John Freeman

John "Johnny" Freeman (17 April 1934 – 22 June 2017) was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Cardiff International Athletic Club, as a centre, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Halifax, as a , or .

Background Johnny Freeman was born in Cardiff, Wales on 17 April 1934. He attended South Church Street school, and played rugby at Cardiff International Athletic Club (CIACS) alongside Billy Boston.

Playing career Club career Johnny Freeman was paid a joining fee of £1,050 by Halifax in 1954.

During the 1955–56 season, Freeman played on the in Halifax's 2–13 defeat by St.Helens in the 1955–56 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 28 April 1956, and played on the , and scored a try in Halifax's 9–10 defeat by Hull F.C. in the Championship Final at Maine Road, Manchester on Saturday 12 May 1956.

Johnny Freeman holds Halifax's tries in a season record with 48 scored in the 1956–57 season.

Johnny Freeman played on the in Halifax's 10–0 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1963–64 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1963–64 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 2 November 1963.

He played on the in the 15–7 victory over St. Helens in the Championship Final during the 1964–65 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 22 May 1965.

Johnny Freeman's Testimonial match at Halifax took place in 1967 against Keighley at Thrum Hall, Halifax, and he retired at the end of the same season.

Freeman is a Halifax Hall of Fame Inductee, and is the club's all-time leading try scorer with 290 scored between 1954 and 1967.

International honours Johnny Freeman represented Wales (RL) while at Halifax in 1963 against France at Stade des Minimes, Toulouse on Sunday 17 February 1963.

Personal life Johnny Freeman is the cousin of the British and British Empire heavyweight boxing champion, Joe Erskine.