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'''Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club''' or simply known as '''Wigan Warriors''' or '''Wigan''' is a professional [[rugby league|rugby league football]] club based in [[Wigan]], [[Greater Manchester]], [[England]]. The club is one of the original twenty two rugby clubs that founded the [[Northern Rugby Football Union]] in 1895, making it one of the founder members of the sport and one of the oldest clubs in [[rugby league]].
'''Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club''' or simply known as '''Wigan Warriors''' or '''Wigan''' is a professional [[rugby league|rugby league football]] club based in [[Wigan]], [[Greater Manchester]], [[England]]. The club is one of the original twenty two rugby clubs that founded the [[Northern Rugby Football Union]] in 1895, making it one of the founder members of the sport and one of the oldest clubs in [[rugby league]].


The club was the town of Wigan's first rugby club and is currently, the only professional [[rugby league|rugby league football]] club within the Metropolitan borough of [[Wigan]].
The club was the town of Wigan's first rugby club and is currently one of two professional [[rugby league|rugby league football]] clubs within the Metropolitan borough of [[Wigan]], the other being [[Leigh Centurions]].
The club is currently one of fourteen participants within the [[European Super League]] and has been ever-present in [[Super League]] since the competition was created in 1996. The club's first team participate in this competition. The club's reserve team participate in the reserve team championship and the club's academy team participate in the Gillette academy championship.
The club is currently one of fourteen participants within the [[European Super League]] and has been ever-present in [[Super League]] since the competition was created in 1996. The club's first team participate in this competition. The club's reserve team participate in the reserve team championship and the club's academy team participate in the Gillette academy championship.

Revision as of 09:09, 30 April 2009

Wigan Warriors R.L.F.C.
File:WiganWarriorslogo.PNG
Club information
Full nameWigan Warriors
Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)The Cherry & Whites
The Warriors
Wigan Rugby
The Riversiders.
Founded21st November 1872
Current details
Ground(s)
ChairmanEngland Ian Lenagan
CoachEngland Brian Noble
CaptainEngland Sean O'Loughlin
CompetitionEuropeSuper League
Uniforms
Home colours
Away colours
Records
Challenge Cups17

Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club or simply known as Wigan Warriors or Wigan is a professional rugby league football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The club is one of the original twenty two rugby clubs that founded the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895, making it one of the founder members of the sport and one of the oldest clubs in rugby league.

The club was the town of Wigan's first rugby club and is currently one of two professional rugby league football clubs within the Metropolitan borough of Wigan, the other being Leigh Centurions.

The club is currently one of fourteen participants within the European Super League and has been ever-present in Super League since the competition was created in 1996. The club's first team participate in this competition. The club's reserve team participate in the reserve team championship and the club's academy team participate in the Gillette academy championship.

The success the club had during the mid to late 1980s and early to mid 1990s period included winning the Challenge Cup eight seasons in succession and the League Championship seven seasons in succession. The club has long-standing rivalries with local clubs St Helens, Warrington Wolves and Leigh Centurions. The club's rivalry with St.Helens is one of the biggest rivalries in rugby league.

Many Rugby League fans believe that the Super League competition and the salary cap system were both introduced in Rugby League to halt the dominance of one club, that club was Wigan.

Wigan have honoured several of the great players who played for the club during its history. These players are honoured, via induction, in the Wigan RL Hall of Fame.

History Overview

Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is one of the most famous and successful sports clubs in the world. The club has grown from humble beginnings into one of the giants of British sport.[1]

On the 21st November 1872 a sporting legacy was born. Wigan Football Club was founded by members of Wigan Cricket Club following a meeting at the Royal Hotel, Standishgate, Wigan. Wigan F.C. played on Folly Field, near Upper Dicconson Street.

The first match took place on 30 November when members played against each other at Folly Field. After a series of trial and practice matches, they travelled to Warrington to play their first competitive match on 18 January 1873. The game ended in a draw.

