Billy Hall (rugby)

William Hall

Godfrey Phillips Cigarette card featuring William Hall
Personal information
Full name	William Hall
Born	Gloucester, England
Playing information
Rugby union
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P ≤1913–13 Gloucester RFC
Rugby league
Position	Centre, Stand-off/Five-eighth
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1913–25 Oldham 250 53 2 163 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1914–21 England 2 0 0 0 0 1914 Great Britain 4 0 0 0 0
Source: rugbyleagueproject.org englandrl.co.uk

William Hall (born in Gloucester) was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s, and 1920s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Gloucester RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Oldham, as a centre, or stand-off/five-eighth, i.e. number 3 or 4, or 6.

Billy Hall won caps for England (RL) while at Oldham in 1914 against Wales, in 1921 against Australia, and won caps for Great Britain (RL) while at Oldham in 1914 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand.

Billy played in the famous "Rorkes Drift" test against Australia in 1914, where Great Britain were level going into the third test. Great Britain were winning 9-3 and due to injuries were down to 10 men against 13 for the last 30 minutes. Hall was one of those injured with concussion and came back onto the field with ten minutes to go. Great Britain were victorious, and won 14-6.

In 1913, both Billy Hall, and Dave Holland left Gloucester RFC to join Oldham, following Alf Wood who had made the same journey in 1908. Alf Wood and Dave Holland both played at Oldham until 1921, and Billy Hall played there until 1925. All three men played in Great Britain's "Rorke's Drift" Test match against Australia in 1914, with Alf Wood kicking the four goals that would be the difference in the end.