John Basnett (birth registered first ¼ 1957) is an English rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for New Brighton F.C., and for Cheshire in the RFU County Championship competition and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, and at club level for Widnes, as a wing, i.e. number 2 or 5.