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Virtual Rugby League Hall of Fame |
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World Cup - Golden Lions - Dave Valentine
World Cups (1) - Great Britain 1954 Details from the Sportal Rugby League World Cup 2000 Greatest Players site Dave Valentine’s place in rugby league history was already assured before the inaugural 1954 World Cup. He had already won eleven test caps, played in Ashes-winning sides in 1948 and 1952, toured Australasia with the Lions earlier in 1954 and won a host of major honours with a sublimely entertaining Huddersfield team. He had been capped by Scotland at rugby union and in league he had been a mainstay for the celebrated Other Nationalities XIII.A virile, hard-working, strong-tackling loose-forward and a leader others would follow, Valentine was offered the captaincy of Great Britain for the first World Cup when stand-off Willie Horne turned it down. It could have been a poisoned chalice for many of the returning 1954 Lions also decided to forego the experience and injuries ruled out other candidates. History shows that Valentine’s party of underdogs went to France and confounded both the sceptics and the opposition. Britain probably never had a more inspirational captain as Valentine led them to a 16-12 victory in the final against an excellent French combination. That final at the Parc des Princes proved to be Valentine’s last appearance for Great Britain. What a way to finish. Back to Golden Lions |
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