Wilfred Hodder


Wilfred Hodder was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s, and rugby league administrator. He played representative level rugby union for Wales, and at club level for Talywain RFC and Pontypool RFC, as a lock, i.e. number 4 or 5, and representative level rugby league for Wales, and at club level for Wigan, as a, or, i.e. number 8 or 10, or, 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums, and he was a member of the board of directors at Wigan RLFC.

Background

Hodder was born in Abersychan, Wales, he was a miner, hotelier, served in the Royal Field Artillery in World War I, and he died aged 61 in Morecambe/Lancaster, Lancashire.

Playing career

International honours

Hodder won 6 caps for Wales in 1922–1928 while at Pontypool RFC in 1921 against England, Scotland, and France, and won caps for Wales while at Wigan, including the 34-8 victory over New Zealand at Pontypridd in 1926, and five losses to England.

Club career

Hodder was in the Wigan team that won the Challenge Cup final when it was played for the first time at the Empire Stadium, Wembley on 4 May 1929. He was one of five Welshmen in the Wigan side. He also won the League Championship in his first season, the Lancashire Cup and League in his second season, the Lancashire League again in 1923/24, the Lancashire League and League Championship in 1924/25 and the Lancashire Cup in 1928/29.

Championship Final appearances

Hodder played right-, i.e. number 10, in Wigan's 13-2 victory over Oldham in the Championship Final during the 1921–22 season at The Cliff, Broughton on Saturday 6 May 1922, and played left-, i.e. number 8, in the 22-10 victory over Warrington in the Championship Final during the 1925–26 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 8 May 1926.

County Cup Final appearances

Hodder played left-, i.e. number 8, in Wigan's 20–2 victory over Leigh in the 1922–23 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1922–23 season at The Willows, Salford on Saturday 25 November 1922, played left- in the 11-15 defeat by Swinton in the 1925–26 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1925–26 season at The Cliff, Broughton on Wednesday 9 December 1925, and played right-, i.e. number 10, in the 5-4 victory over Widnes in the 1928–29 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1928–29 season at The Willows, Salford on Saturday 24 November 1928.