Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
100	100	0	15	13	0	71

When a cheque for £166 was presented to Jack Higgins in June 1948, the heartfelt sentiment expressed was 'what might have been'. It was the proceeds of a testimonial which had been arranged following his premature retirement from the game in 1947.

Higgins made his Rovers debut on 21 April 1941 in the last game of that season at Hunslet. The Rovers won 14-2 and the display of the young scrum-half shone through. The club were playing in the War Emergency League during the war, and although the fixture lists were restricted, the Rovers managed to maintain a reasonable programme. Higgins scored his first try for the club against Batley (at home) in February 1942 and had established himself by 1943. He played in all 28 games in season 1943/44, and showed all his flair and skill in particular when he scored three tries against Oldham (at home) on 5 February 1944.

When peace-time football resumed in 1945, he had developed into a most competent footballer and his displays were attracting wider attention. As the Rovers struggled in a mid-table position, his play was a revelation and he was outstanding even in defeats against Bradford, Huddersfield and Halifax. His craft created three tries in the game with Rochdale in April as he inspired Rovers to a 15-5 victory.

Hopes were high at the start of the 1946/47 season. Higgins was appointed captain, but in a pre-season trial match he dislocated his hip and missed the whole of the season. Without his influence, the Roves slumped to the bottom rungs of the table. He returned at the start of the 1947/48 season and was immediately in his best sparkling form, inspiring as captain, and representative honours were beckoning.  Thus inspired, the team won its opening fixtures against Keighley, York and Castleford. In the fourth game, at Halifax, they were leading 15-8 with only 15 minutes to go when tragedy struck again.  Higgins dislocated his hip for the second time and, as he was carried from the field, the Rovers crumpled and Halifax scored 19 points to secure a hollow 27 -15 victory.  Higgins's career was over and the Rovers plummeted to the bottom of the league. His was an outstanding talent and he varied his tactics around the scrum so that he bamboozled the opposition. An astute kicker with either foot, he was undoubtedly a very exciting footballer. It was a shame that the club and the game were deprived prematurely of such talent.

Biography by Ron Bailey