John Elford
Encyclopedia
John Elford is an Australian former rugby league
footballer of the 1960s and 70s. He played his entire first grade Australian club football for the Western Suburbs Magpies
and also played for both the New South Wales
and Australia representative sides.
Originally came to the Western Suburbs club from the country in 1966 as a winger but soon was shifted to the forwards where he remained the rest of his career. He was noted for his great defence and a good ball playing forward, he made his representative debut in 1972 for New South Wales
and was then subsequently selected for the Australian national side that same year. He would be selected for the Australian side in the 1972 Rugby League World Cup
held in France
but broke his arm in a warm-up fixture prior to the tournament and could not take part.
His promising career was however often halted by several broken arms and other constant injuries that kept him out of the entire 1973 season and eventually forced him to retire in 1976.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1960s and 70s. He played his entire first grade Australian club football for the Western Suburbs Magpies
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
and also played for both the New South Wales
New South Wales Rugby League team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
and Australia representative sides.
Originally came to the Western Suburbs club from the country in 1966 as a winger but soon was shifted to the forwards where he remained the rest of his career. He was noted for his great defence and a good ball playing forward, he made his representative debut in 1972 for New South Wales
New South Wales Rugby League team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
and was then subsequently selected for the Australian national side that same year. He would be selected for the Australian side in the 1972 Rugby League World Cup
1972 Rugby League World Cup
The sixth Rugby League World Cup was held in France in October and November of 1972. Australia started as the favourites to retain the trophy they had won just two years previously. New Zealand had beaten all three of the other nations in 1971 and France were expected to be tough opponents on their...
held in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
but broke his arm in a warm-up fixture prior to the tournament and could not take part.
His promising career was however often halted by several broken arms and other constant injuries that kept him out of the entire 1973 season and eventually forced him to retire in 1976.