- Died01 / 12 / 1907
- Lions Tours1888
- Lions Origin ClubsHornets RL
Rochdale’s Johnny Nolan goes down as the first player to have scored a hat-trick for The British & Irish Lions while on the inaugural Tour to Australia and New Zealand in 1888.
Born to Irish parents, Nolan started work in the cotton trade aged 11 as he helped to support his seven brothers and one sister.
He started rugby in 1879 and moved to Rochdale Hornets a year later.
His hot form caught the eye of Arthur Shewsbury and Alfred Shaw, who took him Down Under in 1888.
Nolan starred there too, scoring 15 tries in 20 matches on the five-month Tour.