William Burgess (23 January 1939 â 11 June 2024) was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Lancashire, and at club level for Furness RUFChttp://frufc.net/, and Fylde, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club level for Barrow and Salford, as a .
Burgess' birth was registered in Barrow-in-Furness district, Lancashire, England. He is the son of the rugby league footballer Bill Burgess.
Burgess began his career in rugby union with Fylde RFC before switching to rugby league in 1961, signing for Barrow.
He played in Barrow's 12âÂÂ17 defeat by Featherstone Rovers in the 1966âÂÂ67 Challenge Cup Final during the 1966âÂÂ67 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1967,
Burgess is third in Barrow's all time try scorers list with 179-tries.
In December 1968, Burgess was transferred to Salford for a fee of ã6,000.
He played in Salford's 6âÂÂ11 defeat by Castleford in the 1968âÂÂ69 Challenge Cup Final during the 1968âÂÂ69 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 17 May 1969.
Burgess won caps for England (RL) while at Barrow in 1962 against France, in 1969 against Wales, and France, and won caps for Great Britain (RL) while at Barrow in 1962 against France, in 1963 against Australia, in 1965 against New Zealand (2 matches), in 1966 against France, Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (2 matches), in 1967 against France, and Australia, in 1968 against France, and while at Salford in 1969 against France.
Burgess won a cap for Lancashire (RU) while at Fylde, and won caps for Lancashire (RL) while at Barrow.
Burgess is a Barrow Raiders Hall of Fame inductee.