Financial problems and an inability to recruit quality players led to the club amalgamating with Upholland F.C. in 1876. The club became Wigan & District F.C. The club moved and played its home games at the then Wigan Cricket Club at Prescott Street just off of Frog Lane. It is unlikely that the club fulfilled its fixtures in 1877 before finally disbanding at the end of the 1879 cricket season.

On the 22nd September 1879, the club was reformed as Wigan Wasps by many ex-members of the original Wigan Football Club, following a meeting in the Dicconson Arms. The club moved away from Prescott Street back to Folly Field. In 1884, Wigan won its first trophy, the West Lancashire Cup. The club initially played in blue and white hooped jerseys before changing in 1886 to cherry and white hoops.[2]In 1888 they hosted and beat a touring New Zealand side.

Wigan were suspended by the RFU for breaking the strict amateur code despite their argument that broken-time payments were necessary to avoid undue hardship for their working class players. In 1895 Wigan joined with other clubs from Yorkshire and Lancashire to found the Northern Union which led eventually to the sport of rugby league. This was a result of the breakaway from the Rugby Football Union. This was when the "Wasps" tag was dropped and the club simply became known as Wigan.

The County Championship was introduced in October 1895 with Cheshire entertaining Lancashire. The Red Rose side contained three players from Wigan: Winstanley (full back) and Unsworth and Brown (forwards).

In 1896/1897 due to the increased number of Northern Union teams the Northern League was abandoned in favour of two County Senior leagues. The second half of the season saw the introduction of the Northern Union Cup (later known as the Rugby League Cup). Wigan reached the third round before being knocked out by St. Helens.

In 1900, fourteen clubs resigned from the two county leagues to form a new Northern Rugby League for season 1901-1902. Wigan however remained in the Lancashire Senior Competition.

Wigan became sub-tenants of Springfield Park, which they shared with Wigan United AFC , playing their first game there on 14 September 1901. A crowd of 4,000 saw them beat Morecambe 12-0. During this season Wigan won the Lancashire Senior Competition.

Wigan's record crowd at Springfield was 10,000 when they beat Widnes on 19 March 1902. The last game was on 28 April 1902 when Wigan beat the Rest of Lancashire Senior Competition.

Two meetings were held by Wigan members during the season to discuss the possibility of turning the club into a Limited Company but the idea did not take off.

In the 1905-1906 season they won their first cup, in rugby league, the Lancashire Cup. Between 1906 and 1923 Wigan won the Lancashire League another seven times and the Lancashire Cup another four times. Wigan were the first winners of the Lancashire cup.

Wigan played New Zealand on November 9 1907 and ran out winners by 12 points to 8 in front of a crowd of around 30,000. Great Britain, then known as the Northern Union, played their first ever test against New Zealand on January 25 1908. James Leytham, Bert Jenkins, and Johnny Thomas of Wigan were in the home side and Leytham scored a try. Jenkins and Thomas had previously played in the first Welsh game against New Zealand on January 1 1908.

On the 12th May 1921, Wigan became a limited company.

In June 1922 Jim Sullivan joined Wigan from Cardiff RFC when he was only 17. His cash value was put at £750, which was a staggering signing-on fee for an adolescent who had not yet played 13-a-side rugby. His first game was at home against Widnes on 27 August, 1921, and he scored ten points in a 21-0 win. Almost inevitably, Jim Sullivan scored the first points in the first Challenge Cup Final to be played at Wembley Stadium, kicking a penalty after only three minutes of the inaugural Challenge Cup Final against Dewsbury in 1929, in which he led Wigan to a 13-2 victory. Sullivan became player-coach in 1932.

Wigan won their first Challenge Cup in the 1923-1924 season when they beat Oldham 21-4 in Rochdale. In 1933 the Prince of Wales attended Central Park, becoming the first royal to watch a rugby league match.

On October 25 1938 Australian Mr. Harry Sunderland arrived in Wigan to take up the duties of Secretary-Manager at Central Park. On September 28 1939 Harry Sunderland's contract was terminated and he and the club parted company.

The outbreak of World War II disrupted the Rugby League Championship but Wigan continued to play in the Lancashire War League and the Emergency War League.

