Ian Watson (rugby league)

Ian Watson
Personal information
Born (1976-10-27) 27 October 1976
Manchester, England
Playing information
Position Scrum-half
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1995–97 Salford City Reds
1996 (loan) → Workington Town 1 15 0 34
1998–00 Swinton Lions
2001 Widnes Vikings
2002 Salford City Reds 22 2 0 1 9
2003 Rochdale Hornets
Oldham Roughyeds
Swinton Lions
2007 Halifax
2008–09 Leigh Centurions
2010–14 Swinton Lions 109 11 6 0 56
Total
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1995–11 Wales 30 7 1 0 30
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2015– Salford Red Devils
Source: RLP walesrugbyleague.co.uk

Ian Watson (born 27 October 1976) is a Welsh rugby league coach and former player who is currently head coach of Salford Red Devils. As a player, he was a Scrum-half/Halfback, or Hooker who played for Swinton Lions, Salford City Reds, Workington Town, Widnes Vikings, Rochdale Hornets, Oldham Roughyeds, Halifax, Leigh Centurions and the Wales national rugby league team, currently holding the appearance record for the latter with 30.

Club career

Watson started his professional career with Salford coming though from local amateur team Eccles ARLFC. In July 1996, he joined Workington Town on loan,[1] where he played in the Super League for the first time. He returned to Salford for the 1997 season, making 27 appearances for the club.[2] Following the signings of Martin Crompton and Josh White, despite being a firm club favourite Watson was deemed surplus to requirements, and was sold to Swinton Lions for a fee of £15,000.[3] He spent three years with Swinton before signing a one-year contract with Widnes Vikings for the 2001 season.[4] He returned to the Super League a year later, re-joining Salford on a one-year deal.[5] Watson played out the remainder of his career in the Championships.

In January 2014, Watson was appointed as player-coach for Swinton.[6] He left Swinton in July 2014 to join Salford as an assistant coach.[7] In late 2015, Watson was promoted to interim head coach after Iestyn Harris left the club.[8] He was given the job on a permanent basis for 2016, working alongside Director of Rugby Tim Sheens.

International career

Ian Watson holds the record for having won the most caps for Wales. Having made his debut against the USA in Philadelphia in 1995, he made 30 appearances for his country, scoring 7 tries and kicking one goal.[9] He played at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.[10][11] His final appearance for Wales came during the 2011 Four Nations tournament against New Zealand, and he announced his international retirement shortly after.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Gay's good news for Castleford". The Independent. 20 July 1996. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  2. ↑ Hadfield, Dave (14 January 1998). "Rugby League: Clubs refuse to alter fixtures". The Independent. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  3. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Paul (9 February 1998). "Rugby League: Barrow lifts the Lions First Division: Swinton 41, Keighley 16". The Guardian. p. 10. Retrieved 16 February 2014. (subscription required (help)).
  4. ↑ "Busy Widnes; Rugby League". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 30 August 2000. Retrieved 16 February 2014. (subscription required (help)).
  5. ↑ "Watson returns". South Wales Echo. 12 December 2001. Retrieved 16 February 2014. (subscription required (help)).
  6. ↑ "Swinton chairman resigns as club awaits investment". Love Rugby League. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  7. ↑ Ian Watson signed by Salford
  8. ↑ Ian Watson's in at the deep end at Salford Red Devils but learning from legends
  9. ↑ "Thomas debut on Wednesday" The Press Association (3 October 2010)
  10. ↑ Williams, Graham; Lush, Peter; Farrar, David (2009). The British Rugby League Records Book. London League. pp. 108–114. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6.
  11. ↑ "Statistics at walesrugbyleague.com". walesrugbyleague.com. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  12. ↑ "Briers to retire from Wales duty". BBC News.

External links


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