Kenneth Hirst
English rugby union and rugby league footballer
About Kenneth Hirst
Lived 1940 – 2008 (aged 68). Kenneth Hirst was a rugby league player and rugby union player.
Kenneth "Ken" Hirst (4 June 1940 – 20 December 2008) was an English rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Morley R.F.C., and club level rugby league (RL) for Leeds Schools and Wakefield Trinity, as a.
Background Hirst was born in Morley, Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, and he died in Ossett, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England.
Playing career
Championship final appearances Ken Hirst played on the scored a try in Wakefield Trinity's 21–9 victory over St. Helens in the Championship Final replay during the 1966–67 season at Station Road, Swinton on Wednesday 10 May 1967.
Challenge Cup Final appearances Ken Hirst played on the and scored a try in Wakefield Trinity's 12–6 victory over Huddersfield in the 1961–62 Challenge Cup Final during the 1961–62 season at Wembley on Saturday 12 May 1962, and played on the and scored two tries in the 10–11 defeat by Leeds in the 1967–68 Challenge Cup "Watersplash" Final during the 1967–68 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1968, in front of a crowd of 87,100.
Club career Ken Hirst is the third youngest player to make his début for Wakefield Trinity aged 16 years and 6 months in 1956, second youngest player being Ernest Pollard, and the youngest player being Richard Goddard.
Outside of Rugby League Following his retirement from rugby league, Ken and his wife Irene were the landlord and lady of The Tawny Owl Inn, Prospect Road, Ossett for twenty years. They also have 1 son, Alex, and 2 grandchildren, Evie and Sam.
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Important facts
People in Kenneth Hirst's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Kenneth Hirst's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Kenneth Hirst?
English rugby union and rugby league footballer (1940-2008)
When was Kenneth Hirst born?
Kenneth Hirst was born on 4 June 1940 in Morley.
When did Kenneth Hirst die?
Kenneth Hirst died on 20 December 2008 in Ossett.
What was Kenneth Hirst's occupation?
Kenneth Hirst was a rugby league player and rugby union player.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Kenneth Hirst. https://biography.guide/kenneth-hirst/
MLA: "Kenneth Hirst." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/kenneth-hirst/.
Chicago: "Kenneth Hirst." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/kenneth-hirst/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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