Born at home in St George’s Square in 1929, John was the first of eight children born to Abigail and Michael Duggan. He grew up on the Eastmoor estate.
He went to school at St Austin’s where he managed the rugby team and joined Wakefield RFC when he left school aged 16.
At the age of 18 he signed with Wakefield Trinity in 1947 where he was known to fans and teammates as Johnny Duggan.
A Wakefield Express newspaper report described John as the clear favorite for “his strong run, elusive nature and temperament”.
He played for Yorkshire in 1949 and as right winger for Wakefield Trinity in 1951 in a 17–3 cup win over Keighley.
John emigrated to New Zealand in the early 1950s, where he set up business in Auckland.
He met and married Phyllis Chapman and the couple had three sons.
In 1993, he visited Wakefield to see family and meet up with his former Trinity teammates, a reunion covered in the Express.
John died in Auckland on July 21, 2022.
He is survived by his three sons and their families.
