson (rugby league)


John Atkinson was an English rugby union and World Cup winning professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and coached in the 1980s.
He played club level rugby union for Roundhay RUFC, representative level rugby league for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Leeds and Carlisle, as a, i.e. number 5.
Atkinson played in four Rugby League World Cups, scoring six tries in total.

Background

John Atkinson was born Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, and he died aged 71.

Playing career

Championship Final appearances

John Atkinson, played, and scored the match-winning try in Leeds' 16-14 victory over against Castleford in the Championship Final at Odsal, Bradford, on Saturday 24 May 1969, and he scored a try in the 9-5 victory over St. Helens in the 1972 Championship Final at Station Road, Swinton, on Saturday 20 May 1972.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

John Atkinson played in Leeds' 11–10 victory over Wakefield Trinity in the 1968 Challenge Cup "Watersplash" Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1968, in front of a crowd of 87,100, played in the 7–24 defeat by Leigh in the 1971 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley on Saturday 15 May 1971, in front of a crowd of 85,514, played in the 16–13 defeat by St. Helens in the 1972 Challenge Cup Final on Saturday 13 May 1972, in front of a crowd of 89,495, played and scored a try in the 16–7 victory over Widnes in the 1977 Challenge Cup Final on Saturday 7 May 1977, in front of a crowd of 80,871, and played, and scored a try, in the 14–12 victory over St. Helens in the 1978 Challenge Cup Final on Saturday 13 May 1978, in front of a crowd of 96,000.

County Cup Final appearances

John Atkinson played and scored a try in Leeds' 22–11 victory over Castleford in the 1968 Yorkshire Cup Final at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 19 October 1968, played,and scored a try in the 23–7 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1970 Yorkshire Cup Final at Odsal, Bradford on Saturday 21 November 1970, played, and scored a try in the 36–9 victory over Dewsbury in the 1972 Yorkshire Cup Final at Odsal Stadium on Saturday 7 October 1972, played in the 7–2 victory over Wakefield Trinity in the 1973 Yorkshire Cup Final at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 20 October 1973, played in the 15-11 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1975 Yorkshire Cup Final at Headingley on Saturday 15 November 1975, played in the 15–6 victory over Halifax in the 1979 Yorkshire Cup Final at Headingley on Saturday 27 October 1979, and played, or according to Rothmans Yearbooks 1990-91 and 1991–92, in the 8–7 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1980 Yorkshire Cup Final at Fartown, Huddersfield on Saturday 8 November 1980.

BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances

John Atkinson played in Leeds 9–5 victory over St. Helens in the 1970 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at Headingley on Tuesday 15 December 1970.

Player's No.6 Trophy Final appearances

John Atkinson played and scored two tries in Leeds' 12–7 victory over Salford in the 1972–73 Player's No.6 Trophy Final at Fartown on Saturday 24 March 1973.

Testimonial match

John Atkinson's testimonial match at Leeds took place in 1976.

Club career

John Atkinson began his playing career with Leeds in 1966 after signing from Roundhay Rugby Union Club, and finally left to become player-coach of Carlisle in 1983. He amassed a total of 401 tries during his career, of which 340 were scored for Leeds.

Open Rugby inaugural World XIII

The Open Rugby inaugural World XIII was revealed in June 1978, it was; Graham Eadie, John Atkinson, Steve Rogers, Jean-Marc Bourret, Green Vigo, Roger Millward, Steve Nash, Jim Mills, Keith Elwell, Steve Pitchford, Terry Randall, George Nicholls and Greg Pierce.