Sam Smith (rugby league)
# Sam Smith (rugby league)

Samuel Smith (1926-1989) was an English World Cup winning semi professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Hull Kingston Rovers and Hunslet, as a hooker, during the era of contested scrums.

## Career

Smith signed on with Hull Kingston Rovers for the 1949–50 season.

During the 1952–53 season Smith was an ever-present, playing in every match alongside Arthur Palframan. That season, Smith represented Yorkshire against Lancashire.

In 1954, Smith was transferred from Hull Kingston Rovers to Hunslet. Sam appeared 282 times during his ten seasons with Hunlet before moving to Doncaster.

### International honours

Sam Smith won caps for England while at Hunslet in 1955 against Other Nationalities, in 1956 against France, and won caps for Great Britain while at Hunslet in the 1954 Rugby League World Cup against Australia, New Zealand, and France. (World Cup 1954 4-caps).

Sam Smith played hooker in all four of Great Britain's inaugural 1954 Rugby League World Cup matches, including Great Britain’s 16-12 victory over France in the 1954 World Cup final at Parc des Princes, Paris on 13 November 1954.

Sam Smith also represented Great Britain while at Hunslet between 1954 and 1956 against France (1 non-Test match).

## Death

Smith died in October 1989, aged 63.

