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George Cottrell

1881 – 1963

English rugby union and rugby league footballer

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About George Cottrell

Lived 1881 – 1963 (aged 81–82). George Cottrell was a rugby union player and rugby league player.

George Thomas Cottrell (third ¼ 1881 – first ¼ 1963), also known by the nickname of "Rocky", was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Gloucestershire and at club level for Cheltenham All Saints RFC (associated with All Saints' Church, Cheltenham) and Cheltenham RFC, as a full-back, or centre, and club level rugby league (RL) for Halifax RLFC, Hull FC and Keighley, as a , or .

Background George Cottrell's birth was registered in Cheltenham district, Gloucestershire, England, and his death was registered in Hull district, East Riding of Yorkshire.

Rugby union playing career

Notable tour matches George Cottrell played in Cheltenham's 0-18 defeat by The Original All Blacks during the 1905–1906 New Zealand tour in Europe and North America at Athletic and Recreation Ground, Cheltenham on Wednesday 6 December 1905.

Rugby league playing career

Championship final appearances George Cottrell played in Halifax's 18-3 victory Oldham in the Championship Final during the 1906–07 season.

Challenge Cup Final appearances George Cottrell played at in Hull FC's 0-14 defeat by Hunslet in the 1908 Challenge Cup Final during the 1907–08 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 25 April 1908, in front of a crowd of 18,000, played at in the 0-17 defeat by Wakefield Trinity in the 1909 Challenge Cup Final during the 1908–09 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 24 April 1909, in front of a crowd of 23,587. played on the in Hull FC's 7-7 draw with Leeds in the 1910 Challenge Cup Final during the 1909–10 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield, on Saturday 16 April 1910, in front of a crowd of 19,413, this was the first Challenge Cup Final to be drawn, he played on the in the 12-26 defeat by Leeds in the 1910 Challenge Cup Final replay at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield, on Monday 18 April 1910, in front of a crowd of 11,608.

Club career George Cottrell transferred from Cheltenham All Saints RFC (associated with All Saints' Church, Cheltenham) to Cheltenham RFC, he changed rugby football codes from rugby union to rugby league when he transferred from Cheltenham RFC to Halifax during August 1906, he transferred from Halifax to Hull F.C. on 13 July 1907, he transferred from Hull F.C. to Keighley during June 1914.

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Important facts

Born
1881, Cheltenham
Birth century
Died
1963
Also known as
George Thomas Cottrell

People in George Cottrell's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped George Cottrell's

Frequently asked questions

Who was George Cottrell?

English rugby union and rugby league footballer

When was George Cottrell born?

George Cottrell was born in 1881 in Cheltenham.

When did George Cottrell die?

George Cottrell died in 1963.

What was George Cottrell's occupation?

George Cottrell was a rugby union player and rugby league player.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: George Cottrell

· Wikidata: Q65619927

· DBpedia: George Cottrell (rugby)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). George Cottrell. https://biography.guide/george-cottrell-rugby-union-player/

MLA: "George Cottrell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/george-cottrell-rugby-union-player/.

Chicago: "George Cottrell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/george-cottrell-rugby-union-player/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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