David Ward (rugby league)

David J. Ward is an English former rugby league footballer and coach. A hooker, he played for and managed Leeds RLFC. Possibly the greatest moment of his playing career was his performance during the 1978 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium against St Helens, where he gave a commanding performance marshalling the Leeds team, and kicked two late drop-goals to complete what was then a record comeback. He won a total of 12 Great Britain caps and, in 1977, won the inaugural Man of Steel Award.

One of the more notable signings of his coaching career was when Ward brought John Gallagher to Leeds, converting the player from rugby union, but Ward was ultimately unsuccessful at Leeds, despite being in charge of one of only two full-time squads in the league at the time.^[1] He later went on to coach lower-league Batley.

Ward currently^[specify] runs Birstall Squash Club, and has done for many years. His son Danny is a rugby league player, with one Great Britain cap; he signed for Harlequins Rugby League in 2008. Ward also runs Birstall Victoria Rugby Club which had seen little success until May 2011 when the Under 12's team were the first Birstall team to lift the Continuation cup beating York Acorn 40-4. Ward watched the match from the players bar, when the match was over he said one word: "awesome".David is also well known locally for his impersonation of the legendary singer Frank Sinatra.

International honours

In addition to the above Test Matches, David Ward played Hooker, i.e. number 9 in Great Britain’s 7-8 defeat to France in the friendly at Stadio Pierluigi Penzo, Venice on 31 July 1982.

Testimonial match

David Ward's Testimonial match at Leeds took place in 1982.

External links

• Statistics at englandrl.co.uk
• Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
• Profile at leedsrugby

References

1. ^ The other was Wigan

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Name	Ward, David
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