During the war years the club went through the 1940/41 season unbeaten although they lost the Championship final. They lost the 1944 Challenge Cup Final over two games to Bradford Northern 8-3 but made up for it beating Dewsbury in the Championship Final.

Jim Sullivan's last game, as a player, for Wigan was at Mount Pleasant, Batley, on 23 February 1946. He remained at Central Park for another six seasons as coach.

In 1948 Wigan took part in the first televised rugby league match when their 8-3 Challenge Cup Final victory over Bradford Northern was broadcast to the Midlands. In another first this was the first rugby league match to be attended by the reigning monarch, King George VI, who presented the trophy.

On Saturday 27 October 1951 33,230 spectators saw Wigan beat Leigh 14-6 in the final of the Lancashire Cup at Station Road, Swinton. In 1952 Wigan won their sixth consecutive Lancashire Cup.

Wigan were also featured in the first league match to be broadcast, a clash with Wakefield Trinity at Central Park on 12 January 1952.

In 1953 Wigan signed William ‘Billy’ Boston for £150. 8,000 fans saw Billy Boston début for Wigan in the 'A' team. He would later become one of the most successful and famous Wigan players of all time. Eric Ashton signed for Wigan for £150 in 1955. Wigan went to Wembley six times in the Boston/Ashton era and won three times.

The visit of St. Helens on 27 March 1959 produced Central Park's all time record attendance of 47,747 which is still a record for any rugby league game in Lancashire. Wigan went on to win the game 19-14 after holding off a Saints comeback.

Joe Egan returned to coach Wigan and during his time they won the Championship play-off final in 1960 defeating Wakefield Trinity 21-5, the Challenge Cup in 1958, 1959, 13-9 against Workington Town and 30-13 against Hull respectively before losing in 12-6 to St. Helens in 1961 which was to be his last game in charge.

Wigan continued to have regular success in both league and cup competitions until 1974 when Wigan went 8 seasons without winning any leagues or cups.

Eric Ashton coached Wigan from 1963 to 1973. In 1966, Wigan locked television cameras out of their ground in the belief that they affected attendances. They were fined £500 by the RFL. Wigan beat Oldham 16-13 in the 1966 Lancashire Cup Final. Billy Boston played his last match in the cherry and white, against Wakefield Trinity at the end of April 1968.

Wigan celebrated the centenary year of the club in November 1972, with a match against Australia at Central Park, on Saturday 17 November, the result finished as an 18-18 draw.

Wigan pulled off a surprise victory 19-9 over Salford in the Lancashire Cup Final which was played at Wilderspool, Warrington on Saturday 13 October 1973. Cup holders Salford had lost only one match prior to the final, against the touring Australians.

Ted Toohey became coach of Wigan in May 1974 before being sacked in January 1975, this would set the pattern of coaches lasting one or two seasons before being replaced. Joe Coan then took control and lasted until being fired in September 1976. Vince Karalius then took over but was also sacked in September 1979.

Kel Coslett was coach between October 1979 and April 1980. In 1980, Wigan were relegated from the top flight for the first time in the history of the club and Coslett was replaced by George Fairbairn. During the second division season they recorded a record average attendance for the division of 8,198. Wigan won promotion back to the top flight the following season but Fairbairn lasted no longer than May 1981.

Maurice Lindsay came to Wigan in the early 1980s to join directors Jack Robinson, Tom Rathbone and David Bradshaw. Wigan became one of the first teams to go full-time professional in the league, this led to an upsurge in the fortunes of the club.

Between February and October 1987 Wigan won a record 29 games in a row as follows: 20 Division One matches, 3 Premiership Trophy matches, 4 Lancashire Cup matches, 1 Charity Shield final, 1 World Club Challenge final. Wigan defeated Australian club Manly-Warringah 8-2 in front of a crowd of over 38,000 at Central Park for an unofficial World Club Championship. It was the first time a team of Englishmen had beaten a team of Australians at rugby league since 1978. From 1988-1995 Wigan won the Challenge Cup 8 seasons in a row; this period was Wigan’s most successful period to date. They also won the Championship seven times, League Cup four times, Premiership Trophy three times, Charity Shield twice and three World Club Championships.

