Leeds to pay tribute to legendary scrum-half '˜Shanks' Watson

Watson, who was believed to be Leeds’ oldest surviving former player, died on Tuesday, aged 93.

A product of Hunslet Schools rugby league, Watson signed for the south Leeds team as a 17-year-old in September, 1940.

He spent 10 years with Hunslet, scoring 57 tries and one goal in 246 appearances, before a shock move across the river to Leeds on September 29, 1949.

His debut in blue and amber came just three days later, when he helped Leeds to a 21-13 win over Hunslet at Parkside.

Watson played 122 times for Leeds from 1949-55, scoring 18 tries and one goal.

He also had a spell as the Loiners’ ‘A’ team player-coach, when his side included future ‘This Sporting Life’ author David Storey.

He later had two years at Batley, combining a playing role with coaching the reserves.

He played his final match in 1959.

Watson earned Yorkshire honours during his time at Hunslet and was selected for a Great Britain tour trial in 1946.

Then a conductor on Leeds’ all-night buses, he worked a full duty, travelled to Central Park, Wigan, for the game and then returned straight to Leeds for another all-night shift.