Latest news with #Castleford
Times
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Times
Sir Bill O'Brien obituary: miner and Labour MP who clashed with Scargill
Bill O'Brien went down the mines as a teenager, but it was through opposing the miners' leader Arthur Scargill, not supporting him, that he found his way to Westminster where he served for 22 years as a Labour MP. His first clash with Scargill came in 1976 when he was secretary of the Glasshoughton branch of the National Union of Mineworkers and Scargill was president of the Yorkshire NUM. There was little love lost between the two men, one an old-school Labour pragmatist and the other a militant left-winger, and when Scargill sued the Sheffield Star for libel, O'Brien and a colleague co-operated with the newspaper. Scargill won his case, and at his behest the NUM suspended O'Brien and his colleague from holding office for two years. O'Brien, supported by his branch, challenged the ban in court and won. Seven years later O'Brien clashed with Scargill a second time when Albert Roberts, the veteran Labour MP for the Yorkshire constituency of Normanton, announced his retirement. O'Brien challenged Scargill's man, Henry Daley, for the party's nomination and once again prevailed. O'Brien went on to win the seat in the 1983 general election. Hard-working, single-minded and a dedicated constituency MP, he was re-elected four times and served seven years as an opposition frontbench spokesman. William O'Brien was born in Glasshoughton, a neighbourhood on the edge of Castleford, in 1929, the son of a miner of Irish descent. He was educated at St Joseph's Catholic School in Castleford, but left school at 15 or 16 to become a coalface miner at the local colliery along with three of his four brothers. Almost immediately he joined both the Labour Party and the NUM, and discovered a flair for organising. He became a shop steward at Glasshoughton and was elected to Knottingley urban district council. In 1974 Knottingley became part of Wakefield Metropolitan district council. O'Brien rose to become chair of the new council's finance committee and its deputy leader. He also served as a Wakefield magistrate. He suffered setbacks. In 1973 he challenged Owen Briscoe, a left-winger, for the post of secretary of the NUM's Yorkshire region and lost. But he did manage to earn a degree in education from the University of Leeds in 1978, and in the same year married his second wife, Jean Scofield, a fellow Labour Party member who had grown up in an adjoining street. His first marriage had been short-lived but produced a daughter, Darrel. He treated as his own Jean's two daughters, Kaye and Diane. O'Brien was elected to parliament for Normanton in 1983 with a slender majority of 4,183. The following year Scargill launched the miners' strike that became a protracted trial of strength against Margaret Thatcher's government. O'Brien supported the strike and condemned the government's planned pit closures, but opposed Scargill's methods. The Glasshoughton colliery closed in 1986, not long after the miners' strike ended in defeat, but O'Brien was re-elected with an increased majority of 7,287 the next year. Neil Kinnock, then Labour's leader, swiftly appointed him opposition spokesman on the environment despite the fact that O'Brien had backed Roy Hattersley for the leader's job. After the 1992 election Kinnock's successor, John Smith, made him the opposition spokesman on Northern Ireland. Proudly working class and partial to nights out in the working men's clubs of his constituency, O'Brien was one of 16 members of the so-called Rambo tendency created half in jest by a fellow Labour MP, Joe Ashton, to resist Labour's takeover by far-left and middle-class 'infiltrators and poseurs'. He returned to the back benches when Tony Blair succeeded Smith in 1994, but continued to sit on select committees and to fight hard for his constituents until he stood down at the general election of 2005. He was replaced as Normanton's MP by Ed Balls, who went on to become a cabinet minister under Gordon Brown. By then O'Brien was in his mid-seventies, but he did not retire from public life. He continued to hold authority to account. He served as a school governor and became a champion of local causes including the Pontefract Town Centre Partnership — an alliance of interested parties determined to reverse the town centre's decline — and the Dr Jackson Cancer Fund, created in memory of a local doctor to improve cancer care in mid-Yorkshire. He was knighted in 2010. Alongside 'reading', O'Brien listed 'organising' as one of his two hobbies in his Who's Who entry. He continued to 'organise' well into his nineties. In 2003 he suffered a stroke and spent ten weeks in hospital. Visitors recalled how he campaigned from his bed to have a water fountain installed for their benefit. Sir Bill O'Brien, union activist and politician, was born on January 25, 1929. He died on May 16, 2025, aged 96
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cas confirm hooker Rimbu's exit
Castleford Tigers hooker Judah Rimbu has been released from his contract by mutual agreement. The 23-year-old was signed on a two-year deal in 2024 from Queensland Cup side PNG Hunters. Rimbu made 10 first-team appearances and had further outings in the reserves, but has struggled to break into Castleford's matchday squad. Advertisement Tigers director of rugby Chris Chester said: "I would like to thank Judah for his time and efforts at the club. "He wanted first-team opportunities but unfortunately, we couldn't guarantee them and after amicable discussions granted him release by mutual agreement."
