Bob McPhail (rugby)

Bob McPhail (birth unknown – death unknown) was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s, he was one of five brothers, four of whom played rugby. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Yorkshire, and at club level for Sandal St. Helen's RFC (in Sandal Magna, Wakefield), Headingley FC and Wakefield RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Yorkshire, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity (Heritage № 138), as a, i.e. number 3 or 4.

Background
Bob McPhail was born in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Rugby union career
Bob McPhail started his rugby career with Sandal St Helen's RFC before joining Headingley FC where he played alongside elder brother John McPhail. Both later joined Wakefield RFC. Bob scored at least four tries for Wakefield RFC during the 1902/03 season. In the same season he played three times for Yorkshire RFU.

Rugby league career
He made his début for Wakefield Trinity during April 1904, and he played his last match for Wakefield Trinity during the 1908–09 season, he appears to have scored no drop-goals (or field-goals as they are currently known in Australasia), but prior to the 1974–75 season all goals, whether; conversions, penalties, or drop-goals, scored 2-points, consequently prior to this date drop-goals were often not explicitly documented, therefore '0' drop-goals may indicate drop-goals not recorded, rather than no drop-goals scored. In addition, prior to the 1949–50 season, the archaic field-goal was also still a valid means of scoring points.