Don Fox became a Rovers legend in his favoured positon of scrum half, although later in his
career he did slot into the loose forward position - number 14, since Rovers did not play
an unlucky 13 in those days! He was a prolific points scorer with 162 tries (number 1 on
the all-time list for Rovers) and 503 goals (number 3 on the all-time list behind two other
Rovers legends Steve Quinn and Cyril Kellett) from 369 appearances (7th on the Rovers
all-time list with that Rovers legend, Jim Denton at number 1). This gave him a huge points
total for his career of 1492 (number 2 on the all-time Rovers list behind - yes you guessed -
Steve Quinn!). He passed his 1000th point for the club in the 1962 season. During this
same season, and in the same game, his great points scoring rival, Terry Clawson, also passed
1000 points. And before he left to join Wakefield Trinity in 1966 he broke Jim Denton's 30
year old points scoring record of 1141.
Don joined the Rovers from the then Featherstone Juniors in the Coronation year of 1953,
with his first game for the club being in the Coronation Cup against Trinity. However he
had to wait until a little later in the season for his first team debut against Leeds in
the Yorkshire Cup. Don's career, however, did not kick-off properly until the transfer of
Ray Evans, another Rovers favourite, took place to Rochdale Hornets at the beginning of the
1954-55 season. The number 7 jersey then became his own! In his first full season, Don
produced the points scoring record of 215 - included in which was a personal best total of
21 points ( made up of 1 try and 9 goals) scored against Hull KR. This fantastic start
brought him to the attention of the GB selectors, and he was selected at scrum-half for
the 'shadow' GB side for the second Test of that season. He made his full debut at
International level later that season against France. The highlight of his International
career was with the GB side on the 1962 Australia-New Zealand tour. However, his
International career was hampered by injury. He also played on many occasions for Yorkshire
in the inter-county games of the time.
He was elected Captain of the Rovers in the 1958-59 season after serving as Vice-captain
during the previous season.
He is well remembered for his escapades with another Rovers legend of that era - Joe Mullaney.
Joe played stand -off alongside Don for many years and the 'Fox - Mullaney' partnership
became well known within the Rugby League throughout that era (and beyond!). Don did end
his career with the Rovers at loose forward, a position his father Tommy had occupied in
his days at the club in the 1930's.
Great Players- Great Games
1. Jim Denton and his brother Sid .2.CHALLENGE CUP 3RD ROUND 1959 ROVERS 20 V ST HELENS 6
Don Fox