Bill Ashurst

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
William Frank Ashurst
Born
Monday, 12th April, 1948
Died
Tuesday, 14th June, 2022 (Aged 74 years and 62 days)
Place Of Birth
Ince-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester, England

Biography

Immensely talented Englishman spent three controversial seasons with the Panthers before walking out on his contract. A tall, rangy second row forward with deft ball-skills, a brilliant swerve and chip-kick and distinctive around-the-corner goal-kicking style, Ashurst was signed for a then record $27,700 from Wigan in 1973. Ashurst was also a consummate showman, uncannily reserving his best for the cameras. Sent off on several occasions and constantly under a fitness cloud, his highly publicised feud with countryman Mick Stephenson succeeded only in dividing the club. Ashurst secretly returned home prior to the 1977 season, citing ‘home-sickness’ as the reason, but had a hidden desire to play for his country again (which he never did). At age 40 he made a startling comeback with Runcorn but was sent off after 12 minutes with his side copping a 92-2 thrashing. Penrith showed there were no hard feelings when the club named Ashurst in their best-ever side and flew him back to Australia for the celebrations in 2006.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Tour Matches Great Britain 1 1 -   - 3 0 1 0 0.00% List
Test Series 1 1 -   - 3 0 1 0 0.00% List
Tour Matches Wigan Warriors 1 - -   2 4 0 0 1 0.00% List
NRL 46 19 51   6 165 21 24 1 45.65% List
National Panasonic Cup 1 5 8   - 31 1 0 0 100.00% List
Yorkshire Cup 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
English Championship 8 1 -   2 5 4 3 1 50.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Great Britain 1971-72 3 3 -   - 9 2 1 0 66.67% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Penrith NSWRFL 1974 13 8 -   4 28 7 6 0 53.85% List
Penrith NSWRFL 1975 16 2 42   1 91 7 9 0 43.75% List
Penrith NSWRFL 1976 17 9 9   1 46 7 9 1 41.18% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Penrith 1974-76 46 19 51   6 165 21 24 1 45.65% List

English Career - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Wakefield 1980/81 6 1 -   1 4 3 2 1 50.00% List
Wakefield 1981/82 2 - -   - - 1 1 0 50.00% List
Wakefield 1983/84 1 - -   1 1 0 1 0 0.00% List

English Career - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Wakefield 1980-81, 1983 9 1 -   2 5 4 4 1 44.44% List

Your Say

  • Escapegoat
    23/05/2012

    Panthers did not get value for their (then very considerable amount of) money from the much-vaunted English back-rower.

  • Anonymous
    24/06/2017

    Bill Ashurst was a second row forward who possessed the skills to be a world class stand off. His ball playing, kicking and reading of the game. Fast and elusive Bill had every piece of the jigsaw you would want in the complete rugby player.A master of the chip over the top, no one since Bill could match his touch finding, in the 40/20 era Bill would have made it look so easy.
    If Bill had played in the Wigan team in they would have a statue of him as well as Billy Boston.
    centre as well as Billy Boston.

  • Angela Kennedy
    02/07/2017

    We should remember Bill Ashurst for his first game with Penrith Panthers, regardless of anything else, he changed the style of goal kicking for ever in Australia.
    I was at the game when he lined up to covert the try. Then he took 2 steps to the left and kicked round the corner. Now everyone kicks like that, but he was the first. Well done Bill.

  • Harry Storey
    18/04/2022

    Totally agree with the comment from anonymous. If Bill had played in Billy Boston's era or in the late 80s to 90s era.( Imagine Bill in the back row with Ellery Hanley!)
    He would have been held in the same esteem as both of them. It his only because he played for Wigan in a barren period that he is not in the Wigan Hall of Fame. On ability Bill would walk into it and should be in it now!

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Contributions: Alan Katzmann, Paul Carter, Andrew Ferguson, Rugby League Tables, Shawn Dollin, Greg Fiveash, Bill Bates, AJ Lucantonio

Sources: Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1981-82, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1982-83, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1984-85