Archie Rigg
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| Full name | James Archer Rigg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | c. 1872 Halifax district, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 29 May 1951 (aged 79) Halifax, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Scrum-half | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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James Archer Rigg (c. 1872 – 29 May 1951), also known by the nickname of "Archie ", was an English rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1890s and 1900s, and coached rugby union in the 1910s and 1920s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Halifax, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Yorkshire, and at club level for Halifax and Bradford Northern, as a scrum-half and coached rugby union at the newly established Halifax RUFC (formed 1919), after completing his playing career, with fellow Halifax Hall Of Fame Inductee Joe Riley. Prior to Tuesday 27 August 1895, Halifax was a rugby union club.
Background
Archie Rigg's birth was registered in Halifax district, West Riding of Yorkshire. He died at his home in Halifax on 29 May 1951, aged 79.[3]
Playing career
Club career
Archie Rigg made his début on Saturday 19 September 1891 under rugby union rules, helping the club win the Yorkshire Cup in 1893 and 1894.[3]
After Halifax joined the Northern Union, Rigg was rugby league's 1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season top point scorer, with 112-points,[4] and he played for Halifax until 1906 before moving to Bradford.
Rigg played, and was captain in Halifax's 7-0 victory over by Salford in the 1903 Challenge Cup final, during the 1902–03 season at Headingley, Leeds, in front of a crowd of 32,507.[5]
Rigg's Testimonial match at Halifax took place against Huddersfield at Thrum Hall, Halifax on Saturday 23 January 1904, Halifax's first ever matchday programme was produced for the match.[6]
County honours
Rigg won caps for Yorkshire (RL) while at Halifax.
Honoured at Halifax
Rigg is a Halifax Hall Of Fame Inductee.[7]
References
- ^ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Player Summary: Archie Rigg". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Death of Archer Rigg, greatest of half backs". Halifax Daily Courier & Guardian. 30 May 1951. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Raymond Fletcher; David Howes (1995). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1995-1996. London: Headline Book Publishing. p. 164. ISBN 0-7472-7817-2.
- ^ Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 7 – 1902–03". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
- ^ "Chilly start to Fax's Shay life…". halifaxcourier.co.uk. 6 April 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Halifax RLFC Hall of Fame". halifaxrlfc.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 September 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2012.