Ian Walsh (rugby league)

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Ian Walsh
Personal information
Born(1933-03-20)20 March 1933
Bogan Gate, New South Wales, Australia
Died4 April 2013(2013-04-04) (aged 80)
Forbes, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
PositionHooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1950–51 Condobolin
1952–53 Parkes
1954–55 Forbes
1956–61 Eugowra
1962–67
St George
94 4 0 0 12
Total 94 4 0 0 12
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1951 Western Districts 1 0 0 0 0
1958–61 Country Firsts 1 0 0 0 0
1962–66 City Firsts 4 0 0 0 0
1959–66 New South Wales 4 0 0 0 0
1959–66
Australia
25 2 1 0 8
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1966–67
St George
44 31 11 2 70
1971–72 Parramatta 45 16 2 27 36
Total 89 47 13 29 53
Representative
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1965–66 City Firsts 2 2 0 0 100
1965 New South Wales 1 1 0 0 100
1965–66
Australia
5 3 0 2 60
Source: [1]
As of 10 January 2016

Ian John Walsh (20 March 1933 – 4 April 2013) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer and coach. He was a hooker with the St. George Dragons from 1962 to 1967 and played in the last five of the Dragons' historic 11 consecutive premiership winning teams. He captained St. George in the last of its 11 successive Grand Final wins in 1966 and led The Saints again when their premiership winning streak ended in 1967.[2] He was a representative for Australia and captained them in 10 Test matches from 1963 to 1966.

Biography

Born on 20 March 1933 in Bogan Gate near

Kangaroo tour. He played in all six Tests
and in 17 minor tour matches.

St. George Dragons

Walsh joined

Ashes series victory and his club to a premiership. He played a total of twenty-five tests for Australia from 1959 to 1966.[3] The Dragons' star players were growing old, the young and brutal South Sydney Rabbitohs were looming as title contenders and the inevitable end to the run had to be approaching.[4] Nevertheless, Walsh was able to lead the Dragons against the Balmain Tigers
to their 11th straight victory and the end of their run.

Post playing and accolades

After retiring as a player Walsh coached the Parramatta Eels to the semi-finals of the 1971 NSWRFL season before becoming a successful columnist with the Daily Telegraph for over 20 years and a Country and State selector. He worked in sales in the printing industry in Sydney.

In February 2008, Walsh was named in the list of Australia's

ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.[5][6]

Walsh died on 4 April 2013 at the age of 80 after a long illness 14 days after his 80th birthday.[7] On 20 July 2022, Walsh was named in the St. George Dragons District Rugby League Clubs team of the century.[8]

References

  • Whiticker, Alan (2004) Captaining the Kangaroos, New Holland, Sydney
  • Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney
  • Writer, Larry (1995) Never Before, Never Again, Pan MacMillan, Sydney

Footnotes

  1. ^ rugbyleagueproject.org
  2. ^ "Ian Walsh – Career Stats & Summary – Rugby League Project".
  3. ^ Writer, p. 415
  4. ^ Writer, p. 413
  5. ^ Peter Cassidy (23 February 2008). "Controversy reigns as NRL releases top 100 players". Macquarie National News. Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
  6. ARL. 23 February 2008. Archived from the original
    on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
  7. ^ "Rugby league great Ian Walsh dies". Sky News. 4 April 2013. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  8. ^ "Gasnier joins Immortals in St George Dragons 'Team of the Century'". National Rugby League.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Coach

Parramatta Eels

1971–1972
Succeeded by
Dave Bolton
1973−1974
Preceded by
Norm Provan
1962-1965
St George Dragons

1966–1967
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Australia

1965-1966
Succeeded by
Reg Gasnier
1967-1968
Preceded by
Eddie Burns
1963–1964
Coach

New South Wales

1965
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Captain
Australia
Australia

1963-1966
Succeeded by