In 1997, the club was renamed Wigan Warriors. Wigan's dominance came under threat with the new league now fully professional and the introduction of the salary cap and the 20/20 rule. After going out of the Challenge Cup to Salford in 1996 and St Helens in 1997 , they returned to Wembley for the final time in 1998. Still undefeated in the league and the fact coach John Monie had never lost a Cup Tie meant Wigan were huge favourites against the unfancied Sheffield Eagles. But on May 2 1998 the Eagles would go down in rugby league history causing the biggest upset in the competitions history with a 17-8 win.

Wigan won the first Super League Grand Final in 1998 with a 10-4 victory over Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester.

In November 1999, coach Andy Goodway was sacked by Wigan chairman Maurice Lindsay after the Warriors' failure to win a trophy for the first time in 15 years. After a buy-out by Dave Whelan, both the Warriors and the town's football team, Wigan Athletic, moved to the JJB Stadium. As part of the rugby league's "on the road" scheme Wigan Warriors met Gateshead Thunder at Tynecastle, Edinburgh. Maurice Lindsay also returned as director. On an emotional day of high drama Wigan's final game at Central Park was against arch rivals St Helens on Sunday 5 September 1999 . Wigan legend Ellery Hanley returned as St Helens coach but a Jason Robinson virtuoso try meant the game was won by Wigan 28-20. The first game at the new stadium was a defeat in a Super League play-off match against Castleford Tigers on 19 September 1999. Frank Endacott joined Wigan Warriors as head coach after the 1999 season and coached them until 2001, when he was sacked.

In 2000 Wigan finished top of the Super League and reached the Grand Final for the second time but this time lost to St Helens 29-16. Wigan reached the Grand Final again the year after but lost to Bradford Bulls 37-4 which is still the biggest winning margin in a Super League Grand Final. Wigan wouldn’t win the Challenge Cup again for another 8 seasons until they won it in 2002. In 2002 Wigan won their 18th Challenge Cup when they beat St Helens 21-12 at Murrayfield Stadium.

Wigan coach Stuart Raper was sacked as head coach of the club on 29 July 2003 due to a lack of success[3] . He was replaced by assistant coach Mike Gregory and the team improved and reached the Grand Final only to lose to Bradford Bulls 25-12. In 2004 Gregory guided Wigan to the Challenge Cup final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff but Wigan lost to St Helens 32-16. It was Mike Gregory's last match as head coach of Wigan, he travelled to the United States of America to get treatment for an illness that he contracted after an insect bite while in Australia[4] . It was revealed that Mike had motor neurone disease and he did not return as Wigan coach; he was not sacked but Wigan allowed his contract to expire and also appointed Ian Millward as head coach. Wigan did not have the success they expected under Ian Millward and in 2006 Wigan were bottom of the league and facing relegation from Super League. Wigan sacked Millward and replaced him with Brian Noble. Brian Noble signed Michael Dobson[5] and signed Stuart Fielden from Bradford Bulls for a record fee of £450,000[6] . Wigan avoided relegation in 2006 but still had problems with the salary cap which they had breached in 2005[7] and 2006[7] . Some of the fans blamed Wigan Chairman Maurice Lindsay for the lack of success and salary cap problems at the club. In 2007 Maurice Lindsay announced that he would step down as Wigan Chairman at the end of 2007[8] and later that month Dave Whelan announced he would consider selling the club at the end of the season. Harlequins RL chairman and life long Wigan rugby league fan Ian Lenagan bought the club from Dave Whelan promising to start a new era at Wigan Warriors.

