David Topliss

David Topliss
Personal information
Full name David John Topliss
Nickname Toppo
Born 29 December 1949
Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died 16 June 2008 (aged 58)
Crofton, England
Playing information
Position Stand-off/Five-eighth
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1968–81 Wakefield Trinity 417
1976 Penrith Panthers 12 0 0 0 0
1977 Balmain Tigers 18 10 0 1 31
1981–85 Hull 120 56 0 2 189
1985–87 Oldham 49 9 36
1987–88 Wakefield Trinity
Total 616 75 0 3 256
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1971–≥80 Yorkshire ≥15
1975 England 2
1973–82 Great Britain 4
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1987–94 Wakefield Trinity

David Topliss (29 December 1949 – 16 June 2008 (aged 58)) was an English Rugby League World Cup winning footballer, and coach. He played and coached with Wakefield Trinity (captain) (Heritage #746) in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

His playing career started at Normanton Juniors ARLFC before spending 13 years with Wakefield Trinity from 1968–81, he played Right-Wing, i.e. number 2, and made his début for Wakefield Trinity against Halifax at Thrum Hall, Halifax on Monday 2 September 1968, and won the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match in the 1979 Challenge Cup final even though he was on the losing side.

He joined Hull at age 31 for a fee of £15,000. He captained them to six finals in his four years at the club including when they won the Challenge Cup in 1982. He was captain of Hull during the 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, and 1984–85 seasons.[1]

Topliss played in the summer in Australia for Penrith Panthers (1976) and Balmain Tigers (1977).

International honours

David Topliss won caps for England while at Wakefield Trinity in 1975 against France, Australia (sub), and won caps for Great Britain while at Wakefield Trinity in 1973 against Australia (2 matches), in 1979 against Australia, and while at Hull in 1982 against Australia.

David Topliss was selected for Great Britain Squad while at Wakefield Trinity for the 1972 Rugby League World Cup in France. However, David Topliss did not participate in any of the four matches.

He went on the 1973 and 1979 Ashes tours of Australia, playing twice on the 1973 tour, and once on the 1979 tour, and whilst at Hull he captained Great Britain against the Kangaroos in 1982.[2]

David Topliss played Stand-off/Five-eighth, i.e. number 6 in Great Britain's 7–8 defeat by France in the friendly at Stadio Pierluigi Penzo, Venice on Saturday 31 July 1982.

He left Hull in 1985 and finished his playing career with Oldham (1985–87). During his time at the side he became synonymous with local supporters, earning the chant and slogan 'Go Topliss!'. At one game against Wrexham Topliss decided to remove his rugby shirt playfully in response to the chant, which resulted in him being banned from the game for 1 year

Challenge Cup final appearances

David Topliss played Stand-off/Five-eighth, was captain, and won the Lance Todd Trophy in Wakefield Trinity's 3–12 defeat by Widnes in the 1979 Challenge Cup final during the 1978–79 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1979.[3]

County Cup final appearances

David Topliss played Stand-off/Five-eighth in Wakefield Trinity's 2–7 defeat by Leeds in the 1973 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1973–74 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 20 October 1973, played Stand-off/Five-eighth in the 13–16 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1974 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1974–75 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 26 October 1974, played Stand-off/Five-eighth in Hull's 18–7 victory over Bradford Northern in the 1982 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1982–83 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 2 October 1982, played Stand-off/Five-eighth in Hull's 13–2 victory over Castleford in the 1983 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1983–84 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 15 October 1983, was an Interchange/Substitute, i.e. number 15, in Hull's 29–12 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1984 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1984–85 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 27 October 1984, and played Stand-off/Five-eighth in Oldham's 6–27 defeat by Wigan in the 1986 Lancashire Cup final during the 1986–87 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 19 October 1986.[4]

Player's No.6 Trophy final appearances

David Topliss played Stand-off/Five-eighth, and scored a try in Wakefield Trinity's 11-22 defeat by Halifax in the 1971-72 Player's No.6 Trophy final during the 1971–72 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 22 January 1972, and played Stand-off/Five-eighth, and was captain in Hull's 0-12 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1984–85 John Player Special Trophy final during the 1984–85 season at Boothferry Park, Kingston upon Hull on Saturday 26 January 1985 in fron of a crowd of 25,326.

Testimonial match

David Topliss' Testimonial match at Wakefield Trinity took place in 1980.

Coaching career

Topliss coached Wakefield Trinity from 1987–94 and also had a spell in charge of Great Britain under-21s in 1989. In his first season with Trinity, he guided them to promotion back into the old First Division, retiring as a player after the final match of the season. He remained at Wakefield as coach until 1994 when he stepped down to concentrate on his business.

County Cup final appearances

David Topliss was the coach in Wakefield Trinity's 8–11 defeat by Castleford in the 1990 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1990–91 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Sunday 23 September 1990, and was the coach in the 29–16 victory over Sheffield Eagles in the 1992 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1992–93 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Sunday 18 October 1992.

Honoured by Arriva Yorkshire

Arriva Yorkshire honoured 13 rugby league footballers on Thursday 20 August 2009, at a ceremony at The Jungle, the home of the Castleford Tigers. A fleet of new buses were named after the 'Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team'. Members of the public nominated the best ever rugby league footballers to have played in West Yorkshire, supported by local rugby league journalists; James Deighton from BBC Leeds, and Tim Butcher, editor of Rugby League World. The 'Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team' is; Trevor Foster MBE, Neil Fox MBE, Albert Goldthorpe, Alan Hardisty, Stan Kielty, Lewis Jones, Roger Millward MBE, Malcolm Reilly, Garry Schofield, Keith Senior, David Topliss, Dave Valentine, and Adrian Vowles.[5]

Personal details

He died on 16 June 2008 after suffering a heart attack during a five-a-side football game at Crofton Community Centre, in Crofton near Wakefield.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Coaches and Captains". hullfc.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. ↑ "David Topliss". Lastingtribute.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008.
  3. ↑ Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC – FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9
  4. ↑ "1986–1987 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. ↑ "Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team". Arriva Yorkshire. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "Rugby league star Topliss mourned". BBC News. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.

External links

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