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Cas confirm hooker Rimbu's exit
Castleford Tigers hooker Judah Rimbu has been released from his contract by mutual 23-year-old was signed on a two-year deal in 2024 from Queensland Cup side PNG made 10 first-team appearances and had further outings in the reserves, but has struggled to break into Castleford's matchday director of rugby Chris Chester said: "I would like to thank Judah for his time and efforts at the club."He wanted first-team opportunities but unfortunately, we couldn't guarantee them and after amicable discussions granted him release by mutual agreement."
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rugby's great wanderer Christian Wade: ‘You don't say no to Wigan'
For a man who has done it all in rugby union and experienced the bright lights of the NFL, the glint in Christian Wade's eye when asked what drew him to a new challenge with Wigan suggests this was an opportunity he couldn't miss. It has been some fortnight for one of the Premiership's all-time greats. His farewell appearance for Gloucester – and perhaps in rugby union altogether – ended with victory against Northampton and two tries. The second of those was a sensational long-range finish in the dying embers of that game which would have caught the eye of any Wigan supporters keenly checking out what their new signing is capable of. Advertisement Related: Christian Wade: 'I see myself in Louis Rees-Zammit, he's facing the same challenges' The following day, he was in a car heading north to begin his new career as a rugby league player. Introductions done on Monday, by Wednesday he was thrust into his first Wigan training session and asked by his head coach, Matt Peet, if he fancied testing himself in a reserve match the following evening despite only two hours on the field learning a new sport. His response? Exactly what you would expect from a player who has made it his business to take risks. 'Obviously,' he said, smiling. 'If not now, when will it be? Let's do it.' So five days removed from a full house at Kingsholm, Wade was now playing in front of a couple of hundred people – which included Peet – in the slightly less glamorous surroundings of Castleford, completing around an hour. A Super League debut may be a while away yet, with Wade pencilled in for a second reserves outing next weekend before Wigan reassess the situation. The 34-year-old is understanding of the fact it will take time to be deemed ready, with few players successfully making the transition from union to league with great success in recent years. Advertisement 'There's been a lot of league people gone into union and become good defence coaches which helps,' he says. 'But the attack side of it … playing in that game last week I was like, which way are we attacking? What are we doing? The shape of the attacks are so different and there are a lot less stoppages – only when you score. But it's good fun. I'm enjoying it.' The transition had been happening even before that hastily arranged debut last week, with Wade revealing he has been watching clips of Wigan for weeks to prepare himself as best as possible. But he admits nothing will steel him for his new challenge better than playing games and being thrust into the thick of it. 'That was a humbling experience at Castleford,' he says. 'But it was exciting to just get out there and play because the season is well under way in league. So it was good to get that baptism of fire and get it out of the way. I'll only be better for that and the next games I play.' League has been on Wade's radar previously. Before attempting to launch an NFL life in 2019 he was sounded out by Toronto Wolfpack, a move that failed to materialise. But having crossed paths with so many Wigan greats throughout his career, and despite holding talks about a new deal with Gloucester, when the Warriors came calling, there was only ever going to be one answer. Advertisement 'They're probably one of the biggest brands in either code of rugby, right?' he says. 'It's Wigan. You don't say no to Wigan. They're the first league team everyone knows. Jason Robinson was my idol. I worked with Shaun Edwards. Then throw guys like Martin Offiah in too. Gloucester were talking about next season but when I spoke to Wigan, their vision just aligned with mine.' But what really appears to excite Wade is that even now, as retirement comes a little closer, he has the chance to start afresh and make an impact in a fresh environment, perhaps underlining why he has been so keen to try new things before. Indeed, Wigan insiders are said to already be impressed with Wade's attitude. 'Making a move like this means you can't be complacent because you have to come in and try and earn the respect of a whole new group of people,' Wade says. 'I'm trying to learn this game and I don't want to be the guy who lets the team down, and I've got to set the standard. 'It's exciting. It's not that I was bored of what happened before, I'll always give 110%. But I love new challenges and I am better for the experiences I've had before, too. It all sets me up for this great opportunity.' Advertisement Clearly, given Wade's rollercoaster career, the door can never fully be shut on a return to union. But if this is the end, does he leave with any regrets? 'Absolutely not. It's not been straightforward; people will always see the successes but they don't know what happens behind closed doors. 'I pride myself on my career. I've busted doors open to make sure I make the most of every opportunity. That will be no different here. The story is still being written too.' Wade's short-term deal only lasts until the end of the Super League season in October. What happens beyond that? 'Let's just see how it goes,' he insists. 'It's open-ended. I haven't planned to do six months here then go back to union. Similarly, I haven't thought I'll do this, sign an extension or go to another Super League team. Let's just enjoy the ride.'
