Brian McTigue
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Brian McTigue | |
| Place of birth | Wigan, England | |
| Nickname | The Wizard | |
| Position | Centre, Blind Prop | |
| Professional clubs* | ||
| Years | Club | Apps (points) |
| 1951 - 1967 N/A |
Wigan Warriors Blackpool Borough |
400+ (?) ? (?) |
| Representative teams | ||
| ? (?) | Great Britain | 21 (?) |
|
* Professional club appearances and points |
||
Brian McTigue is a former Rugby League player and Wigan RL Hall of Famer.
[edit] Bio
Sheer Wizardry often described the distribution skills and sleight of hand of Brian McTigue. He started his Wigan career as a centre, but took his handling skills into the pack where he won many club and international honours.
The sport however, nearly missed the talents of Brian McTigue because boxing was his first love at one time. He was so highly rated that former world champion Joey Maxim invited him to the United States after McTigue had figured in some exhibitions with the American. Fortunately McTigue decided to stick with rugby and, after only five games as a hooker for the Giants Hall colliery team, Wigan signed him and converted him into a three quarter.
Although he made his debut at Oldham in April 1951, he spent the next three years languishing in the ‘A’ Team. Wigan were prepared to sell him to Oldham but he refused. His patience paid off and, just as it looked as though he was not going to make it, he suddenly shot to prominence.
The rest of his career was nothing but one success after another. He went on to become one the all-time great prop forwards being capped 21 times by Great Britain. He made his Great Britain debut against Australia in 1958and toured twice.
McTigue also appeared at Wembley that year and score on try in the 13-9 win over Workington Town. He scored another try a year later as Wigan beat Hull and enjoyed one of his own personal great moments as he strode like a colossus through the Hull defence and collected the Lance Todd Award. He was in all four Wigan sides that went to Wembley in the sixties, an collected a third winners’ medal when they beat Hunslet in 1965. After more than 400 matches, his long association with the club ended in 1966-7. He moved to Blackpool Borough but played only one more game before going to Australia to coach Bathurst. He later returned to Wigan to work.
