Few New Zealanders have made such an impact on rugby league as Lancelot Beaumont Todd. From his homeland’s point of view, the only unfortunate aspect of his massive contribution, as a player, team manager, administrator, and commentator, was that it was made entirely in England.
Todd played rugby union as a slightly-built five-eighths for Parnell and Auckland before filling a pivotal role in assisting Albert Baskerville and George Smith to assemble the 1907-08 professional rugby team which became known as the All Golds. As professionals, they were banned from playing Rugby Union in NZ again and many of the players remained in the UK.
Also a noted sprinter, Todd combined pace and elusiveness with a sharp football brain and quickly adjusted to the Northern Union rules unknown in the Southern Hemisphere when the All Golds set out. Todd made his mark as a centre, appearing in four test matches and scoring a try in the second test victory over the British at Stamford Bridge.
He caught the eye of the ambitious Wigan club and was signed for a fee of 400 pounds, the equivalent of five years’ wages for the average working man. Todd was the first of a galaxy of New Zealand stars to wear the cherry and white of Wigan. In the next five seasons he played in one Challenge Cup and four Championship finals.
Todd served in the First World War, joining the New Zealand forces in London. His enlistment records show that he enlisted in September 1914 and remained in the NZ Army until discharge in 1919, serving in France and Egypt with the Army Service Corps as a Lieutenant and later Captain.
Returning to rugby league after discahrge, he fashioned a career as an inspirational coach and outstanding broadcaster. He practically invented the position of team manager in the British game after answering an advertisement for a secretary-manager from the ailing Salford club.
In his first season of 1928-29, and with only two new signings, Todd lifted Salford from 26th position to fourth. From then until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Salford was never out of the top bracket and won every prize the game had to offer. The enterprising Todd took Salford on a tour of France, where the club was given its famous nickname of the Red Devils.
To many British sports followers Todd was much more than a team manager, he was rugby league itself. When the BBC wanted someone to broadcast the game they called upon Todd and he still ranks among its finest publicists.
Tragically, he was killed in a car accident in 1942 while returning home from broadcasting a match at Oldham. At that time he was also serving as adjutant of the Salford Home Guard.
In 1946 the Lance Todd Trophy was introduced to recognise the Man of the Match in the Challenge Cup final, the annual showpiece of British rugby league that Todd had graced as a player and
manager. The Trophy has been won twice by NZ’ers, the Paul brothers, Robbie in1996 and Henry in 2000. It remains the most prestigious individual award in the British game, where Todd’s name is still revered 100 years after he arrived with the All Golds. He is buried in his wife’s family grave in Wigan Cemetery.