John Daly (rugby)

John "Jack" Christopher "Chris" Daly (12 December 1917 – 10 October 1988) born in Cobh, was an Irish rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s, playing representative level rugby union (RU) for Ireland, and Munster Rugby, at invitational level for Barbarian F.C., and at club level for Cobh Pirates RFC, Cork Constitution, and London Irish, as a Prop, i.e. number 1 or 3, and playing representative level rugby league (RL) for Other Nationalities, and British Empire XIII, and at club level for Huddersfield, and Featherstone Rovers, as a Prop, i.e. number 8 or 10, during the era of contested scrums. When Jack Daly ran onto the playing field he used to do a double somersault, and before international matches he would do double back-somersaults to confirm his fitness. He died in Chertsey.

Club career

Daly started his career in rugby union, but converted to rugby league in 1948, joining Huddersfield. He played Left-Prop, i.e. number 8 in Huddersfield's 2-20 defeat by Wigan in the Championship final during the 1949–50 season at Maine Road, Manchester on Saturday 13 May 1950.

Daly played Right-Prop, i.e. number 10, in Huddersfield's 4-11 defeat by Bradford Northern in the 1949 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1949–50 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 29 October 1949.

In September 1951, he moved to Featherstone Rovers, he played in the Featherstone Rovers' 10-18 defeat by Workington Town in the 1952 Challenge Cup final during the 1951–52 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 19 April 1952.

Representative honours

Daly won caps in rugby union for Ireland in 1947 against France, England, Scotland, and Wales, and in 1948 against England, Scotland, and Wales,

In rugby league, he represented British Empire XIII in 1949 against France, and won caps for Other Nationalities (RL) in 1950 against France (2 matches), in 1951 against Wales, and England, in 1952 England, and France, and in 1953 against Wales.

During World War II, Jack Daly served as a signaller with the London Irish Rifles in North Africa, and Italy, and was involved in the Battle of Monte Cassino.

On 25 March 2004 footballer were inducted into Rugby League Ireland's inaugural Hall of Fame at the Rugby League Heritage Centre in Huddersfield, they were; John "Jack" Daly (Huddersfield/Featherstone Rovers), Robert "Bob" Kelly (Keighley/Wakefield Trinity/Batley), Seamus McCallion (Halifax/Leeds/Bramley), Thomas "Tom" McKinney, (Salford/Warrington/St. Helens), Terry O'Connor (Salford/Wigan Warriors/Widnes Vikings), Patrick "Paddy" Reid (Huddersfield/Halifax).