Billy Blan

William Blan
Personal information
Full name William Blan
Nickname Billy
Born Birth Registered in April→June 1922
Wigan, Lancashire, England
Died 13 April 2008(2008-04-13) (aged 85–86)
Wigan, England
Playing information
Position Second-row, Loose forward/Lock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1945–53 Wigan 255 77 4 239
1953–55 Leeds 45
1955 St. Helens 17 2 7 20
1955 Leeds 11
1955–56 Rochdale Hornets 10
Total 338 79 11 0 259
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1950–53 Lancashire 6
1951 Great Britain 3 1 0 0 3
1951–52 England 3 0 0 0 0
Source: rugbyleagueproject.org englandrl.co.uk

William "Billy" Blan (birth registered April→June 1922[1] – 13 April 2008) was an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and 1950s. Born in Wigan, Lancashire, he played at representative level for Lancashire, Great Britain and England, and at club level for Wigan, Leeds and St. Helens, as a Second-row, or Loose forward/Lock, i.e. number 11 or 12, or, 13, during the era of contested scrums.

Playing career

International honours

Billy Blan won caps for England while at Wigan in 1951 against Wales, and France, in 1952 against Other Nationalities, and won caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1951 against New Zealand (3 matches).[2][3]

County Cup final appearances

Billy Blan played Right-Second-row, i.e. number 12, and scored a try in Wigan's the 9-3 victory over Belle Vue Rangers in the 1946 Lancashire Cup final during the 1946–47 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 26 October 1946,[4] played Right-Second-row in the 10-7 victory over Belle Vue Rangers in the 1947 Lancashire Cup final during the 1947–48 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 1 November 1947,[5] played Right-Second-row in the 14-8 victory over Warrington in the 1948 Lancashire Cup final during the 1948–49 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 13 November 1948,[6] played Loose forward/Lock and scored a try in the 20-7 victory over Leigh in the 1949 Lancashire Cup final during the 1949–50 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 29 October 1949,[7] and played Loose forward/Lock in the 28-5 victory over Warrington in the 1950 Lancashire Cup final during the 1950–51 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 4 November 1950.[8]

Club career

Billy Blan joined Wigan from the Royal Air Force straight after the World War II and won a Championship medal in his first season. In his Wigan career he won two Challenge Cup Winners medals, three Championship medals, and five Lancashire Cup winners medals. Billy Blan made his début for Leeds against Hunslet in the Lazenby Cup at Headingley on Monday 10 August 1953.[9]

Personal life

Blan was the younger brother of the rugby league footballer Jack Blan, and the older brother of the rugby league footballer Albert Blan. He died in April 2008, leaving behind his wife, Pat, and five children.[10]

Honoured at Wigan

Billy Blan was a life member at Wigan.[11]

After playing

After Billy Blan finished his playing career, he worked as Wigan's Lottery Manager in Pools Office.

Note

The Civil Registration index gives William Blan's district of birth as being Barnsley, whereas other sources state Wigan.

References

  1. ↑ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "1946–1947 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  5. ↑ "1947–1948 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "1948–1949 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  7. ↑ "1949–1950 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  8. ↑ "1950–1951 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  9. ↑ Dalby, Ken (1955). The Headingley Story – 1890–1955 – Volume One – Rugby. The Leeds Cricket, Football & Athletic Co. Ltd ASIN: B0018JNGVM
  10. ↑ "Former Great Passes Away". wiganwarriors.com. 14 April 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "Club Personnel – Life Members". wiganwarriors.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.

External links

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