Bill Sayer

William "Bill" 'Sos' Sayer (April→June 1934 in Wigan – August 16, 1989 in Wigan) was an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, playing at representative level for Great Britain, and at club level for Wigan Highfield, Wigan and St. Helens, as a Hooker, i.e. number 9, during the era of contested scrums.

Bill Sayer won 7-caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1961 against New Zealand, in 1962 against France, Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand, and in 1963 against Australia.

One of the finest hookers in the game, Bill Sayer enjoyed two long careers, one with Wigan and one with St Helens. He joined Wigan from Wigan Highfield in 1954 after being invited to play in three trial games - He was signed after just two. As well as showing early promise at Rugby League, Sayer was a useful Boxer and Soccer player. He made his Wigan debut at Halifax on 4 December 1954 but had to wait until the latter part of 1956-7 for a regular place when he replaced Mather in the number nine shirt. For the next seven years, until changed by Colin Clarke, the shirt was virtually his own property. Bill Sayer played Hooker in Wigan's 9–13 victory over Workington Town in the 1958 Challenge Cup Final during the 1957–58 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 10 May 1958, in front of a crowd of 66,109, and played Hooker in the 30-13 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1959 Challenge Cup Final during the 1958–59 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 9 May 1959, in front of a crowd of 79,811. Sayer's confrontation with Hull's Tommy Harris was much awaited. Each set of fans hailed their hooker as the best in the business. Sayer proved the best on the day as he won possession two-to-one, just as he had done at Wembley 12-months earlier. He scored a try in the Championship win over Wakefield in 1960 but two more Wembley appearances resulted in loser medals. A Lancashire County player, he won the first of his seven Great Britain caps against New Zealand at Leeds in September 1961. The following year he went on the Australian tour.