James Archer Rigg (c. 1872 – 29 May 1951), also known by the

nickname A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...

of "Archie ", was an English

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

, and professional

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

footballer who played in the 1890s and 1900s, and

coach Coach may refer to: Guidance/instruction * Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities * Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process ** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers Transportation * Co ...

ed rugby union in the 1910s and 1920s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Halifax, and representative level rugby league (RL) for

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a Historic counties of England, historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other Eng ...

, and at club level for Halifax and

Bradford Northern The Bradford Bulls are a professional rugby league club in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, playing in the Championship. They have won five Challenge Cups, six league championships and three World Club Challenges. The team jersey is predomi ...

, as a , i.e. number 7, and coached rugby union at the newly established

Halifax RUFC Halifax Rugby Union Football Club is an English rugby union team based in Halifax, West Yorkshire. The club currently runs three senior men's teams (1xv, 2ndxv & Vets) along with 2 Women's rugby union teams (1xv & Development) and a Mixed Abilit ...

(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

club.

Background

Archie Rigg's birth was registered in Halifax district,

West Riding of Yorkshire The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county County of York, West Riding (the area under the control of West Riding County Council), abbreviated County ...

. He died at his home in Halifax on 29 May 1951, aged 79.

Playing career

County Honours

Archie Rigg won caps for

(RL) while at Halifax.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Archie Rigg played, and was

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

in Halifax's 7-0 victory over by Salford in the

1903 Events January * January 1 – Edward VII is proclaimed Emperor of India. * January 19 – The first west–east transatlantic radio broadcast is made from the United States to England (the first east–west broadcast having been ...

Challenge Cup The Challenge Cup is a knockout rugby league cup competition organised by the Rugby Football League, held annually since 1896, with the exception of 1915–1919 and 1939–1940, due to World War I and World War II respectively. It involves am ...

final, during the 1902–03 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium,

Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...

, in front of a crowd of 32,507.Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 7 – 1902–03".

Rugby Leaguer Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby league: 13 players per side *** Masters Rugby League *** Mod league *** Rugby league nines *** Rugby league sevens *** Touch (sport) *** Wheelchair rugby league ** Rugby union: 1 ...

ISBN n/a

Testimonial match

Archie Rigg's Testimonial match at Halifax took place against

Huddersfield Huddersfield is a market town in the Kirklees district in West Yorkshire, England. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Kirklees district. The town is in the foothills of the Pennines. The River Holme's confluence into ...

at Thrum Hall, Halifax on Saturday 23 January 1904, Halifax's first ever matchday programme was produced for the match.

Club career records

Archie Rigg made his début on Saturday 19 September 1891 under

rules, he was

1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season The 1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the second ever season of rugby league football. Following the success of the Northern Union's first season, several more clubs from the established Rugby Football Union joined the rebel com ...

top point scorer, with 112-points, and he played for Halifax until 1906 before moving to

Bradford Bradford is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Bradford district in West Yorkshire, England. The city is in the Pennines' eastern foothills on the banks of the Bradford Beck. Bradford had a population of 349,561 at the 2011 ...

Honoured at Halifax

Archie Rigg is a Halifax Hall Of Fame Inductee.

References

External links

Search for "Archie Rigg" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.ukSearch for "Archer Rigg" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.ukSearch for "James Archer Rigg" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.ukSearch for "James Rigg" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rigg, Archie 1870s births 1951 deaths Bradford Bulls players English rugby league players English rugby union coaches English rugby union players Great Britain national rugby league team players Halifax R.L.F.C. captains Halifax R.L.F.C. players Halifax RUFC coaches People from Sowerby Bridge Rugby league halfbacks Rugby league players from Halifax, West Yorkshire Rugby union players from Halifax, West Yorkshire Yorkshire rugby league team players