For the 2008 Super League season Wigan signed Andy Coley, Richie Mathers, George Carmont and Karl Pryce brother of St Helens player Leon Pryce. Mathers and Carmont were obtained from NRL where as Coley was obtained from Salford and Karl Pryce returned from a stint in rugby union at Gloucester Rugby. Ex-Bradford player Karl stated "I felt honoured when they came in for me, not least because I'm a big fan". During the 2008 season Wigan also added Cameron Phelps and Tim Smith to their squad. For the 2009 season, Wigan have so far confirmed the signing of ex-Parramatta Eels hooker, Mark Riddell. Mark Riddell says he has been a Wigan fan for fifteen years.

Wigan confirmed via the official website that they had been granted charitable status on Wednesday 29th April 2009.

Colours, Kits & Sponsorships

Until 1886, the Wigan team played in blue and white hooped jerseys before changing the colours to cherry and white hoops. The colours cherry and white are synonymous with the club. From then, the home kits have consisted of the colours cherry and white in different variations, usually hoops. Over the years the home kits have consisted of a lighter shade of red rather than the cherry colour, however, even when this has been the case, the club has still been known as "the Cherry and Whites".

The Away or Alternate kit colours have usually been blue and white. Some fans assume this is because Wigan originally played in these colours before the switch to the cherry and white hooped kits and it would therefore be appropriate that these colours became the clubs' secondary kit colours. The Away kits have been in different shades of blue over the years, royal blue, navy blue and light blue with varied designs. These designs have sometimes been hooped, one irregular hoop or just a block colour of blue. There have been a few exceptions, with a black and white alternative kit being used in 2001 and a black kit with red piping in 2007.

Wigan have only ever had three main shirt sponsors. In 1989 the club had the jersey sponsor Norweb on the front of the home and away jerseys which would remain the club sponsor until 1998 by which time the Norweb company had been merged into United Utilities. The following season Wigan was sponsored by Energi the electrical branch of Norweb. In 2000 Wigan changed their kit sponsor to JJB Sports, the owner of JJB sports Dave Whelan at the time was also the owner of the Wigan Rugby League club. The club was now sponsored by JJB Sports having both moved into the JJB Stadium in 1999. JJB Sports remained the main sponsor of Wigan Warriors despite Dave Whelan selling the club in late 2007 and selling JJB Sports earlier in the same year. It was announced during the 2008 season that JJB would not be renewing the sponsorship contract for the 2009 season. It was announced on 24 January 2009 via the club's e-news facility that the new sponsor would be Meccabingo.com[9].

Wigan has had a number of kit manufacturers including Umbro, Puma, Adidas and Nike. When JJB became the shirt sponsor the kit manufacturer was usually an associate of JJB Sports at the time. Wigan’s 2000 kit was made by Adidas who also sponsored the East Stand at the JJB Stadium but when the association with JJB ended, the kits were made by Patrick, Dave Whelan's own clothing company. In 2006 and 2007 the kit manufacturer became JJB Sports itself which meant that the kits had JJB Sports as the main sponsor and as the kit manufacturer. The kit manufacturer changed to KooGa for the 2008 season. KooGa itself though is 48% owned by JJB Sports.

In 2008, Wigan signed a three year deal with KooGa which will mean KooGa will be kit manufacturer for seasons 2009, 2010 and 2011. It was the largest kit deal signed in the club's history and believed to be one of the biggest ever in rugby league history.

In November 2008 Wigan also announced that the club would be producing a limited edition shirt, with £5 from each shirt sale going to Wigan & Leigh Hospice. The limited edition shirt consists of Black & Pink hoops and was worn for one match by the first team which was an away friendly against Warrington on the 28th December 2008. This was the first time ever that the team representing the club has worn this combination of colours. Wigan won the match by 44 points to 4, the first time the first team have won at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

In January 2009 the shirts for the 2009 season were unveiled. The home kit is a return to a darker shade of the colour red which is known as 'cherry' red. The home kit consists of the traditional club colours of cherry and white hoops. The replica shirts which are sold to the fans have full hoops all the way around whilst the players shirts have a white panel on the back so that the name and number can be displayed and viewed easily. The away shirt is blue with one wide irregular white semi-hoop which is across the front of the shirt but does not stretch to the back.

