George Lewis - Centre
Wales RLHeritage No | 97 |
Date Of Birth | 09/08/1897 |
Place Of Birth | Pontypool |
Clubs | St Helens, Pontypool |
Regions | Monmouthshire |
Honours | Wales RL |
Managed | St Helens |
George Lewis became a St Helens great after turning professional with the club in 1022. Previously he had played rugby union with Pontypool. His brother Stan was signed at the same time and both made their Saints debuts against Featherstone on March 25. Unlike George, Stan, who played just 47 times for Saints, didn't ever play for Wales. In 428 matches for Saints, George scored 45 tries and kicked 850 goals totalling 1835 points. At that time, this was a club record and in 2022, he was still in the top five for points and goals. During his 14-year St Helens career, he played 184 times in the centres, 124 occasions at stand off, 118 matches at full back and twice in the number seven berth. He helped the side to win the Championship in 1931-32 and scored three goals in the Final win. He also helped them to a Lancashire Cup win in 1926 and captained the first St Helens team to play at Wembley, although they lost that day to Widnes. In 1926-27, he was the first St Helens player to kick a century of goals in a season. In a representative capacity, George won caps for both Glamorgan & Monmouth and Wales. His final match for the Club was against Barrow on April 20, 1936, after which he retired from the game. After he finished playing, George coached St Helens for a while in the mid-1930s. He went on to take charge of the sports teams at UGB Glass in St Helens, where he worked. On moving back to Wales, he got a job with Pilkington Brothers at Pontypool, where he spent 22 years before retiring. He lived at the family home with his brother and sister, in Pentrepiod, just outside Pontypool, known locally as the "house with a monkey tree". Stan died in 1976 and George outlived him and was at least 90 when he died in 1988.
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