Philip Thomas Lowe (19 January 1950 – 20 March 2024) was an English professional rugby league footballer and coach who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s as a second-row forward.
[6] Lowe was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England to his father Herbert William, a bricklayer, and his mother Marion, a kitchen supervisor.
In 1974, Lowe was lured to Australia by Manly-Warringah secretary Ken Arthurson to play for the two-time defending Sydney premiers, with Manly paying Hull Kingston Rovers a £15,000 transfer fee.
[8] There he joined fellow Great Britain international Mal Reilly, and hard hitting local junior Terry Randall in what was one of the strongest back rows in the Sydney premiership.
Among his teammates that day included Australian internationals Graham Eadie, Russel Gartner, Bob Fulton, and Terry Randall as well as fellow Englishmen Gary Stephens and Steve "Knocker" Norton.
[9] The matter had been referred to the International Board, and the Rugby League Council requested Hull KR not to select Lowe until a ruling had been made.
[10] After seeking legal advice, the club played Lowe in the first round of the 1976–77 Premiership in a 18–13 win against Warrington, but the Council subsequently expelled Rovers from the tournament.
Lowe played left-second-row in the 7–8 defeat by Leeds in the 1980–81 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1980–81 season at Fartown, Huddersfield on Saturday 8 November 1980.
Lowe played left-second-row in the 9–18 defeat by Widnes in the 1980–81 Challenge Cup Final during the 1980–81 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 2 May 1981, in front of a crowd of 92,496.
[7] After leaving rugby, Lowe began working in hospitality, eventually becoming a landlord, running several pubs around the Hull and East Riding area.