Brian Leslie Butler (born 16 February 1948) is a Welsh former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for a 'Wales XV', and at club level for

Felinfoel RFC Felinfoel RFC is a Welsh rugby union club representing the town of Felinfoel, Llanelli, West Wales. Felinfoel RFC is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for Llanelli Scarlets. Club honours * WRU Division Two West - 2007/08 ...

and Llanelli RFC, as a

prop A prop, formally known as (theatrical) property, is an object used on stage or screen by actors during a performance or screen production. In practical terms, a prop is considered to be anything movable or portable on a stage or a set, distinct ...

, i.e. number 1 or 3, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Bradford Northern, Swinton and Warrington ( Heritage № 767), as a .

Background

Brian Butler was born in Llanelli, Wales.

Rugby union career

Butler first came to prominence as a rugby union player when he represented Felinfoel. Like many other players before him, he moved from Feloinfoel to neighbouring Llanelli where he played as prop. In the 1967–68 season he was a regular in the first team, opposite Byron Gale with club captain

Norman Gale Norman Rowland Gale (4 March 1862 – 7 October 1942) was a poet, novelist and reviewer, who published many books over a period of nearly fifty years. Gale was born in Kew, Surrey. He entered Exeter College, Oxford in 1880 and graduated in 188 ...

completing the front row. Although never capped for the Wales national team he was selected to tour Argentina in 1968 as part of a select 'Wales XV'. Butler played against Argentina on 14 September at Buenos Aires; the Wales XV lost 9–5, no caps were awarded at the time, but he was later awarded a

Welsh Rugby Union The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU; cy, Undeb Rygbi Cymru) is the Sports governing body, governing body of rugby union in the country of Wales, recognised by the sport's international governing body, World Rugby. The WRU is responsible for the running ...

President's cap. In June 1970 Butler, along with club-mate Stuart Gallacher switched to professional rugby league, joining Bradford Northern. This act severed his ties with rugby union and he never played the sport again.

Rugby league career

International honours

Brian Butler won caps for Wales (RL) while at Swinton in the

1975 Rugby League World Cup The 1975 Rugby League World Championship (also referred to as the World Series) was the seventh tournament for the Rugby League World Cup. The format differed from that employed in previous competitions; no single country hosted the matches, whi ...

against France, New Zealand, and France, and while at Warrington in 1977 against France.

Club career

Brian Butler was transferred from Swinton to Warrington in exchange for

David Chisnall David Chisnall (10 April 1948 – 11 January 2013) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Leigh (two spells), ...

, he made his début for Warrington on Sunday 12 October 1975, and he played his last match for Warrington on Sunday 20 March 1977.

References

External links

Photograph "Brian Butler, Llanelli forward, wins the ball back, 26th February 1968" at alamy.comPhotograph "Hutchinson goes in for a tackle - Young "A" team hooker, Kevin Hutchinson, goes in to make a tackle against St Helens. - 22/08/1970" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Butler goes down - Brian Butler goes down to a double tackle against Hull KR. - 04/04/1971" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Brian Butler Makes A Break - Brain Butler makes a break during todays game at Odsal - 24/12/1972" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Brian Butler - Brian Butler hands off a Castleford opponent. - 30/04/1972" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Seabourne leads his men - Barry Seabourne, acting skipper, leads his men out down the slope. - 01/10/1972" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Brian Butler Breaks - Brian Butler breaks for the Rochdale line. - 16/04/1972" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Brian Butler covered - Ex Northern prop Brian Butler is covered in the cup match at Station Road. - 24/02/1974" at rlhp.co.uk
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Statistics at wolvesplayers.thisiswarrington.co.ukSearch for "Brian Butler" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Brian 1948 births Living people Bradford Bulls players Felinfoel RFC players Footballers who switched code Llanelli RFC players Rugby league players from Llanelli Rugby league props Rugby union players from Llanelli Rugby union props Swinton Lions players Wales national rugby league team players Warrington Wolves players Welsh rugby league players Welsh rugby union players