Don Vines

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title: "Don Vines" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1932-births", "1989-deaths", "20th-century-welsh-sportsmen", "doncaster-r.l.f.c.-coaches", "footballers-who-switched-code", "great-britain-national-rugby-league-team-players", "newbridge-rfc-players", "oldham-r.l.f.c.-players", "other-nationalities-rugby-league-team-players", "rugby-league-locks", "rugby-league-players-from-caerphilly-county-borough", "rugby-league-props", "rugby-league-second-rows", "rugby-union-centres", "rugby-union-forwards", "rugby-union-players-from-newbridge,-caerphilly", "st-helens-r.f.c.-players", "wakefield-trinity-players", "wales-national-rugby-league-team-players", "welsh-male-professional-wrestlers", "welsh-rugby-league-players", "welsh-rugby-union-players"] description: "GB & Wales international rugby league footballer" topic_path: "technology/web" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Vines" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary GB & Wales international rugby league footballer ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox rugby league biography"]

Field	Value
first	RU
name	Don Vines
fullname	Donald George Vines
image	Don Vines.jpeg
birth_date	6 February 1932
birth_place	Newbridge (Newport district), Wales
death_date
death_place	Wakefield, England
ru_position	Centre, Forward
position
ru_club1	Newbridge RFC
ru_year1start	1953?
ru_year1end	56
club1	Oldham
year1start	1956
year1end	58
appearances1	70
tries1	4
goals1	0
fieldgoals1	0
points1	12
club2	Wakefield Trinity
year2start	1958
year2end	60
appearances2	71
tries2	4
goals2	0
fieldgoals2	0
points2	12
club3	St. Helens
year3start	1960
year3end	61
appearances3	38
tries3	1
goals3	0
fieldgoals3	0
points3	3
club4	Wakefield Trinity
year4start	1961
year4end	65
appearances4	114
teamA	Other Nationalities
yearAstart	1965
appearancesA	1
teamB	Wales
yearBstart	1959
yearBend	63
appearancesB	2
teamC	Great Britain
yearCstart	1959
appearancesC	3
triesC	1
goalsC	0
fieldgoalsC	0
pointsC	3
coachteam1	Doncaster RLFC
coachyear1start	1979
coachyear1end	80
new	yes
retired	yes
updated	7 Oct 2022
source
::

|first = RU |name = Don Vines |fullname = Donald George Vines |image =Don Vines.jpeg |imagesize = |caption = |birth_date = 6 February 1932 |birth_place = Newbridge (Newport district), Wales |death_date = |death_place = Wakefield, England |height = |weight = |ru_position = Centre, Forward |position = |ru_club1 = Newbridge RFC |ru_year1start = 1953? |ru_year1end = 56 |ru_appearances1 = |ru_tries1 = |ru_goals1 = |ru_fieldgoals1 = |ru_points1 = |club1 = Oldham |year1start = 1956 |year1end = 58 |appearances1 = 70 |tries1 = 4 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 12 |club2 = Wakefield Trinity |year2start = 1958 |year2end = 60 |appearances2 = 71 |tries2 = 4 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 12 |club3 = St. Helens |year3start = 1960 |year3end = 61 |appearances3 = 38 |tries3 = 1 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 3 |club4 = Wakefield Trinity |year4start = 1961 |year4end = 65 |appearances4 = 114 |tries4 = |goals4 = |fieldgoals4 = |points4 = |teamA = Other Nationalities |yearAstart = 1965 |yearAend = |appearancesA = 1 |triesA = |goalsA = |fieldgoalsA = |pointsA = |teamB = Wales |yearBstart = 1959 |yearBend = 63 |appearancesB = 2 |triesB = |goalsB = |fieldgoalsB = |pointsB = |teamC = Great Britain |yearCstart = 1959 |yearCend = |appearancesC = 3 |triesC = 1 |goalsC = 0 |fieldgoalsC = 0 |pointsC = 3 | coachteam1 = Doncaster RLFC | coachyear1start = 1979 | coachyear1end = 80 | coachgames1 = | coachwins1 = | coachdraws1 = | coachlosses1 = |new = yes |retired = yes |updated = 7 Oct 2022 |source =

Donald "Don" George Vines (6 February 1932 – 17 September 1989) was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s, and a heel wrestler in professional wrestling of the 1960s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Newbridge RFC, as a centre, or later in the forwards, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, Wales and Other Nationalities, and at club level for Oldham, Wakefield Trinity (two spells), and St Helens, as a , or .

