Remembering John Taylor – Robin #630

Hull KR are saddened to learn Robin #630 and former Great Britain tourist, John Taylor has passed away. The club sends its deepest condolences to John's family and friends.

Hull-born John Taylor, who signed for the Robins from local side BOCM, made his first team debut in the second row in the second game of the 1958/59 season, a 43-17 home win over Dewsbury on 18 August 1958. After which he missed only five games in the remainder of that season. Injury then restricted him to just two appearances the following season, but he regained a regular place in 1960/61, during which he scored 12 tries. His form in 1961/62 resulted in him achieving the honour of becoming the first serving Rovers player to be selected for a Great Britain tour. He played in 15 games on that 1962 tour, scoring ten tries, but did not win a test cap. 

In 1964, Taylor was in the headlines for a different reason. After helping Rovers to reach a Wembley final for the first time, including scoring three tries in a man-of-the-match performance in the third round against Barrow, he missed the final after being harshly sent off during a 10-5 home win over Huddersfield. Despite making a personal appearance in front of the disciplinary committee, in which he was supported by club chairman Wilf Spaven, he was given a one-match ban that ruled him out of the final, in which Rovers went down 13-5 to Widnes.

Later that year, Taylor was sold to Castleford for £6,000, a then record incoming transfer fee for the Robins. After making 64 appearances for Cas, Taylor returned to Craven Park before the start of the 1967/68 season, in an exchange deal that saw Frank Fox move in the opposite direction. He then played at prop until breaking his wrist in Rovers 27-15 win over the Australian tourists in October that year.

A further injury halted his comeback later in the season, and he played only two games the following season before ending his career in the professional game with a short spell at York. His final game for Rovers was in a 41-10 defeat at Halifax on 24 August 1968.

At his best, John Taylor was a powerful and destructive runner, who, in all, played in 197 games for the Robins, including two as substitute. He scored 48 tries and kicked one goal for the club, and he won three county caps for Yorkshire.