Wigan Album

Brilliant stand off / fly half, his dad did a good job of running the line as well.

Orrell R.U.F.C. was a class team at that time. Doesn't time march on.

Shocking sport. Good riddance to union. It has no place in Wigan. FACT

Rugby League, I agree Union is not a good sport now, but, Orrell played rugby league / rugby union, brilliant team threw the ball about, the Hoorah Henry's didn't know how to deal with it.

In reply to rugby league.
What a totally stupid statement to make.I'm also a rugby league fan but appreciate rugby union is a totally different game with its own skills. It's a pity some of the backs in union aren't playing in league,who knows we might uncover another Billy B.
Are you sure your not one of the rugby league haters who frequent this site trying to make genuine fans look like bigots.
I think the old adage applies here. If you haven't anything good to say don't say it .

The lad has a resemblance of John Woods

Rugby league, what c--p you spout, i am a long in the tooth Wigan Rugby League season ticket holder, the first game i saw was Wigan v Wakefield in 1952, they were still playing with 15 players each side only 46 years before that. WRLFC wouldn't be in existence but for the Union game, and yes, they played it in Wigan, much to your obvious displeasure and one eyed view of the original game.

Roy. Absloutely right. I like and played both games but referred leagure as I liked having the ball in hand far more than lying at the bottom of rucks and mauls every few minutes. But one of the great things about Wigan when I was growing up there in the 50's and 60's was the great respect and interested shown by both codes to each other in the area. it was only when I moved away and went to Univiersty in Durham that I first came across the venom and spite that most of the RU establishment had towards RL. despite the widespread hypocrisy that went on in RU at the time with leading players getting under the counter "boot money" etc.

I suspect 'rugby league' is no RL fan at all. As for the comments about union, I can only say that I've played both, enjoyed union but not as much as league. I played at Newton-le-Willows RU in the 60s when union's hierarchy detested Rugby League. There was no such animosity at Newton - in fact I played alongside several ex-RL professionals there [who of necessity had to play under different names!] and the friendliness and lack of prejudice shown by the club was heartening. Orrell in the seventies were a great team and did indeed play with a flair more associated with rugby league! Union today is a far more attractive game than the dour rubbish of the 60s/70s - still not as attractive as league though!

Over the past thirty years rugby union has become a more open game and increased it's popularity. Financially it is solvent whereas the super league clubs are, as a whole, are mired in debt.
It may well turn out that the financial future of super league will lie within the ruby union family. Leeds v Leicester, Wigan v Bath and St. Helens v Northampton and many more would be lucrative earners.

Over the past thirty years rugby union has become a more open game and increased it's popularity. Financially it is solvent whereas the super league clubs are, as a whole, are mired in debt.
It may well turn out that the financial future of super league will lie within the ruby union family. Leeds v Leicester, Wigan v Bath and St. Helens v Northampton and many more would be lucrative earners.

Keith. I don't know where you get the idea that RU clubs are solvent. Saracens eg are £45 Million in debt and most clubs are dependent on sugar daddy owners. Wasps are solvent only because a rich backer enabled them to buy Coventry City's ground. The Unions do have a lot of money though, hence the huge stadia they have built for internationals. I can remember a saying in Wigan in the 1960's that in the future there would be one code. It would be called rugby Union - because they have the money and the influence - but they would be playing Rugby League. I can certainly see elements of that happening over the last 20 years.

I agree with many points that have been made. I've watched rugby (both codes) since 1947 and I have to say that if the paying public are to get value for money, i.e. entertained with an open fast, exciting and skilful game I would plump for Rugby League every time. However, I'm mindful of great athletes in both codes, I just think the Union boys are shackled by the structure of their game - not their fault. Rugby Union players (mainly Welsh) signed by Wigan especially in the 1930's were the backbone of their side. Union have copied many aspects of League but it won't work effectively until they reduce their numbers, get rid of the line out and "sort out" the scrums, oh dear sounds like I'm advocating a full conversion - well I am. The millions who perhaps only watch Union simply don't realise what they are missing - open fast exciting games on a regular basis - I'm sure Union want this also but they still have one arm tied behind their back they should be brave and go the whole hog, but they have the financial upper hand so it's unlikely to happen.

Rugby League is a Southern Hemisphere game now. It is on its last legs as regards SL; and that's sad. SL needs a complete restructure: bring in the Cumbrian teams and the 'old' Yorkshire boys. Let's get back to a big league and make the sterile challenge cup great again.

Why don;t you get back to the photo i know Duggie Laughton
tried to sign Gerry Ainscough for Widnes on several occasions.only to be turned down.that made him go up Scotland to sign Alan Tait

Is it Jack Nich ??

not Jack Nic....its his dad Colin

Both Wrong

Jugger in full flight......

Whose jugger

I knew a Jogger from Kirkby, Liverpool....hard bugger but never played rugby, union or league!