| Alan Hardman | |
|---|---|
| Born |
19 May 1937 St. Helens, Lancashire, England |
| Died |
10 May 2021 (aged 83) Adelaide, South Australia |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 15 st 7 lb (98 kg) |
Alan Hardman (19 May 1937 – 10 May 2021) was an English former professional rugby league rugby player who was active in the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. An England international representative fullback, he played at club level in England for St. Helens prior to carrying out his National Service in the British Army.
Early life and background[]
Hardman was born in St. Helens, Lancashire, England. His younger brother was Colin Hardman, a motorcycle sidecar racer who won an Isle of Man TT race as passenger to Dave Molyneux in 1989.
Playing career[]
After playing amateur rugby he turned professional, signing in 1952 with his home-town club, St. Helens. Hardman made his solitary appearance for England in 1956 against Australia, with his professional rugby career put on hold due to his national service requirement; his final appearance for St. Helens was against Wigan. The St Helens R.F.C.–Wigan Warriors rivalry left Hardman with two broken ribs and a broken nose.
Army Service[]
Hardman commenced his National Service in 1956. He joined the 7th Queen's Own Hussars, being part of the force tasked with containing the 1956 Hong Kong Riots. During this time he also represented his regiment on the rugby field.
Subsequent career[]
Returning to St. Helens following his stint in the army, he re-joined the club, subsequently being loaned out to Liverpool Stanley. Hardman retired from rugby in 1971 prior to emigrating to Australia.
Australia[]
Together with his wife and three children, Hardman moved to Australia in 1971, settling in Adelaide and taking a job with the Public Building Department of the Government of South Australia. Following his retirement, he and his wife continued to live in Adelaide.
Death[]
Hardman died on 10 May 2021. He was survived by his wife and children.
References[]
External links[]
- Saints Heritage Society profile
- [1]
- rl1908.com 1956 Kangaroo tour
- (archived by web.archive.org) Rugby League Records
- (archived by web.archive.org) All the rugby league tables since 1895
- Runcorn Highfield RLFC
- Remember Runcorn Highfield on Facebook
Sources[]
- Brocken, Mike (2008). Liverpool City RLFC: Rugby league in a football city. London League Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-1-903659-40-3.
The original article can be found at Alan Hardman and the edit history here.