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Tom Danter, Hull FC and Welsh International Forward
Tom Danter born in Bridgend Wales 01 Dec 1922, at the age of 20 he played rugby union for Cardiff Rugby Union Club and later played for the Bridgend Rugby Union Club.
Hull FC directors were informed that Danter was a big strapping 14 stone forward who would show up well in rugby league.
The directors travelled to Wales to secure and signed 26 year old Tom Danter on Thursday 28 Oct 1948.
He was informed he would be playing in Hulls front row against Widnes on the following Saturday, a daunting task for a rugby union player who has not had time to get to know the teams tactics or the players no matter how good his is, especially with Widnes being one of the best teams in the League, having very strong forwards and great half-backs.
Under the circumstances Danter did well in the forward line and had the halves been able to service the three quarters and wing there may have been tries.
Hull held their own in the first half but when Jackson went off injured Widnes capitalised and scored, they took control and Hull had their biggest loss of the season.
This was a big learning curve for Danter and as the season progressed he showed what a good front row forward he could be and became a regular front row forward for Hull. He very soon got the notice of the Welsh Rugby League selection Committee and as a result was selected to represent Wales against Other Nationalities at Abertillery on Saturday October 22 1949, France on November 12 1949 at Swansea and England on 1 March 1950 at Wigan. He was selected to play for Wales for the forth time against England in October 1951.
Danter requested to be put on the transfer list, Hull agreed and Dewsbury Rugby League Club was keen to sign Danter, the transfer to Dewsbury took effect in 1951.
Initially Danter was not happy at Dewsbury and asked to be put on their transfer list. Dewsbury management already with Nine Welsh Internationals in their squad of players must have convinced Danter they would sort out any issued he had and Tom Danter continued to play for Dewsbury and was still giving sterling service to Dewsbury in 1955.
Between 1949 and 1955 Tom Danter represented Wales on 5 occasions his playing record for Hull was 77 games.
