Fev Players: Prop Forwards

ALL THE ROVERS PROP FORWARDS

ALL THE ROVERS PROPS

Here is a list of everyone who has ever played at prop for the Rovers from the beginning of our professional era in 1921 up until the end of last season (2018). They are listed in the order of appearances in the starting line-up as a stand-off.

There are 14 players who have played more than 100 games at prop for Fev, 7 of whom played more than 200. 

When you bear in mind that the position of prop probably results in more wear and tear on the body than any other it is amazing that Ernest Barraclough played there an unbelievable 419 times, starting with Rovers first ever game (he is Rovers Heritage Number 1) as a professional team and going right through to the very last game of the 1933/34 season.

Stuart Dickens, Frank Hemingway and Malcolm Dixon (Fev’s victorious captain at Wembley in 1967) all made more than 300 appearances at prop.

Barraclough and Hemingway never played together, Hemingway joining Fev the season after Barraclough retired. But if you look at any Rovers teamsheet from 27th August 1921 right through to the 9th September 1950 there is a 75% chance that one of them will be listed!

The very large number who only played one or two games at prop includes quite a few who only ever played that many games for Rovers first team.

Jamie Peacock, who went onto become one of the best prop forwards in the world, started at prop for Fev twice in 1998.

The list includes several who made the odd appearance at prop playing out of their usual position. In that category are players such as Keith Bell (usually loose forward) who played 417 games for Fev but only two of those were at prop. Those two games at prop were in a John Player Trophy match against amateurs Thatto Heath in November 1987 and his very last game for Fev, against Wigan, in March 1990. 

New Zealand rugby union recruit, Clarry Iti, played mainly in the second row but made just one appearance at prop. In his début for Fev he appeared to forget he was playing rugby league and the first time he was tackled laid the ball behind him union-style. He is probably the only rugby league player to be related (albeit my marriage) to a world-renowned opera singer. Dame Kiri te Kanawa is his sister-in-law!

Fred Agar (brother of Allan) played 13 games for but only one of those was at prop.