Don Vines

GB & Wales international rugby league footballer

Don Vines

Personal information

Full name| Donald George Vines
Born| 6 February 1932
Newbridge (Newport district), Wales
Died| 17 September 1989(1989-09-17) (aged 57)
Wakefield, England

Playing information

Rugby union

Position| Centre, Forward
| Club

Years  | Team  | Pld | T | G | FG | P
1953?–56  | Newbridge RFC |  |  |  |  |

Rugby league

Position| Prop, Second-row, Loose forward
| Club

Years  | Team  | Pld | T | G | FG | P
1956–58  | Oldham | 70  | 4  | 0  | 0  | 12
1958–60  | Wakefield Trinity | 71  | 4  | 0  | 0  | 12
1960–61  | St. Helens | 38  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 3
1961–65  | Wakefield Trinity | 114  |  |  |  |
| Total  | 293  | 9  | 0  | 0  | 27
Representative
Years  | Team  | Pld | T | G | FG | P
1965  | Other Nationalities | 1  |  |  |  |
1959–63  | Wales | 2  |  |  |  |
1959  | Great Britain | 3  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 3

Coaching information

| Club

Years | Team | Gms | W | D | L | W%
1979-80  | Doncaster RLFC |  |  |  |  |

Source: [1][2]

Donald "Don" George Vines (6 February 1932[3] – 17 September 1989) was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s, and a heel wrestler in professional wrestling of the 1960s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Newbridge RFC, as a centre, or later in the forwards, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, Wales and Other Nationalities, and at club level for Oldham, Wakefield Trinity (two spells), and St Helens, as a prop, second-row, or loose forward.[1][4]

## Background

[edit]

Don Vines was born in Newbridge, Wales, his birth was registered in Newport district, he worked as a blacksmith at Crigglestone Colliery c. 1960, he worked at Wakefield College c. 1980s, and he died aged 57 in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England.

## Playing career

[edit]

### International honours

[edit]

Don Vines won caps for Wales (RL) while at Wakefield Trinity 1959…1963 2-caps, and won caps for Great Britain (RL) while at Wakefield Trinity in 1959 against France (2 matches), and Australia,[1] and represented Other Nationalities (RL) while at Wakefield Trinity, he played at second-row in the 2–19 defeat by St. Helens at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Wednesday 27 January 1965, to mark the switching-on of new floodlights.[5]

### Championship appearances

[edit]

Don Vines played at prop in Wakefield Trinity's 3–27 defeat by Wigan in the Championship Final during the 1959–60 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 21 May 1960.[6]

### Challenge Cup Final appearances

[edit]

Don Vines played at prop in Wakefield Trinity's 38–5 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1959–60 Challenge Cup Final during the 1959–60 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 14 May 1960, in front of a crowd of 79,773,[7] played at second-row in St. Helens' 12–6 victory over Wigan in the 1960–61 Challenge Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1961, in front of a crowd of 94,672, and played at second-row in Wakefield Trinity's 25–10 victory over Wigan in the 1962–63 Challenge Cup Final during the 1962–63 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1963, in front of a crowd of 84,492.[7]

### County Cup Final appearances

[edit]

Don Vines played at prop in Oldham's 13–8 victory over Wigan in the 1957–58 Lancashire CupFinal during the 1957–58 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 19 October 1957, played at second-row in St. Helens' 15–9 victory over Swinton in the 1960–61 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 29 October 1960, played at second-row in Wakefield Trinity's 19–9 victory over Leeds in the 1961–62 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1961–62 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 11 November 1961, and played at prop in the 18–2 victory over Leeds in the 1964–65 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1964–65 season at Fartown, Huddersfield on Saturday 31 October 1964.

### Club career

[edit]

Don Vines made his début for Wakefield Trinity in the 15–14 victory over Huddersfield at Fartown, Huddersfield on Saturday 27 September 1958.