The Guardian
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Rugby's great wanderer Christian Wade: ‘You don't say no to Wigan'
For a man who has done it all in rugby union and experienced the bright lights of the NFL, the glint in Christian Wade's eye when asked what drew him to a new challenge with Wigan suggests this was an opportunity he couldn't miss. It has been some fortnight for one of the Premiership's all-time greats. His farewell appearance for Gloucester – and perhaps in rugby union altogether – ended with victory against Northampton and two tries. The second of those was a sensational long-range finish in the dying embers of that game which would have caught the eye of any Wigan supporters keenly checking out what their new signing is capable of. The following day, he was in a car heading north to begin his new career as a rugby league player. Introductions done on Monday, by Wednesday he was thrust into his first Wigan training session and asked by his head coach, Matt Peet, if he fancied testing himself in a reserve match the following evening despite only two hours on the field learning a new sport. His response? Exactly what you would expect from a player who has made it his business to take risks. 'Obviously,' he said, smiling. 'If not now, when will it be? Let's do it.' So five days removed from a full house at Kingsholm, Wade was now playing in front of a couple of hundred people – which included Peet – in the slightly less glamorous surroundings of Castleford, completing around an hour. A Super League debut may be a while away yet, with Wade pencilled in for a second reserves outing next weekend before Wigan reassess the situation. The 34-year-old is understanding of the fact it will take time to be deemed ready, with few players successfully making the transition from union to league with great success in recent years. 'There's been a lot of league people gone into union and become good defence coaches which helps,' he says. 'But the attack side of it … playing in that game last week I was like, which way are we attacking? What are we doing? The shape of the attacks are so different and there are a lot less stoppages – only when you score. But it's good fun. I'm enjoying it.' The transition had been happening even before that hastily arranged debut last week, with Wade revealing he has been watching clips of Wigan for weeks to prepare himself as best as possible. But he admits nothing will steel him for his new challenge better than playing games and being thrust into the thick of it. 'That was a humbling experience at Castleford,' he says. 'But it was exciting to just get out there and play because the season is well under way in league. So it was good to get that baptism of fire and get it out of the way. I'll only be better for that and the next games I play.' League has been on Wade's radar previously. Before attempting to launch an NFL life in 2019 he was sounded out by Toronto Wolfpack, a move that failed to materialise. But having crossed paths with so many Wigan greats throughout his career, and despite holding talks about a new deal with Gloucester, when the Warriors came calling, there was only ever going to be one answer. 'They're probably one of the biggest brands in either code of rugby, right?' he says. 'It's Wigan. You don't say no to Wigan. They're the first league team everyone knows. Jason Robinson was my idol. I worked with Shaun Edwards. Then throw guys like Martin Offiah in too. Gloucester were talking about next season but when I spoke to Wigan, their vision just aligned with mine.' But what really appears to excite Wade is that even now, as retirement comes a little closer, he has the chance to start afresh and make an impact in a fresh environment, perhaps underlining why he has been so keen to try new things before. Indeed, Wigan insiders are said to already be impressed with Wade's attitude. 'Making a move like this means you can't be complacent because you have to come in and try and earn the respect of a whole new group of people,' Wade says. 'I'm trying to learn this game and I don't want to be the guy who lets the team down, and I've got to set the standard. 'It's exciting. It's not that I was bored of what happened before, I'll always give 110%. But I love new challenges and I am better for the experiences I've had before, too. It all sets me up for this great opportunity.' Clearly, given Wade's rollercoaster career, the door can never fully be shut on a return to union. But if this is the end, does he leave with any regrets? 'Absolutely not. It's not been straightforward; people will always see the successes but they don't know what happens behind closed doors. 'I pride myself on my career. I've busted doors open to make sure I make the most of every opportunity. That will be no different here. The story is still being written too.' Wade's short-term deal only lasts until the end of the Super League season in October. What happens beyond that? 'Let's just see how it goes,' he insists. 'It's open-ended. I haven't planned to do six months here then go back to union. Similarly, I haven't thought I'll do this, sign an extension or go to another Super League team. Let's just enjoy the ride.'