Supporters

Wigan is one of the most well supported British rugby league clubs. During the 2006 season, in which the first team was struggling and battling away from the bottom end of the league table, the attendances were increasing as fans came, who may have not attended on a regular basis previously, to support the club and offer vocal support.

The club averaged 16,039 per home game in 2007. The average attendances which Wigan have enjoyed in recent seasons are second only to Leeds Rhinos.

As a gesture of thanks, the 2008 season saw the Wigan fans have dedicated to them, the number 18 from the squad numbers Joe Lydon commented “This is a new practice for clubs who recognise the extra special support which loyal fans can provide to their team in both good and bad times. It is particularly apt for Wigan fans"

From early 2008, the Wigan fans have often chanted to the tune of The Entertainer. One of the beginning lines of this particular chant is "We're the Greatest Club in the World", this self-proclaimed title is supported by the club's exalted history.

The fans have their own supporters club, The Riversiders, who meet monthly and often have special guests at the meetings including past and present players, coaching staff and members of the Rugby Football League.

Wigan's fans and Wigan people in general are known as 'pie eaters' or 'pies' which is reference to the 1926 General Strike, when Wigan miners were forced to eat 'humble pie' and return to work before miners in other towns, even though they had been on strike before the other towns joined in.[10] Since then the word ‘pie’ has come to mean the pastry rather than the metaphor ‘Humble Pie’.

Stadium(s)

Wigan Football Club played on Folly Field, Upper Dicconson Street. The club played its first match at Folly Field on the 30th November 1872 and remained at the ground for four years. Wigan Football Club went onto become Wigan & District Football Club, the newly named Wigan & District Football Club played its matches at Prescott Street. The club played at Prescott Street until the club disbanded. With the reformation of the Club as Wigan Wasps Football Club, the club returned to Folly Field from 1879-1886 when it moved its matches back to Prescott Street.

Wigan played their home games at Wigan Cricket Club on Prescott Street until 1901 when they moved to Springfield Park which they shared with the town's association soccer club Wigan United A.F.C. The first rugby match at Springfield Park was played on 14 September 1901 and was between Wigan and Morecambe in front of 4,000 spectators. The record rugby attendance for the ground was 10,000 achieved on 19 March 1902 when Wigan beat Widnes. Forty days later Wigan played their last game at Springfield Park when they defeated the Rest of Lancashire Senior Competition.

JJB Stadium before a Wigan Warriors game

In 1902 Wigan moved to their purpose build rugby ground called Central Park. Wigan played their first game at Central Park against Batley on 6 September 1902 which Wigan won 14-8. Central Park would be the home of Wigan Rugby League until 1999 when they moved to the newly built JJB Stadium. The last match at Central Park was against St Helens on 5 September 1999, a game which Wigan won 28-20 in front of 18,179 supporters. As Wigan developed into one of the most famous rugby league clubs in the world, Central Park also became one of the most famous rugby league venues.

Wigan now play their home games at the 25,000 all-seater JJB Stadium in Robin Park, Wigan. Their first game at the JJB Stadium was a Super League play-off match against Castleford Tigers which Wigan lost 14-10. The JJB Stadium is shared by both Wigan Warriors Rugby League club and Wigan Athletic Football Club: neither side owns the stadium, instead it is controlled by the company Whelco which is owned by Dave Whelan. As a guarantee to Wigan Rugby League, the club was given a 50 year lease[11] on the stadium so that the club could still use the stadium, as part of a stadium share, when Whelan sold the club in 2007.

Wigan also have a training facility at the small stadium Edge Hall Road in Orrell (now named the Co-Operative Community Stadium) where the first team, reserve team & academy team prepare, train and rehabilitate ahead of and after matches. It is also where the Reserve & Academy sides play their home games.

