Remembering Jack Cunliffe

Over the years Wigan Warriors Rugby League Club has been blessed with players of great repute. Jack Cunliffe, more commonly known in later life as ‘Jackie’, was one of these. 

Jack Cunliffe was born 100 years ago – on 3rd March 1921, in Ince, Wigan. 

Cunliffe was one of a rare breed of player who could play anywhere in the back line from full back to scrum half and he became one of the most accomplished all-rounders ever to wear the Cherry and White jersey. 

Cunliffe came to Wigan as a young stand off when he signed for the Club in December 1939 from Newton Legion ARL. He made his debut in a 3-0 loss at Leigh in a Wigan team which also contained Jim Sullivan. That season he played in 17 games, partnering his former Newton Legion colleague half back partner, Tommy Bradshaw, on 12 occasions. 

In 1941, King and Country called and Cunliffe joined the RAF. A year later, he was stationed in India and Burma and didn’t return until early 1946 after the conclusion of WW2. A very accomplished footballer, Cunliffe turned down the opportunity of a career with a major London football club to return and play rugby with Wigan. 

Although Wigan had lost some of Cunliffe’s prime years – from the age of 20 to almost 25 – he soon settled and returned to first team action, scoring a try in a Challenge Cup victory at home over Keighley on 2nd March 1946. 

Cunliffe was selected as full back in the Challenge Cup Final against Wakefield – played at Wembley on 4th May 1946. Retrieving a kick almost 40 yards out he side-stepped and swerved his way through eight would-be tacklers to put Brian Nordgren over for one of Wigan’s four tries. Sadly, Nordgren missed all seven attempts at goal and Wigan lost 12-13. 

Just 14 days later, Cunliffe was again at full back in the end of season Play-Off Final against Huddersfield at Maine Road, Manchester, which Wigan won 13-8. He took advantage of his old ally Tommy Bradshaw’s quick hands to score Wigan’s second try to go with Ernie Ashcroft’s brace of tries which secured the win. 

Cunliffe won five Championship medals in total and added a further ten winners medals to his collection – three Lancashire Cups in 1949, 1950 and 1951 (with runners up medals in 1953 and 1957), two Challenge Cups in 1951 and 1958, and five County Championships in seasons 1945-46, 1946-47, 1949-50, 1951-52 and 1958-59. 

Cunliffe’s ability to play in a variety of positions to an equally high standard meant he was always near the top of the player appearances list each season.  

His adaptability ultimately led to him gaining county and international recognition. Cunliffe was selected to tour with Great Britain in 1950 and 1954 – acquiring four Test caps – along with seven England caps between 1949 and 1956, one British Empire appearance in 1952 and six Lancashire County Caps.  

The Great Britain touring squad of 1950 saw Cunliffe selected alongside seven of his illustrious Wigan colleagues – Ernie Ashcroft, Tommy Bradshaw, Joe Egan, Ken Gee, Jack Hilton, Gordon Ratcliffe and Martin Ryan. Cunliffe played in 17 games in total, including Test matches against Australia at stand off and New Zealand at full back. Only Wingman Danby of Salford played in more games (18). 

Cunliffe’s appearance for Great Britain on 6th October 1951 vs New Zealand saw him captain the side to a 21-15 at Bradford’s Odsal Stadium in front of a 37,475 crowd. He was also appointed Wigan captain for the 1951-52 season which culminated in a 13-6 victory over Bradford Northern in the Championship Play-Off. 

In the 1954 Great Britain touring squad, Cunliffe was selected along with Ernie Ashcroft, Nat Silcock and Billy Boston and he played 16 matches, including the first Test defeat by Australia. 

Cunliffe played his last game for Wigan on 9th January 1960 at Central Park vs Workington Town, where the visitors ran out the winners 11-7. Cunliffe played at full back in his final game and kicked two goals to take his total points tally to just short of the 1,000 mark in his 447th appearance for Wigan – both of these being remarkable achievements when you consider he lost more than four years whilst in his prime due to the Second World War. 

Acknowledging the fact that Jack Cunliffe – Heritage Number 425 – made his debut in 1939 and played his last game in 1960 makes him the only player to play in four decades for the famous Wigan Warriors Rugby League Club and is a credit to his fitness, dedication and loyalty. Only Jim Sullivan has represented Wigan over a longer period of time. 

Sadly ‘Jack of all trades: master of all’ passed away on 5th February 1973 aged just 51, leaving his devoted wife Kathleen and three children. In its obituary, The Times newspaper referred to him as ‘Gentleman Jack’ and ‘The Tom Finney of Rugby League’.

Written by Keith Sutch

Image credit: Steven Cunliffe (Grandchild of Jack Cunliffe)