Donald James "Danny" Wilson (born 4 November 1955) is a Welsh former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. A Wales international stand-off, he played his club rugby for Widnes,[3] Barrow, Swinton,[4] Runcorn Highfield and Springfield Borough.[2][5]
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Donald James Wilson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 4 November 1955 Cwmbran, Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Fly-half | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Stand-off | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Career
editBorn in Wales to a Sierra Leone Creole father[6][7] and a Welsh mother, Wilson played rugby union for Cardiff RFC as a fly-half. He had trials with several rugby league clubs, including Widnes and Barrow, before eventually moving north to play as a professional with Swinton.[8]
Wilson once scored five drop goals in a match for Swinton in 1983,[9] which is a joint record in British rugby league history.[10]
Wilson won five caps for Wales while at Swinton between 1981 and 1984.[2]
Family
editWilson is the father of former footballer and Wales manager Ryan Giggs,[7] who was christened Ryan Joseph Wilson but as a teenager changed his surname to that of his mother.[7] Giggs is said to have inherited his balance and athleticism from his father.[7][11]
References
edit- ^ "Player Summary: Danny Wilson". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Statistics at rugby.widnes.tv". rugby.widnes.tv. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "A Brief History". swintonlionsrlc.co.uk (Swinton Lions). 2010. Archived from the original on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ Graham Williams, Peter Lush, David Farrar (November 2009). "The British Rugby League Records Book". pp. 108–114. London League Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6
- ^ "Ryan Giggs Biography". www.footbalium.com.
- ^ a b c d Hughes, Rob (3 March 2009). "Ferguson and Giggs, side by side at ManU". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ de la Riviere, Richard (21 September 2022). "Rugby League Heroes: Danny Wilson". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ David Lawrenson (2007). "The Rugby League Miscellany [Page-6]". Vision Sport Publishing. ISBN 978-1-905326-30-3
- ^ "British Rugby League Records". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers' Club. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ "FAW / Ryan Giggs appointed as Wales National Team Manager".
External links
edit- (archived by web.archive.org) Swinton Lions > Club > A Barking 8ief History
- Statistics at rugby.widnes.tv
- Widnes v Warrington – Sunday 20 March 1977