Tyssul Griffiths
Encyclopedia
Tyssul "Tuss" Griffiths (born — died in Leeds
) is a Welsh
former rugby union
and professional rugby league
footballer of the 1940s and '50s who at club level has played rugby union (RU) for Newport RFC, playing at Fullback, i.e. number 15, and at representative level has played rugby league (RL) for Wales
, and at club level Hunslet
, Doncaster, Halifax
, and Dewsbury
, playing at , i.e. number 1.
(RU) while at Llanelli RFC in the 'Victory International' non-Test match(es)
between December 1945 and April 1946, and won caps for Wales
(RL) while at Hunslet, and Doncaster 1946…1951 2-caps.
Six rugby league footballers represented Wales XV
(RU) while at rugby league clubs, they were; Tyssul Griffiths, Elwyn Gwyther
, Gomer Hughes
, Hugh Lloyd-Davies
, Harold Thomas
, and Leslie Thomas.
Gomer Hughes, and Harold Thomas had previously won Wales (RU) caps, but the other footballers hadn't, and having already changed to the rugby league code they were unable to do so, but Tyssul Griffiths, Elwyn Gwyther, Leslie Thomas, did go on to win Wales (RL) caps.
's 4-4 draw with Warrington
in the 1953–54 Challenge Cup
final at Wembley Stadium on 1 May 1954, and the 4-18 defeat in the 1953–54 Challenge Cup
final replay at Odsal Stadium
, Bradford
on 5 May 1954 in front of a 102,569+ crowd.
district during July→September 1941.
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
) is a Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
former rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and professional rugby league
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 1940s and '50s who at club level has played rugby union (RU) for Newport RFC, playing at Fullback, i.e. number 15, and at representative level has played rugby league (RL) for Wales
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
, and at club level Hunslet
Hunslet Hawks
Hunslet Hawks is a professional rugby league club based in Hunslet, West Yorkshire, England. The club, sometimes known as 'the Parksiders' after their former stadium, are currently champions of Championship One.-History:-Early years:...
, Doncaster, Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
, and Dewsbury
Dewsbury Rams
Dewsbury Rams RLFC is a professional rugby league club based in the West Yorkshire town of Dewsbury. They are arguably most famous for becoming Champions in 1972-73 after finishing the regular season in 8th place. In the playoffs they beat Featherstone away, Warrington away, and then Leeds in the...
, playing at , i.e. number 1.
International honours
Tuss Griffiths represented Wales XVWales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
(RU) while at Llanelli RFC in the 'Victory International' non-Test match(es)
Test match (rugby union)
Test match in rugby union is a match recognised as being a full international match by at least one of the participating teams' governing bodies. It is an unofficial but widely used term in the sport....
between December 1945 and April 1946, and won caps for Wales
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
(RL) while at Hunslet, and Doncaster 1946…1951 2-caps.
Six rugby league footballers represented Wales XV
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
(RU) while at rugby league clubs, they were; Tyssul Griffiths, Elwyn Gwyther
Elwyn Gwyther
Elwyn Gwyther is a Welsh former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s who at representative level has played rugby union for Wales XV, and at club level for Llanelli RFC, playing at Prop forward, i.e...
, Gomer Hughes
Gomer Hughes
Gomer Hughes was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1930s and '40s who at representative level played rugby union for Wales, and Wales XV, and at club level for Penarth RFC, playing at Lock, i.e...
, Hugh Lloyd-Davies
Hugh Lloyd-Davies
R. Hugh Lloyd-Davies was a Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s who at representative level played rugby union for Wales XV, at university for Cambridge University RFC, and at club level for Ammanford RFC, playing at Fullback, i.e. number 15, and at club level...
, Harold Thomas
Harold Thomas (rugby)
Harold Watkin Thomas was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1930s and '40s who at representative level played rugby union for Wales, and Wales XV, and at club level for Neath RFC, playing at Lock, i.e...
, and Leslie Thomas.
Gomer Hughes, and Harold Thomas had previously won Wales (RU) caps, but the other footballers hadn't, and having already changed to the rugby league code they were unable to do so, but Tyssul Griffiths, Elwyn Gwyther, Leslie Thomas, did go on to win Wales (RL) caps.
Challenge Cup final appearances
Tuss Griffiths played , i.e. number 1, in HalifaxHalifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
's 4-4 draw with Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
in the 1953–54 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final at Wembley Stadium on 1 May 1954, and the 4-18 defeat in the 1953–54 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final replay at Odsal Stadium
Odsal Stadium
Odsal Stadium is a stadium situated in Odsal, Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. The venue is used for rugby league and has been the home ground of Bradford Bulls/Bradford Northern since 1934...
, Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
on 5 May 1954 in front of a 102,569+ crowd.
Career Records
Tuss Griffiths is one of less than twenty-five Welshmen to have scored more than 1000-points in their rugby league career.Genealogical information
Tuss Griffiths' marriage to Vera Jackson was registered in East GlamorganGlamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
district during July→September 1941.