## Contemporaneous article extract

[edit]

"Don Vines. Playing as off-half for the Welsh Association of Boys' Clubs, then at centre for Welsh Youth against Welsh Secondary Schools, Don started his football career with two caps. That was in 1950. There followed three years in the Army and after that a period with the Newbridge R.U. club, still at centre threequarter. A brief break and then resumption with Newbridge, this time as a forward, but after three more months Don decided to change his code, and signed for Oldham Rugby League Club in 1956. Two years later came another move, this time, we are glad to say, to Trinity. Whilst with us he has gained international honours for Wales v. France, twice for Great Britain v. France, and again, during the recent tour of the Australians, for Great Britain v. Australia. Trinity followers are glad to know that Don is happily settled in Wakefield. We shall look forward to many more grand displays such as he has given since coming to Belle Vue."[8]

Don went to Oxford with Les Gant in the 1970's to guest coach the newly formed Oxford University Rugby League Club. He was excellent and the team is still going strong forty years later.

## Genealogical information

[edit]

Don Vines' marriage to Patricia B. (née Cook, birth registered during fourth quarter 1934 (age 90-91) in Newport district) was registered during second quarter 1954 in Caerleon district, Wales. They had children; Michelle Vines, Beverley S. Vines (birth registered during fourth quarter 1960 (age 64-65) in St. Helens district)and Lee J. Vines (birth registered during third aquarter 1962 (age 62-63) in Wakefield district).

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
2. ^ "Statistics at orl-heritagetrust.org.uk". Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
3. ^ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
4. ^ Graham Williams, Peter Lush, David Farrar (November 2009). "The British Rugby League Records Book [Page-108…114]". London League Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6
5. ^ Cook, H.B. (1965). Programme - St. Helens versus Other Nationalities. St. Helens Rugby F.C. Ltd.
6. ^ "1959–1960 Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 21 October 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
7. ^ a b Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC – FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9
8. ^ Lindley, John (20 February 1960). Wakefield Trinity RLFC Official Programme: Oldham. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a

## External links

[edit]

* Profile at saints.org.uk
* Tribute paid to one of Keighley RLFC's 'famous sons'[permanent dead link]
* (archived by web.archive.org) list of matches shown
* Blast from the past 1962
* Big Geoff was star of No 13 shirt
* Wild Angus Campbell
* (archived by web.archive.org) Virtual Rugby League Hall of Fame
* RUGBY LEAGUE: Veteran duo made club a force to be reckoned with
* [permanent dead link] ĎŔƑ Rugby League Fans Forum[permanent dead link]
* (archived by web.archive.org) Junior Academy Don Vines Players' Player award
* Wrestling Heritage Archived 19 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine
* Sharing may be answer for 'Cats
* (archived by web.archive.org) Don Vines – Wakefield's toughest Welshman remembered
* Rugby League Cup Final 1960
* Rugby League Final 1963
* Search for "Don Vines" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
* Search for "Donald Vines" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

* v
* t
* e

Wakefield Trinity squad – 1959–60 Challenge Cup Final winners

* 1 Gerry Round
* 2 Fred Smith
* 3 Alan Skene
* 4 Neil Fox
* 5 John Etty
* 6 Ken Rollin
* 7 Keith Holliday

* 8 Jack Wilkinson
* 9 Geoff Oakes
* 10 Don Vines
* 11 Les Chamberlain
* 12 Albert Firth
* 13 Derek Turner (c)

* Coach: Ken Traill

* v
* t
* e

St Helens squad – 1960–61 Challenge Cup Final winners

* 1 Austin Rhodes
* 2 Tom van Vollenhoven
* 3 Ken Large
* 4 Brian McGinn
* 5 Mick Sullivan
* 6 Alex Murphy
* 7 Wilf Smith

* 8 Abe Terry
* 9 Bob Dagnall
* 10 Cliff Watson
* 11 Don Vines
* 12 Dick Huddart
* 13 Vince Karalius (c)

* Coach: Alan Prescott

* v
* t
* e

Wakefield Trinity squad – 1962–63 Challenge Cup Final winners

* 1 Gerry Round
* 2 Colin Greenwood
* 3 Ian Brooke
* 4 Neil Fox
* 5 Gert Coetzer
* 6 Harold Poynton
* 7 Keith Holliday

