19 Facts About Cliff Watson

Clifford H Watson was an English professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop in the 1960s and 1970s.

Cliff Watson played for the St Helens in the Rugby Football League Championship, and later the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership in Australia.

Cliff Watson went on to represent Great Britain on thirty occasions becoming known for his physical, tough and all-round fearless style of play.

Cliff Watson played for the British between 1963 and 1970 often striking fear into opponents.

Cliff Watson retired from first grade and international rugby league altogether after the 1973 season.

Clifford Watson was born into a working class family in Central London on 26 April 1940; he grew up playing both codes of rugby but slowly began to steer himself toward the amateur game of the day in rugby union.

At the early age of seventeen Cliff Watson trialled for Dudley Kingswinford rugby union football club where he was quickly signed and placed into the first team at second-row, quickly displaying his natural ability by cementing a regular place in the squad at such a young age.

Cliff Watson's career continued to grow in stature when within a year of signing for Dudley Kingswinford, Watson was selected for his first representative role with the Worcestershire and Herefordshire Combined Counties side and playing on several occasions in a new role of prop-forward.

Cliff Watson made his debut for the Lancashire club on 15 August 1960 playing at prop-forward in what turned out to be a defeat by local rivals Liverpool City at home.

Cliff Watson played out the six matches as per terms on his original contract and quickly re-signed for the club establishing himself further with each passing game played.

Cliff Watson tasted further success in 1961 with a Charity Cup victory in 1961.

Cliff Watson's career continued to flourish for St Helens during the rest of the 1960s being first selected for Great Britain in 1963 and winning the Western division Championship in 1963; the Gallie Cup in 1964,1967,1968,1969 and 1970; the Championship trophy in 1966 and a further Challenge Cup in 1966.

Cliff Watson played his 373rd and last match for St Helens in England on 7 May 1971 against Leeds before being enticed to sign with newly formed Australian club the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks by ex-teammate and present Sharks player-coach Tommy Bishop.

Cliff Watson toiled long and hard throughout the length of the match but premiership success was to elude him at the Sharks.

At the beginning of the 1974 competition, Cliff Watson did not come to terms with the financially struggling club and decided to play in the lower grades, seeing out the remainder of his career with Wollongong Souths in the Illawarra competition.

In 1974, Cliff Watson was selected to play for and captain Illawarra Firsts in their game against the touring Great Britain Lions.

Cliff Watson holds the dubious record of being the only British player to be sent off twice against Australia.

Cliff Watson featured in another three British tours in 1966,1967 and 1970.

Cliff Watson made a sole World Cup appearance in 1970.