Bill Burgess (rugby, born 1939)

For his father, the rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s, see Bill Burgess (rugby league, born 1897).

William Burgess (23 January 1939 – 11 June 2024) was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Lancashire, and at club level for Furness RUFC, and Fylde, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club level for Barrow and Salford, as a wing.^[2]

Bill Burgess

Personal information
Full name	William Burgess
Born	23 January 1939 Barrow-in-Furness, England
Died	11 June 2024(2024-06-11) (aged 85)[1]
Playing information
Rugby union
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P Furness RUFC Fylde Total 0 0 0 0 0 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P Lancashire 1
Rugby league
Position	Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1961–68 Barrow 222 179 537 1968–70 Salford 44 33 0 0 99 Total 266 212 0 0 636 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1961–69 Lancashire 11 10 0 0 33 1962–69 England 3 3 0 0 9 1962–69 Great Britain 14 8 0 0 24
Source: [2][3]
Father	Bill Burgess Sr

Background

Burgess' birth was registered in Barrow-in-Furness district, Lancashire, England. He is the son of the rugby league footballer Bill Burgess.

Playing career

Barrow

Burgess began his career in rugby union with Fylde RFC before switching to rugby league in 1961, signing for Barrow.^[4]

He played in Barrow's 12–17 defeat by Featherstone Rovers in the 1966–67 Challenge Cup Final during the 1966–67 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1967,^[5]

Burgess is third in Barrow's all time try scorers list with 179-tries.^[6]

Salford

In December 1968, Burgess was transferred to Salford for a fee of £6,000.^[1]

He played in Salford's 6–11 defeat by Castleford in the 1968–69 Challenge Cup Final during the 1968–69 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 17 May 1969.

Representative honours

Burgess won caps for England (RL) while at Barrow in 1962 against France, in 1969 against Wales, and France, and won caps for Great Britain (RL) while at Barrow in 1962 against France, in 1963 against Australia, in 1965 against New Zealand (2 matches), in 1966 against France, Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (2 matches), in 1967 against France, and Australia, in 1968 against France, and while at Salford in 1969 against France.

Burgess won a cap for Lancashire (RU) while at Fylde, and won caps for Lancashire (RL) while at Barrow.

Honoured at Barrow Raiders

Burgess is a Barrow Raiders Hall of Fame inductee.^[7]