Gary Divorty

Gary Divorty (born 28 January 1966) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and at club level for Hull FC, Gold Coast-Tweed Giants, Leeds, Halifax, Wakefield Trinity, and York, as a second-row, or loose forward.

Gary Divorty
Personal information
Born (1966-01-28) 28 January 1966
Playing information
PositionSecond-row, Loose forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1983–89 Hull F.C. 176 42 17 10 212
1990 Gold Coast-Tweed Giants 5 0 0 0 0
1989–92 Leeds 83 15 1 6 68
1992–95 Halifax 104 32 0 3 131
1995–97 Hull F.C. 56 18 0 3 75
1997 Wakefield Trinity 11 1 1 1 7
Total 435 108 19 23 493
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1984–87 Great Britain U21 6 3 0 0 12
1985 Great Britain 2 1 1 0 6
Source: [1][2][3]

Background

Gary Divorty was born on 28 January 1966. His father, Robin, was an amateur rugby league coach.[4] He started his junior rugby league career with Heworth before turning professional in 1983, signing for Hull.[5]

Playing career

Hull

Divorty played loose forward, in Hull FC's 29-12 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1984 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1984–85 season at Boothferry Park, Kingston upon Hull, on Saturday 27 October 1984, and played loose forward in Hull FC's 0-12 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1984–85 John Player Special Trophy Final at Boothferry Park, Kingston upon Hull on Saturday 26 January 1985. He also appeared as a substitute, and scored a try in Hull FC's 24-28 defeat by Wigan in the 1985 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 4 May 1985, in front of a crowd of 99,801,[6] in what is regarded as the most marvellous cup final in living memory,[7] which Hull narrowly lost after fighting back from 12-28 down at half-time.

Divorty was a substitute in Hull FC's 24-31 defeat by Castleford in the 1986 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1986–87 season at Headingley, Leeds, on Saturday 11 October 1986.

Leeds

Divorty signed for Leeds in 1989. The transfer fee was set at £120,000 by a tribunal after Hull and Leeds failed to reach an agreement.[8]

Halifax

In August 1992, Divorty and Leeds teammate John Bentley were signed by Halifax for a combined fee of £100,000.[9] Divorty played for three seasons at Halifax before returning to his original club, Hull, in 1995.

International honours

Gary Divorty won caps for Great Britain while at Hull in 1985 against France (2 matches).[1]

Personal life

Gary Divorty is the father of the rugby league footballer, Ross Divorty.

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. Rothman Rugby League Yearbooks 1984–96
  3. "Player Summary: Gary Divorty". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  4. "Robin Divorty dies at 59". yorkpress.co.uk. 5 July 2003. Retrieved 1 January 2004.
  5. Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1984). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1984-85. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 373. ISBN 978-0-356-10450-8.
  6. "1984–1985 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  7. "100 years of rugby league: From the great divide to the Super era". independent.co.uk. 20 August 1995. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  8. "Leeds told to pay more for Divorty". The Guardian. 26 October 1989. p. 16 – via ProQuest.
  9. "Sport in brief". The Guardian. 18 August 1992. p. 14 – via ProQuest.
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