John Basnett

Last updated

John Basnett
Personal information
Full nameJohn Basnett
Born (1957-01-03) 3 January 1957 (age 67)
Wallasey, England
Playing information
Rugby union
Position Wing
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
New Brighton F.C.
Winnington Park
Total00000
Rugby league
Position Wing
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1981–87 Widnes 20110300381
1987–88 Leeds 3970028
Total24011000409
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1984–86 Great Britain 20000
1982–86 Lancashire 31004
Source: [1] [2]

John Basnett (born 3 January 1957) is an English rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for New Brighton F.C., Winnington Park and for Cheshire in the RFU County Championship competition and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, and at club level for Widnes, as a wing. [1]

Contents

Background

Born in Wallasey, Cheshire, [3] Basnett attended Ellesmere Port Grammar School.

Playing career

Rugby union

Basnett started his career as a rugby union player, joining New Brighton F.C. at the age of 16. In 1978, he represented England under-23's against Holland. [4]

Basnett returned to rugby union at the end of his career, playing for Winnington Park. [5] [6]

Widnes

Basnett turned professional in April 1981, joining rugby league club Widnes. [7]

Basnett played left wing in Widnes 14–14 draw with Hull F.C. in the 1982 Challenge Cup Final during the 1981–82 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 1 May 1982, and played left wing in the 9–18 defeat by Hull F.C. in the replay at Elland Road, Leeds on Wednesday 19 May 1982.

At the end of the 1982–83 season, Basnett scored two tries in the 22–10 win against Hull in the 1982–83 Premiership final at Old Trafford.

During the 1983–84 season, Basnett played left wing in Widnes' 8–12 defeat by Barrow in the 1983 Lancashire Cup Final at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 1 October 1983, and played left wing in the 19–6 victory over Wigan in the 1984 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1984, in front of a crowd of 80,116.

Basnett was the first Widnes player to score five tries in a match, scoring them in a John Player Trophy tie away to Batley, he later repeated this feat scoring all five tries in a 26–8 league win over Hull Kingston Rovers in 1986.

Leeds

In August 1987, Basnett was transferred to Leeds for a fee of £50,000. [8]

Basnett played left wing (replaced by substitute Carl Gibson) in Leeds' 14–15 defeat by St. Helens in the 1987–88 John Player Special Trophy Final during the 1987–88 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 9 January 1988.

After one season at Leeds, Basnett was involved in a car crash, and retired due to the injuries suffered in the incident. [5]

International honours

Basnett won his first cap for Great Britain while at Widnes in 1984 against France. He was selected for the 1984 Great Britain Lions tour as a replacement for the injured Ronnie Duane. [9]

His only other Test appearance for Great Britain was in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Australia. [1] Despite Basnett only playing in one game for Great Britain against Australia in 1986, Australian former captain Wally Lewis named him as one of the best English test wingers he had played against. Lewis praised Basnett's efforts in keeping his opposite number Dale Shearer quiet, although Great Britain ultimately lost the third Ashes test 24-15 played at the Central Park ground in Wigan.

Related Research Articles

Stephen Norton, also known by the nickname of "Knocker", is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s, and coached in the 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Fryston ARLFC, Castleford, Hull FC and Wakefield Trinity, as a second-row or loose forward, and coached at club level for Barrow.

Michael Adams was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and captained Widnes. He played as a second-row or loose forward.

Eric Hughes is a retired English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and coached rugby league in the 1980s and 1990s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for England (Under-15s), and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Widnes, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, St Helens and the Rochdale Hornets, as a wing, centre or stand-off, and coached at club level for Widnes, Rochdale Hornets, St Helens, Leigh and Wigan Warriors. He unwittingly added confusion to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs team as he was unrelated but played at the same time as the three Australian brothers named Hughes; Garry, Graeme and Mark.

Charles Douglas Laughton is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and coached in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain (captain), winning 15 caps in all, winning a further cap for England, and Lancashire, and at club level for St. Helens, Wigan, Widnes, and Canterbury-Bankstown, as a second-row, or loose forward, and coached at club level for Widnes and Leeds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Gregory</span> English RL coach and former GB international rugby league footballer

Andrew Gregory is an English former professional rugby league footballer. A Great Britain international representative scrum-half, he is an inductee of the Wigan Hall of Fame. He was the first player to win five Challenge Cup Final winners medals, first player to play in eight Challenge Cup finals and one of only two players to have played in six Ashes series against Australia, the other being Garry Schofield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Topliss</span> Former RL coach and GB & England international rugby league footballer

David Topliss was an English World Cup winning professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and coached in the 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, at club level for Wakefield Trinity (captain), Penrith Panthers, Balmain Tigers, Hull FC (captain) and Oldham, as a stand-off. and coached at club level for Wakefield Trinity.

Kevin Dick, also known by the nickname of "Iron Teddy Bear", is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and at club level for Leeds, Hull FC, Halifax and Huddersfield, as a goal-kicking scrum-half.

Michael Burke is an English former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. A Great Britain and England international representative fullback, he played his club rugby for Widnes, with whom he won two Challenge Cups and two Lancashire Cups, and Oldham.

A'au James Leuluai is a New Zealand former international rugby league centre.

Leslie "Les" N. Gorley was an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Cumbria, and at club level for Workington Town and Widnes as a second row.

Steve Evans was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Featherstone Rovers, Hull FC, Bradford Northern and Wakefield Trinity, as a wing, centre or stand-off.

Christopher Burton is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Yorkshire, and at club level for Leeds, Huddersfield, Hull Kingston Rovers and Featherstone Rovers, as a second-row.

Lee Crooks is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s, and coached in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Hull FC, Western Suburbs Magpies, Balmain Tigers, Leeds and Castleford, as a prop or second-row, captain of Hull during the 1985–86 and 1986–87 seasons, and coached at representative level for Serbia, and at club level for Keighley and York.

Keith Elwell, also known by the nicknames of "The Mole" or "Chiefy", is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club level for Widnes and on loan to Barrow, as a hooker.

Edward "Eddie" Cunningham is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played at international level for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Wigan, St. Helens, Leeds, Widnes and Batley, as a centre, second-row, or loose forward.

Stuart Wright is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club level for Wigan and Widnes, as a wing.

Paul Prendiville is a Welsh former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Hull FC, Leeds and York, as a wing or centre.

Michael O'Neill is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Lancashire, and at club level for Widnes, Rochdale Hornets and Leeds, as a prop.

Dane Bradford Mark O'Hara is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand. At the time of his retirement he held the record for most international matches for New Zealand.

Keiron O'Loughlin is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played for Wigan, Workington Town, Widnes, Salford and Leigh. He is the father of England and Great Britain international Sean O'Loughlin and grandfather of England rugby union player Owen Farrell.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "Player Summary: John Basnett". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  3. ↑ Emery, David (1984). Who's Who in Rugby League. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 12. ISBN   978-0-356-10435-5.
  4. ↑ Irvine, David (8 May 1978). "Spirit of resistance". The Guardian. London. p. 27. ProQuest   186003464.
  5. 1 2 "John goes back to his roots" . Widnes Weekly News. 7 November 1996. p. 91 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ↑ "Sloppy Play Costs Park A Win". Warrington Guardian. 25 February 1998. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  7. ↑ "RU ace Basnett turns pro" . Liverpool Daily Post. 16 April 1981. p. 32 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ↑ "Basnett latest Leeds' recruit" . Liverpool Daily Post. 20 August 1987. p. 30 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ↑ "Schofield steps up". The Guardian. London. 1 June 1984. p. 22. ProQuest   186564504.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.