Ray Tabern (13 October 1953) is a rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played representative level rugby union for Lancashire and England under-23's, and at club level for Leigh RUFC and Fylde RFC as a hooker, and representative level rugby league for Great Britain, and at club level for Leigh,[3] Fulham RLFC and Workington Town, as a hooker.

Ray Tabern
Personal information
Born (1953-10-13) 13 October 1953 (age 71)
St Helens, Merseyside, England
Playing information
Rugby union
PositionHooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Leigh RUFC
Fylde RFC
Total 0 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Lancashire
Rugby league
PositionHooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1979–87 Leigh 195 32 0 0 115
1984 Fulham RLFC 7 1 0 0 4
1987–89 Workington Town
Total 202 33 0 0 119
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1982 Great Britain 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1][2]

Background

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Ray Tabern's birth was registered in St Helens, Lancashire, England.

Playing career

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Rugby union

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Tabern played rugby union for Leigh RUFC before moving to Fylde RFC, where he was selected to play for Lancashire.[4] He was also selected for the England under-23 team's tour to Canada in 1977.[5]

Rugby league

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Tabern switched to rugby league in November 1979, signing for Leigh.[6] He played hooker and was man of the match in Leigh's 8-3 victory over Widnes in the 1981 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1981–82 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 26 September 1981.[citation needed]

Tabern won a cap as an interchange/substitute while at Leigh in Great Britain's 7-8 defeat by France in the friendly at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, Venice on Saturday 31 July 1982.[1]

In March 1984, Tabern was signed on loan by Fulham RLFC until the end of the season.[7]

Personal life

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Ray Tabern's father, Walt Tabern, played rugby league for Leigh.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Player Summary: Ray Tabern". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Statistics at leighrl.co.uk". leighrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ^ McNamara, Jack (15 September 1981). "Why Ray's A Happy Hooker". Manchester Evening News. p. 19 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ Irvine, David (16 August 1977). "Lancashire at strength in France". The Guardian. p. 17. ProQuest 185883369.
  6. ^ "Leigh snap up Tabern". Manchester Evening News. 23 November 1979. p. 28 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ Fitzpatrick, Paul (8 March 1984). "Myler plan rejected". The Guardian. p. 25. ProQuest 186416675.
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