Profile

Billy Hall was born in Gloucester and started his rugby career with the local West End team, before graduating to the full Gloucester side. The youngest of seven rugby playing brothers, he followed in all of their footsteps by gaining county honours for Gloucestershire and this was followed by an appearance for an England XV against France in 1912. He had toured France with the Gloucester team and Perpignan attempted to acquire his services, but after returning home to consider their offer, he switched allegiance to the Coventry club and was snapped up by Oldham on the recommendation of ex-player Tommy Cash.

He commenced the 1913-14 season at Watersheddings proving to be a tricky and elusive player in the centre or stand off position and so impressed in the new code that he was selected for the 1914 tour to Australia and New Zealand. He played in all three tests in Australia, including the famous third “Rorke’s Drift” encounter, where he had to leave the field with concussion.

As his career progressed after the First World War, he would be utilised more and more in the centre position and along with Evan Davies formed a tremendous pair of inside threequarters. He went on to give great service to the club until his last match in the Challenge Cup quarter final against Featherstone at Watersheddings on March 14th, 1925, helping Oldham towards their eventual final triumph against Hull K.R.