Leslie White (rugby league born c. 1910)
Quick Facts
Biography
Leslie "Les" L. White was a Welsh/English professional rugby league footballer from the 1920s through 1940s, playing at representative level for Great Britain, Wales, England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Pontypridd, and Hunslet, as a hooker, i.e. number 9, during the era of contested scrums. Les White was also a lance corporal in the British Army during World War II.
Playing career
International honours
White won seven caps for Wales from 1928 to 1933 while at Pontypridd and Hunslet, won a cap for England while at Hunslet in 1933 against Australia, and won caps for Great Britain while at Hunslet in 1932 Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (2 matches), and in 1933 Australia (2 matches).
Wales and England
Only four rugby league footballers have played initially for Wales, and then subsequently for England, including White, they are; Emlyn Jenkins, Gus Risman and Jim Sullivan.
By the time White played for England, and Yorkshire, he would have moved from the Pontypridd area, and was living in Yorkshire, as he was playing for Hunslet at the time.
Championship Final appearances
Leslie White played Hooker in Hunslet's 8-2 victory over Leeds in the Championship Final during the 1937–38 season at Elland Road on Saturday 30 April 1938.
Other notable games
Leslie White played Hooker for Northern Command XIII against a Rugby League XIII at Thrum Hall, Halifax on Saturday 21 March 1942. Coincidentally, he played alongside another Les White.
Outside of rugby league
Following his retirement from rugby league, Les White was the landlord of the Moorhouse Inn public house in Hunslet, near Leeds during the 1950s.