In 1982, Dick Daglish wrote a mighty booklet to mark the club’s 125th anniversary, “Red, Black & Blue: the first 125 years of Liverpool Football Club Rugby Union”. Inside, Daglish and David Boult selected their ‘Fifteen Best Ever Liverpool Players’. Thirty-five years later, it is time to update the selection panel’s choice, but this time including players from St Helens RUFC and Liverpool St Helens FC. This list is based purely on the number of international caps the players have gained, and the number of tries they have scored for their country.

Do you agree with our selection? Vote for your Dream Team below!

Full Back

In the frame were the club’s first international ARTHUR LYON from 1871. TOSH ASKEW, GEOFF PIMBLETT and JOHN HENNIGAN were also considered, but the Number 15 jersey goes to SIMON MASON, whose three caps for Ireland in 1996 gives him the honour.

Full Back
vote

Right Wing

TED RUDD gained 6 caps, but no tries, so the Number 11 shirt, by virtue of his 10 England appearances and three international tries is worn by NIGEL HESLOP.

Right Wing
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Outside Centre

MIKE BEESE came into consideration, as did MIKE KILLEN for his goal kicking ability, but with 15 England caps gained between 1985 and 1988, the Number 13 jersey is worn by our very own Club Doctor KEVIN SIMMS.

Outside Centre
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Inside Centre

DAVID ROUGHLEY was a contender, but the selectors go back to 1913, for his 17 England caps, plus the hon- our of leading his country (but not this ‘Dream Team’) they select RONNIE POULTON.

Inside Centre
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Left Wing

A no-brainer, with 32 caps between 1976 and 1984 plus a British Lions tour to South Africa, in at Number 14 comes MIKE SLEMEN

Left Wing
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Fly Half

So many to choose from. From 1871, FRANK TOBIN, from the 50’s, MARTIN REGAN, from the 60’s TOM BROPHY and the 80’s JOHN HORTON, but the Number 10 jersey and captaincy of the side is given to RICHARD LLOYD. One wonders what magic this goal kicker would produce using a modern plastic coated Gilbert ball, a kicking tee and a pair of modern rugby boots.

Fly Half
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 Scrum Half

EDWARD MASSEY, DAVE CARFOOT and long serving club man TERRY MORRIS all came into consideration for the Number 9 jersey, but the honour goes to DEWI MORRIS, whose 29 caps and Lions tours to New Zealand and South Africa give him the honour.

Fly Half
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 Loose Head Prop

For sentimental reasons, WILF MURPHY is worth a shout, but by virtue of his 25 Springbok caps gained between 2006 and 2010, the Number 3 shirt is awarded to South African BRENDAN BJ BOTHA.

Loose Head Prop
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 Hooker

No obvious stand out contender, with PAUL DADSWELL, LES PARKINSON, NORMAN COLCLOUGH and KIERAN RABBIT all worthy challengers, but the selectors have gone, once again to the 1913 team and chosen FREDERICK TURNER, the Scotsman for this position.

Hooker
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Tight Head Prop

Again, no contest. FRAN COTTON with 38 caps and two Lions tours, he is the man everyone would want in their Dream Team.

Tight Head Prop
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 Locks

Two positions to fill here. RAY FRENCH represented England in 1961, before signing for St Helens RLFC, and for his sheer height, JIM MCKEON must be worth considering, as must DAVE CUSANI, but the Number 4 shirt goes to ANDREW {Noel} SLOCOCK who won 8 England caps from 1907, and was killed in action during World War One in 1916. The other lock has to be MAURICE COLCLOUGH, 33 England caps gained between 1978 and 1986, plus Lions tours to New Zealand and South Africa.

Locks (select two)
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 Blind Side Flanker

REG HIGGINS grabs the Number 6 shirt for his ferocity in the tackle, which earned him 13 England caps and a Lions trip to South Africa.

Blind Side Flanker
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 Open Side Flanker

Up for discussion came HARRY FRY and ALAN BROWN, both international players, but they are edged out by ARTHUR BLAKINSTON, who in 1920 won 21 caps and scored 3 international tries.

Open Side Flanker
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Number 8

Again, so many great players to choose from, ELLIOT ALLEN who won 21 caps for Ireland, KEITH BEARNE who represented Scotland, WATKIN THOMAS, the Cowley schoolmaster who was the first St Helens capped player, but the Number 8 jersey is claimed by ALAN ASHCROFT by virtue of his England and British Lions pedigree.

Number 8
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Comments

  1. Reply

    Some great names from a great club that gave rugby to the world. Wonderful memories of that place.

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