With the Rugby Union World Cup reaching its grand final, during this Black History Month and England taking on Tonga in the current Rugby League test, the one name that people are still taking about – especially in the latter code – is Clive Sullivan MBE.
Still the holder two records - the most tries in a career (250) and most tries in a single match (7) - Great Britain and Wales Rugby League international winger, Clive played for both clubs in Hull - F.C. and Kingston Rovers - in his career, as well as captaining Great Britain which won the 1972 Rugby League World Cup. Making ‘History as the first Black player to captain a national team, in any sport, he was one no more than twenty-five Welshmen to have scored more than 1,000 points in their League career.
Born in Cardiff, with his mother of Antiguan descent and Jamaican father, after leaving school, in 1961, he joined the army, where he was posted to Catterick, in North Yorkshire. While there he was picked for an inter-corps rugby match where, age 17, he was offered a trial at Hull.
Sullivan represented Great Britain 17 times and appeared at three World Cups - 1968 and 1972 with Great Britain, and in 1975 for Wales. Dubbed ‘Mr. X’, he scored three tries and signed as a professional the following day. In 1967, the rugby icon made his international debut for Great Britain, scoring two tries against France.
Five years later, he was made captain of the Lions - the first Black player to lead a British national team in a major sport - skippering them to World Cup glory. During the tournament, Sullivan scored a try in each of his side’s four games, including in the final against Australia.
After that, he coached Hull FC before returning to play again - aged 39.
Clive died of liver cancer in 1985, age 42. His funeral saw fans from both rival teams in Hull come together to commemorate the sporting legend.
Following his death, the main approach road in Hull was renamed Clive Sullivan Way to commemorate him. After he died, his wife Rosalyn said: “He was always very comfortable with his colour.
“He always said to me that it was an asset because it made him stand out. He was loved by everyone in Hull, which was a great tribute to him because there's such fierce rivalry between the two rugby clubs.”
Sullivan also has a trophy named after him, with Hull FC and Hull KR going head-to-head in a derby match for the Clive Sullivan Memorial Trophy since 2001.
