John "Jack" Smales (first ¼ 1888
– fourth ¼ 1930
) was an English professional
rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s, 1910s and 1920s. He played at representative level for
Great Britain (non-
test matches), and
Yorkshire, and at club level for
Outwood Church ARLFC, and
Hunslet.
Background
Jack Smales' birth was registered in
Wakefield district,
West Riding of Yorkshire, England, he was the
landlord of The Beehive
public house (
demolished circa-March 1956), Kirkgate,
Wakefield, whilst changing a
beer barrel
A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container with a bulging center, longer than it is wide. They are traditionally made of wooden staves and bound by wooden or metal hoops. The word vat is often used for large containers for liquids, ...
he accidentally came into contact with a live
electrical conductor, resulting in death by
electrocution,
and he died aged 42 in
Wakefield district,
West Riding of Yorkshire, England.
Playing career
International honours
Jack Smales was selected for
1914 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand The 1914 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand was the second ever British national rugby league team or 'Lions' tour of Australasia, where it was winter and matches were played against the Australian and New Zealand national sides, ...
while at
Hunslet, and played in
Great Britain's non-
test tour matches including; the 101-0 victory over
South Australia on Friday 23 May 1914,
and the 10-38 defeat by
Metropolis at
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is a sports stadium in Sydney, Australia. It is used for Test cricket, Test, One Day International and Twenty20 cricket, as well as, Australian rules football and occasionally for rugby league, rugby union and as ...
on Saturday 6 June 1914.
All Four Cups, and "The Terrible Six"
Jack Smales was a member of
Hunslet's
1907–08 All Four Cups
Winning All Four Cups referred to winning all four competitions available to a British rugby league side in the top division between 1907 and 1970. The cups available to win were the First Division Championship, Challenge Cup, county league (La ...
winning team.
Club career
Jack Smales made his début for Hunslet in 1905, and he played his last match for
Hunslet against
York at
Clarence Street,
York on Friday 2 April 1920.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smales, John
1888 births
1930 deaths
Accidental deaths by electrocution
Accidental deaths in England
English rugby league players
Great Britain national rugby league team players
Hunslet F.C. (1883) players
Publicans
Rugby league players from Wakefield