George Parsons
- November 24, 2009
- 83 years
About George Parsons
George Parsons, 83, British rugby union and rugby league player.
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Full Biography
|George W. Parsons (21 April 1926 – November 2009) was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Wales, and at club level for Abertillery RFC, Cardiff RFC, Newport RFC (two spells), and Newbridge RFC, as a lock, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for St. Helens, Rochdale Hornets and Salford, as a second-row. He coached Salford from 1960 to 1963.
Playing career
International honours
George Parsons represented Wales XV (RU) while at Abertillery RFC in the 'Victory International' non-Test match(es) between December 1945 and April 1946, won a cap for Wales (RU) while at Newport RFC in 1947 against England, won caps for Wales (RL) while at St. Helens, and Salford.
Parsons also represented Great Britain (RL) while at St. Helens in 1951 against Australasia at Headingley in a Festival of Britain match, and in 1953 against France (1 non-Test match) in Lyons.
Along with William "Billy" Banks, Edward "Ted" Cahill, Gordon Haynes, Keith Holliday, William "Billy" Ivison, Robert "Bob" Kelly, John McKeown and Edward "Ted" Slevin, Parsons' only Great Britain appearance came against France prior to 1957, these matches were not considered as Test matches by the Rugby Football League, and consequently caps were not awarded.
Challenge Cup Final appearances
George Parsons played left-second-row in St. Helens' 10–15 defeat by Huddersfield in the 1953 Challenge Cup Final during the 1952–53 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 25 April 1953. and played left-second-row in the 13-2 victory over Halifax in the 1956 Challenge Cup Final during the 1955–56 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 28 April 1956, in front of a crowd of 79,341.
County Cup Final appearances
George Parsons played left-second-row in St. Helens' 5–22 defeat by Leigh in the 1952 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1952–53 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 29 November 1952, played left-second-row in the 16–8 victory over Wigan in the 1953 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1953–54 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 24 October 1953, played left-second-row in the 3–10 defeat by Oldham in the 1956 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1956–57 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 20 October 1956.
Honoured at St Helens R.F.C.
George Parsons is a St Helens R.F.C. Hall of Fame inductee.
Outside of rugby
Parsons was a senior manager at the Pilkington glass factory in St. Helens, he was also a magistrate, and a Liberal Party councillor.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Parsons_(rugby)
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from George Parsons's archived record and the sources above.
1.Which opponent defeated St. Helens in the 1952 Lancashire Cup Final where George Parsons played?
- A.Wigan
- B.Oldham
- C.Huddersfield
- D.Leighcorrect
St. Helens lost to Leigh in the 1952 Lancashire Cup Final.
Source: County Cup Final appearances section
2.When did George Parsons pass away?
- A.April 2009
- B.December 2008
- C.November 2009correct
- D.January 2010
The biography indicates that George Parsons died in November 2009.
Source: Biography introduction
3.What honour did George Parsons receive at St Helens R.F.C.?
- A.Life Member
- B.Hall of Fame inducteecorrect
- C.Club President
- D.Player of the Century
George Parsons is an inductee in the St Helens R.F.C. Hall of Fame.
Source: Honoured at St Helens R.F.C. section
4.Who was a teammate of George Parsons when he represented Great Britain against France?
- A.George Brown
- B.David Jones
- C.John Smith
- D.Billy Bankscorrect
William "Billy" Banks was one of the players who represented Great Britain alongside George Parsons in the match against France.
Source: International honours section
5.In which city did George Parsons play his 1953 match against France for Great Britain?
- A.Marseille
- B.Lyonscorrect
- C.London
- D.Paris
George Parsons represented Great Britain against France in 1953 in Lyons.
Source: International honours section
6.Against which team did St. Helens win the 1953 Lancashire Cup Final?
- A.Leigh
- B.Oldham
- C.Wigancorrect
- D.Huddersfield
George Parsons played in the 16-8 victory over Wigan in the 1953 Lancashire Cup Final.
Source: County Cup Final appearances section
7.What was the date of birth of George Parsons?
- A.15 May 1926
- B.21 April 1927
- C.10 January 1925
- D.21 April 1926correct
The biography states that George W. Parsons was born on 21 April 1926.
Source: Biography introduction
8.Which sport did George Parsons play at representative level for Great Britain?
- A.Rugby Leaguecorrect
- B.Rugby Union
- C.Football
- D.Cricket
George Parsons represented Great Britain at rugby league while playing for St. Helens.
Source: International honours section
9.At which club did George Parsons serve as a coach from 1960 to 1963?
- A.St. Helens
- B.Salfordcorrect
- C.Rochdale Hornets
- D.Newport RFC
George Parsons coached Salford from 1960 to 1963.
Source: Biography introduction
10.Which position did George Parsons play for the St. Helens team during the Challenge Cup finals?
- A.Full-back
- B.Lock
- C.Left-second-rowcorrect
- D.Hooker
George Parsons played as the left-second-row for St. Helens in their 1953 and 1956 Challenge Cup final appearances.
Source: Challenge Cup Final appearances section
11.In what year did George Parsons play his Welsh rugby union match against England?
- A.1946
- B.1945
- C.1947correct
- D.1948
George Parsons won a cap for Wales in rugby union while at Newport RFC in 1947 against England.
Source: International honours section
12.Which club did George Parsons play for during his two spells in rugby union?
- A.Newbridge RFC
- B.Abertillery RFC
- C.Newport RFCcorrect
- D.Cardiff RFC
The biography specifies that George Parsons had two spells playing for Newport RFC.
Source: Biography introduction
13.How many people watched the 1956 Challenge Cup Final where George Parsons played?
- A.82,000
- B.50,000
- C.65,200
- D.79,341correct
The 1956 Challenge Cup Final was played in front of a crowd of 79,341.
Source: Challenge Cup Final appearances section
14.What was George Parsons' profession outside of his rugby career?
- A.School teacher
- B.Professional boxer
- C.Bank clerk
- D.Senior manager at Pilkington glass factorycorrect
Outside of rugby, George Parsons was a senior manager at the Pilkington glass factory in St. Helens.
Source: Outside of rugby section
15.For which team did George Parsons play when he represented Wales in the 'Victory International' matches?
- A.St. Helens
- B.Newport RFC
- C.Abertillery RFCcorrect
- D.Salford
George Parsons represented Wales XV while playing at Abertillery RFC during the 1945-1946 Victory International matches.
Source: International honours section
16.What political or civic roles did George Parsons hold?
- A.Magistrate and Liberal Party councillorcorrect
- B.Member of Parliament
- C.Trade union leader
- D.Mayor of St. Helens
George Parsons served as a magistrate and a Liberal Party councillor.
Source: Outside of rugby section
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