Gus Risman
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Full name | Augustus John Ferdinand Risman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales | 21 March 1911||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 17 October 1994 Whitehaven, England | (aged 83)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Fullback, Centre, Stand-off | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Augustus "Gus" John Ferdinand Risman (21 March 1911 – 17 October 1994) was a Welsh professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s through to the 1950s,[1] and coached in the 1940s through to the 1970s.
A devastating three-quarter who also played at fullback, and stand-off, Risman was born in Cardiff, brought up in Barry where he went to Barry County School, and played rugby union in South Wales as a schoolboy before being offered a trial by Salford.
He made his début for Salford on 31 August 1929 and went on to enjoy great success with the club. He won 17 caps for Great Britain and finished his career at Workington Town, remarkably leading them to Rugby League Challenge Cup glory as player-coach at the age of 41 in 1952.[6] He retired as a player in 1954 after a career spanning 25 years. Risman captained the 1946 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia's "Indomitable"s side.[7]
Risman later coached
Playing career
During the period before signing for Salford, Gus Risman was also courted by association football clubs. Tottenham Hotspur offered Risman terms. However, in those days football did not have the huge initial gravitas it enjoys today. During the 1920s, signing for a rugby league club was more financially rewarding. Signing-on fees were restricted or capped in football, whereas in rugby league such fees could be a year's worth of work and playing wages combined.
Les Diables Rouges
Gus Risman was one of the players who successfully toured in France with Salford in 1934, during which the Salford team earned the name "
International honours
Gus Risman won caps for Wales while at Salford 1931...1945 18-caps, won a cap for England while at Salford in 1934 against France,[2] and won caps for Great Britain while at Salford in 1932 against Australia, New Zealand (3 matches), in 1933 against Australia (3 matches), in 1936 against Australia (2 matches), New Zealand (2 matches), in 1937 against Australia (3 matches), and in 1946 against Australia (3 matches).[3]
Wales and England
Only four rugby league footballers have played initially for Wales, and then subsequently for England, they are;
Championship final appearances
Gus Risman played
Challenge Cup Final appearances
Gus Risman played
County Cup Final appearances
About Gus Risman's time, there was Salford's 2–15 defeat by
Other notable matches
Gus Risman played centre for a Rugby League XIII against Northern Command XIII at Thrum Hall, Halifax on 21 March 1942.[11] Despite turning professional, Risman was part of the 1945 British Empire Forces rugby union team that played France, during a period when the strict guideline between amateur and professional were relaxed. Risman, playing at centre, scored two tries and three conversions in that game helping the British to a 27–6 victory.[12]
Career records
Gus Risman holds Workington Town's "Appearances in a Season" record (with 45-appearances in the
Gus Risman is one of less than ten Welshmen to have scored more than 2,000-points in their rugby league career, and is one of less than twenty Welshmen to have scored more than 200-tries in their rugby league career.[15]
Coaching
Relatives
Gus Risman was the father of the rugby league footballers Bev Risman and John Risman.
Honours
Risman Place in Workington is named after him.[16] while Risman House at Workington Academy is also named for him. In December 2020 Risman was named as one of three Welsh rugby league players to be honoured with a new statue in Cardiff Bay, the other two being Billy Boston and Clive Sullivan.[17] The statue was unveiled in July 2023.[18]
References
- ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ a b "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ISBN 978-0-7524-2693-8.
- ^ "Statistics at rugbyleague.wales". rugbyleague.wales. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ "Cup final facts". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 11 May 2004. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
- ^ Baker, Andrew (20 August 1995). "100 years of rugby league: From the great divide to the Super era". The Independent. Independent Print. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
- ^ "The story of The Original Red Devils". reds.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "1933–1934 Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "22nd October 1938: Salford 7 Wigan 10 (Lancashire Cup Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ "inside programme, Northern Command v. A Rugby League XIII, 1942". rugbyleagueoralhistory.co.uk. 31 December 2010. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ^ "France tour – Richmond, 28 April 1945: British Empire Forces 27 – 6 France". en.espn.co.uk. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
- ^ "Workington Town → Player records". sandylonning.u-net.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 8 May 2005. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Sinfield close to moving up all-time points list". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ISBN 0-9511190-3-6
- ^ "New town centre places with some famous old West Cumbrian names". timesandstar.co.uk. 24 February 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
- ^ "Boston, Risman & Sullivan to be honoured". BBC Sport. 2 December 2020.
- ^ Lloyd, Matt (19 July 2023). "Rugby trailblazers Billy Boston, Clive Sullivan and Gus Risman 'finally recognised' in Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
External links
- (archived by web.archive.org) Gus Risman at wales.rleague.com