Dick Huddart

Dick 'Tiger' Huddart (born 22 June 1936) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. A Great Britain and England international representative forward, he played at club level in England for Whitehaven and St Helens (with whom he won the 1961 Challenge Cup), and in Australia for St. George (with whom he won the 1966 NSWRFL Premiership). Huddart is both a Whitehaven, and St Helens R.F.C. Hall of Fame inductee. He is also the father of the late rugby league footballer; Milton Huddart.

Dick Huddart was born in Flimby, Cumberland on 22 June 1936.

Britain

After playing amateur rugby for Risehow, Huddart turned professional, signing with rugby league club Whitehaven for £250. Later that year he became the first Whitehaven player to be selected to play for the Great Britain national rugby league team, touring Australia with them and winning the Ashes. Huddart played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in Whitehaven's 14-11 victory over Australia in the 1956–57 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France match at the Recreation Ground, Whitehaven on Saturday 20 October 1956, in front of a crowd of 10,917. He won caps for Great Britain while at Whitehaven in 1958 against Australia (2 matches), and New Zealand (2 matches).

Upon his return, Huddart decided to move to St. Helens, signing with them in October, 1958. During the 1959–60 season he played as a second-row in St. Helens' 4–5 loss against Warrington in the 1959 Lancashire Cup Finalat Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 31 October 1959. While at St. Helens he played for Great Britain in 1959 against Australia, in 1961 against New Zealand (3 matches), in 1962 against France (2 matches), Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (2 matches), and in 1963 against Australia. During the 1960–61 season Huddart played at second-row and was named man of the match, winning the Lance Todd Trophy in the 12-6 victory over Wigan in the 1961 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1961, in front of a crowd of 94,672. He also helped Great Britain retain the Ashes in the 1962 tour of Australia. Huddart won a cap for England while at St. Helens in 1962 against France. During the 1960–61 season he played at second-row in the 15-9 victory over Swinton in the 1960 Lancashire Cup Finalat Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 29 October 1960. During the 1961–62 season He played right-second-row in the 25-9 victory over Swinton in the 1961 Lancashire Cup Final at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 11 November 1961. During the 1962–63 season he played at second-row in the 7–4 victory over Swinton in the 1962 Lancashire Cup Final at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 27 October 1962.

Australia

Huddart moved to Australia to play for NSWRFL club St. George from the 1964 season. It was hoped he could help fill the large shoes left in the record-breaking champion St. George side's second-row by the retiring Norm Provan. Huddart went on to help the Dragons continue their dominance in that period, scoring a try in the 1966 NSWRFL season's Grand Final victory over Balmain. The turning point of that match came when Huddart and Ian Walsh put on a set move as the Balmain defence rushed up too early. Walsh burst through the line and with only the fullback to beat and passed the ball to Huddart who raced 30 yards to score. Huddart thus became the first Great Britain Test player to win a premiership in Australia.

Huddart returned to Britain in 1970–71 to play a final season with Whitehaven.