Background

Don Vines was born in Newbridge, Wales, his birth was registered in Newport district, he worked as a blacksmith at Crigglestone Colliery , he worked at Wakefield College , and he died aged 57 in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England.

Playing career

International honours

Don Vines won caps for Wales (RL) while at Wakefield Trinity 1959…1963 2-caps, and won caps for Great Britain (RL) while at Wakefield Trinity in 1959 against France (2 matches), and Australia, and represented Other Nationalities (RL) while at Wakefield Trinity, he played at in the 2–19 defeat by St. Helens at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Wednesday 27 January 1965, to mark the switching-on of new floodlights.

Championship appearances

Don Vines played at in Wakefield Trinity's 3–27 defeat by Wigan in the Championship Final during the 1959–60 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 21 May 1960.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Don Vines played at in Wakefield Trinity's 38–5 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1959–60 Challenge Cup Final during the 1959–60 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 14 May 1960, in front of a crowd of 79,773, played at in St. Helens' 12–6 victory over Wigan in the 1960–61 Challenge Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1961, in front of a crowd of 94,672, and played at in Wakefield Trinity's 25–10 victory over Wigan in the 1962–63 Challenge Cup Final during the 1962–63 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1963, in front of a crowd of 84,492.

County Cup Final appearances

Don Vines played at in Oldham's 13–8 victory over Wigan in the 1957–58 Lancashire CupFinal during the 1957–58 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 19 October 1957, played at in St. Helens' 15–9 victory over Swinton in the 1960–61 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 29 October 1960, played at in Wakefield Trinity's 19–9 victory over Leeds in the 1961–62 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1961–62 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 11 November 1961, and played at in the 18–2 victory over Leeds in the 1964–65 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1964–65 season at Fartown, Huddersfield on Saturday 31 October 1964.

Club career

Don Vines made his début for Wakefield Trinity in the 15–14 victory over Huddersfield at Fartown, Huddersfield on Saturday 27 September 1958.

Contemporaneous article extract

"Don Vines. Playing as off-half for the Welsh Association of Boys' Clubs, then at centre for Welsh Youth against Welsh Secondary Schools, Don started his football career with two caps. That was in 1950. There followed three years in the Army and after that a period with the Newbridge R.U. club, still at centre threequarter. A brief break and then resumption with Newbridge, this time as a forward, but after three more months Don decided to change his code, and signed for Oldham Rugby League Club in 1956. Two years later came another move, this time, we are glad to say, to Trinity. Whilst with us he has gained international honours for Wales v. France, twice for Great Britain v. France, and again, during the recent tour of the Australians, for Great Britain v. Australia. Trinity followers are glad to know that Don is happily settled in Wakefield. We shall look forward to many more grand displays such as he has given since coming to Belle Vue."

Don went to Oxford with Les Gant in the 1970's to guest coach the newly formed Oxford University Rugby League Club. He was excellent and the team is still going strong forty years later.

Genealogical information

Don Vines' marriage to Patricia B. (née Cook, birth registered during fourth quarter in Newport district) was registered during second quarter 1954 in Caerleon district, Wales. They had children; Michelle Vines, Beverley S. Vines (birth registered during fourth quarter in St. Helens district)and Lee J. Vines (birth registered during third aquarter in Wakefield district).

References

References

1. (31 December 2017). "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org.
2. "Statistics at orl-heritagetrust.org.uk".
3. (31 December 2011). "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk.
4. Graham Williams, Peter Lush, David Farrar (November 2009). "The British Rugby League Records Book [Page-108…114]". London League Publications Ltd. {{ISBN. 978-1-903659-49-6
5. Cook, H.B.. (1965). "Programme - St. Helens versus Other Nationalities". St. Helens Rugby F.C. Ltd.
6. (31 December 2011). "1959–1960 Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com.
7. Hoole, Les (2004). ''Wakefield Trinity RLFC – FIFTY GREAT GAMES''. Breedon Books. {{ISBN. 1-85983-429-9
8. Lindley, John (20 February 1960). ''Wakefield Trinity RLFC Official Programme: Oldham''. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a
9. Lindley, John (1960). ''Dreadnoughts – A HISTORY OF Wakefield Trinity F. C. 1873 – 1960 [Page114…115]''. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a

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