Clive Sullivan: Who was the trailblazing rugby player honoured by Google Doodle?

Former winger and coach would have turned 78 this year

Google have paid tribute to Clive Sullivan with a ‘Google Doodle’ on what would have been the rugby league icon’s 78th birthday.

Sullivan, a Welsh-born former winger who later coached in the sport, became the first black captain of a major British sports team when he led Great Britain – with whom he won the Rugby League World Cup in 1972.

Sullivan was born in Cardiff and played rugby throughout his school years, sustaining numerous injuries that required surgeries in his teens. As such, doctors told him he would never walk normally again, but at the age of 17 the speedy Sullivan signed a professional contract at Hull Football Club – with just one trial day required to seal the deal.

The winger would step out for Hull FC on more than 350 occasions, also representing Hull Kingston Rovers more than 200 times. His international debut for Great Britain came in 1967, before he was awarded the captaincy five years later.

Sullivan went on to coach Hull FC, before returning for another playing stint while aged 39.

In 1985, following Sullivan’s death at the age of 42, a road in Hull was renamed Clive Sullivan Way in his honour.