William Watkins ( â January 1972) was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Cross Keys RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Salford and wartime-guest at Oldham RLFC, as a .
Watkins played in the 10âÂÂ8 victory over Swinton in the 1931 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1931âÂÂ32 season at The Cliff, Broughton, Salford on Saturday 21 November 1931.
Watkins played in Salford's 3âÂÂ15 defeat by Wigan in the Championship Final during the 1933âÂÂ34 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 28 April 1934.
Watkins was one of the players who successfully toured in France with Salford in 1934, during which the Salford team earned the name "Les Diables Rouges", the seventeen players were; Joe Bradbury, Bob Brown, Aubrey Casewell, Paddy Dalton, Bert Day, Cliff Evans, Jack Feetham, George Harris, Barney Hudson, Emlyn Jenkins, Alf Middleton, Sammy Miller, Harold Osbaldestin, Les Pearson, Gus Risman, Billy Watkins and Billy Williams.
He played in the 21âÂÂ12 victory over Wigan in the 1934 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1934âÂÂ35 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 20 October 1934, the 15âÂÂ7 victory over Wigan in the 1935 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1935âÂÂ36 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 19 October 1935 and the 5âÂÂ2 victory over Wigan in the 1936 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1936âÂÂ37 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington.
Watkins played in Salford's 7âÂÂ4 victory over Barrow in the 1938 Challenge Cup Final during the 1937âÂÂ38 season at Wembley Stadium, London, in front of a crowd of 51,243.
Watkins played in the 7âÂÂ10 defeat by Wigan in the 1938 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1938âÂÂ39 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 22 October 1938.
Watkins signed for Belle Vue Rangers in August 1946.
Watkins won caps for Wales (RL) while at Salford in 1932âÂÂ1936 6-caps, and won caps for Great Britain (RL) while at Salford in 1933 against Australia, in 1936 against Australia (2 matches), New Zealand (2 matches), and in 1937 against Australia (2 matches).
Billy Watkins was the father of; Huw Watkins, Gareth Watkins and Haydn Watkins, and the grandfather of the cricketer, Ryan Watkins.