WARRINGTON Wolves believe they have become the first rugby league club in the world to honour the club’s entire playing staff during the history of the club, with unique heritage numbers.
Every member of Warrington’s first-team squad has a squad number to define their position and role within the group.
Captain and first-choice prop Adrian Morley is No8 and veteran stand-off Lee Briers is No6 (both pictured lifting the Challenge Cup above) while newcomers like Stefan Ratchford and Chris Hill are numbered 19 and 20 respectively.
From this weekend, however, every player will also have a heritage number to record their place in the club’s history, with this number embroidered on their playing shirts. Club historians have calculated that almost 1,100 players have represented the first team since rugby league was born in 1895.
Those players have been placed in chronological order, starting with the 15 Wirepullers who took to the field against Hunslet that September. In those days the players did not wear numbers of any kind and the positions were less defined than they are today so the original team has been placed in alphabetical order with captain Fair Barber – Fair was short for Fairfield – being given heritage number one.
Centre Charlie Burton, who kicked a goal in Warrington’s 5-4 victory over Hunslet that day, is No5. Scrum-half James Bate, who was known as Smack because he clapped his hands once every time he wanted the ball, is No2.
From that match onwards every new player is given a new number so Jack Fish, the club’s first superstar, who made his debut in 1898 is No65. The great Brian Bevan is No470.
In the current squad, Lee Briers is heritage No955 and Paul Wood is No999. Australian Steve Georgallis, who made 10 appearances in 2001, was No1000.
New signings Stefan Ratchford (pictured right) and Trent Waterhouse are number 1097 and 1098 respectively as the club moves ever close to the magical 1,100.
Warrington Wolves are believed to be the first rugby league club in the world to introduce heritage numbers – a phrase coined by heritage officer Neil Dowson – and it will be interesting to see if – and when – others follow.
Heritage numbers are becoming increasingly common for national teams, particularly in the cricket world. Current England Test captain Andrew Strauss is No624 while the legendary WG Grace was No24. Warrington’s Neil Fairbrother was No525.
The England RL team also have heritage numbers, which can be found on their website. Warrington legends George Dickenson and Jack Fish, who played in the sport’s first international match in 1904, have been given numbers three and five respectively.
The Warrington players who took part in last year’s Gillette Four Nations tournament are also on the roll of honour: Adrian Morley (598), Ben Westwood (631) and Garreth Carvell (695).
It is expected that the England rugby union team will soon adopt a similar scheme to honour its international stars.
