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Roughyeds pay tribute to one of their stars of the seventies Date published: 12 April 2021 Rugby Star Cliff Hill has died Cliff Hill, the clever stand-off who joined Oldham from Wigan towards the end of his career and, with prop Frank Foster and coach Graham Starkey, helped to transform Oldham's fortunes in the early 1970s, has died in a Wigan hospital, aged 78. Roughyeds say they are saddened to hear of Cliff's passing and the thoughts of everyone at Oldham RLFC are with his family and friends at this sad time. During the 1969-70 season, Oldham finished 29th out of 30 clubs in a one-di...

Rivington Road school featuring future Saints Eddie Cunningham and David Hull RIVINGTON Road often gets overlooked as a big rugby school - but from Duggie Greenall through to Neil Holding and Roy Haggerty the school has provided plenty of future stars. It was on the playing field here where Eddie Cunningham first got to grips with rugby league - and starting a journey which would see him eventually run out at Wembley, winning the Challenge Cup with his home town Saints and then with Widnes. Cunningham also won the Lance Todd Trophy whilst with the Chemics for heroic try-scoring feat in ...

Billy Thompson, the Englishman who refereed the inaugural State of Origin match between Queensland and NSW in 1980, has died at the age of 87. Thompson earned a lasting place in the game's history when he was flown to Brisbane after NSWRL officials demanded a neutral referee for the first interstate match in which players Queenslanders playing in Sydney were chosen for the Maroons. His willingness to let the players sort each other out so the game could flow helped ensure the success of the Origin concept, which evolved into a three-match series that is now a showpiece of the NRL season.

THE rival benches at the 1976 Challenge Cup Final could not have been closer - and the contrasting expressions etched on their faces tell the story. Saints - dubbed Dad's Army - were locked in a titanic struggle with neighbours Widnes in the baking 100 degree Wembley heat. On the left the tension shows on Widnes coach Frank Myler and assistant Harry Dawson, on the right there is jubilation from Saints' young track-suited travelling reserves Harry Pinner and Graham Liptrot and a smile from the substituted Billy Benyon. Calm as you look in the hubbub, Eric Ashton remains focused. He was...