* 8 Jack Wilkinson
* 9 Milan Kosanović
* 10 Malcolm Sampson
* 11 Don Vines
* 12 Derek Turner (c)
* 13 Roger Pearman

* Coach: Ken Traill

* v
* t
* e

Wakefield Trinity Golden Greats 1945-1991

* 1\. Gerry Round
* 2\. Fred Smith
* 3\. Alan Skene
* 4\. Neil Fox
* 5\. Gert Coetzer
* 6\. Harold Poynton
* 7\. Keith Holliday
* 8\. Jack Wilkinson
* 9\. Leonard "Len" Marson
* 10\. Don Vines
* 11\. Mick Exley
* 12\. Bob Haigh
* 13\. Derek Turner

* v
* t
* e

Wakefield Trinity Hall of Fame 1873-1973

* 01\. 'Dickie' Lockwood
* 02\. Teddy Bartram
* 03\. Harry Hayley
* 04\. Herbert Hutchinson
* 05\. Jimmy Metcalfe
* 06\. Tommy Newbould
* 07\. Herbert Kershaw
* 08\. Thomas "Tommy" Poynton
* 09\. Arthur Kenealy "Nealy" Crosland
* 10\. Jonathan Parkin
* 11\. Billy Batten
* 12\. Stanley Smith
* 13\. Bill Horton
* 14\. Mick Exley
* 15\. Charlie Pollard
* 16\. Ernest Pollard
* 17\. Ted Bateson
* 18\. Freddie Smart
* 19\. Sam Lee
* 20\. Herbert Goodfellow
* 21\. Len Bratley
* 22\. Harry Wilkinson
* 23\. Harry Murphy
* 24\. Len Marson
* 25\. Ron Rylance
* 26\. John Dennis Boocker
* 27\. Don Robinson
* 28\. Frank Mortimer
* 29\. Don Froggett
* 30\. Harold Poynton
* 31\. Keith Holliday
* 32\. Derek Turner
* 33\. Don Vines
* 34\. Jack Wilkinson
* 35\. Fred Smith
* 36\. Neil Fox
* 37\. Billy Stott
* 38\. Don Fox
* 39\. Ken Traill
* 40\. Gerry Round
* 41\. Berwyn Jones
* 42\. Ray Owen
* 43\. Gary Cooper
* 44\. Bob Haigh
* 45\. Ian Brooke
* 46\. David Jeanes
* 47\. David Topliss

* v
* t
* e

Doncaster R.L.F.C. coaches

* Gareth Price (1951-??)
* Don Robinson (1964)
* Les Belshaw (1966-68)
* Ted Strawbridge (1973–75)
* Derek Edwards (1975–76)
* Don Robson (1976–77)
* Trevor Lowe (1977–78)
* Tommy Smales (1978–79)
* Billy Yates (1979)
* Don Vines (1979–80)
* Bill Kenny (1980–81)
* Alan Rhodes (1981–83)
* Clive Sullivan (1983–84)
* John Sheridan (1984–87)
* Graham Heptinstall (1987–88)
* John Sheridan (1988–89)
* David Sampson (1989–92)
* Geoff Morris (1992)
* Tony Fisher (1992–94)
* Ian Brooke (1994–95)
* Peter Astbury & Andy Gascogine (1995)
* Peter Regan (1995–96)
* Tony Fisher (1996–97)
* Colin Maskill (1997–98)
* St. John Ellis (1999–2005)
* Tony Miller (2006)
* Keiran Dempsey (2007)
* Gary Wilkinson (2007)
* John Stankevitch (2007)
* Ellery Hanley (2008)
* Tony Miller (2009–12)
* Paul Cooke (2012–15)
* Gary Thornton (2015–17)
* Richard Horne (2017–)

*[Pld]: Played
*[T]: Tries
*[G]: Goals
*[FG]: Field goals
*[P]: Points
*[Gms]: Games
*[W]: Wins
*[D]: Draws
*[L]: Losses
*[W%]: Win percentage
*[c.]: circa
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template