Honours

  • Challenge Cup Winners (17 times): 1923/24, 1928/29, 1947/48, 1950/51, 1957/58, 1958/59, 1964/65, 1984/85, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1993/94, 1994/95, 2002.
  • Lancashire League Winners (18 times): 1901/02, 1908/09, 1910/11, 1911/12, 1912/13, 1913/14, 1914/15, 1920/21, 1922/23, 1923/24, 1925/26, 1945/46, 1946/47, 1949/50, 1951/52, 1958/59, 1961/62, 1969/70.
  • Lancashire Cup Winners (21 times): 1905/06, 1908/09, 1909/10, 1912/13, 1922/23, 1928/29, 1938/39, 1946/47, 1947/48, 1948/49, 1949/50, 1950/51, 1951/52, 1966/67, 1971/72, 1973/74, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1992/93.
  • Regal Trophy (League Cup) Winners (8 times): 1982/83, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1992/93, 1994/95, 1995/96.
  • Premiership Winners (6 times):1986/7, 1991/2, 1993/4, 1994/5, 1996, 1997.
  • Charity Shield Winners (4 times): 1985/86, 1987/1988, 1991/92, 1995/96.
  • War League Winners: 1943/44.
  • Lancashire War League Winners: 1940/41.
  • League Leaders Trophy Winners: 1970/71.
  • West Lancashire Cup Winners: 1884/85.
  • BBC Sports Team of the Year: 1994.

Current Coaching Staff

The current head coach at Wigan Warriors is Brian Noble who is formerly the Bradford Bulls and Great Britain coach. He took over from Ian Millward who was sacked after poor performances left Wigan bottom of the European Super League. Noble became head coach of Wigan with the job of saving Wigan from relegation and returning the club to having a team in the top half of the table. Under Noble Wigan managed to avoid relegation in 2006 and have since improved their league position season on season. However, the team have yet to win any trophies under Brian Noble, who is noted as being one of the most successful rugby league coaches due to his successful tenure at the Bradford Bulls.

The current assistant coach at Wigan is Phil Veivers while Mike Forshaw is the current strength and conditioning coach. The reserve team is coached by Shaun Wane and the academy team is coached by John Pendlebury.

Coaching Register

Name Contract Started Contract Ended Notes
England Brian Noble April 2006 Present -
Australia Ian Millward May 2005 April 2006 Sacked
England Denis Betts May 2004 May 2005 Quit
England Mike Gregory July 2003 May 2004 Sick leave
Australia Stuart Raper May 2001 July 2003 Sacked
New Zealand Frank Endacott December 1999 May 2001 Sacked
England Andy Goodway June 1999 December 1999 Sacked
Australia John Monie November 1997 June 1999 Sacked
England Eric Hughes February 1997 November 1997 Sacked
New Zealand Graeme West May 1994 February 1997 Sacked
Australia John Dorahy June 1993 May 1994 Sacked
Australia John Monie September 1989 May 1993 Resigned
New Zealand Graeme Lowe August 1986 June 1989 Family reasons
England Colin Clarke/Alan McInnes August 1984 May 1986 Left - mutual consent
England Alex Murphy June 1982 August 1984 Sacked
England Maurice Bamford May 1981 May 1982 Resigned
England George Fairbairn April 1980 May 1981 Sold
Wales Kel Coslett October 1979 April 1980 Left to coach St Helens
England Vince Karalius September 1976 September 1979 Resigned
England Joe Coan January 1975 September 1976 Resigned
England Ted Toohey May 1974 January 1975 Caretaker
Graham Starkey June 1973 May 1974 Sacked
England Eric Ashton September 1963 May 1973 Resigned
Griff Jenkins October 1961 September 1963 Resigned
Johnny Lawrenson September 1961 October 1961 Caretaker
Wales Jim Sullivan July 1961 September 1961 Ill-Health
England Joe Egan August 1956 May 1961 Resigned
Ted Ward August 1953 End of 1956 Resigned
Maurice Hughes August 1952 End of 1953 Sacked
Wales Jim Sullivan October 1932 End of 1952 Resigned

Club Records

Player records

  • Most tries in a season: 62 by Johnny Ring, 1925-6
  • Most points in a season: 429 by Andy Farrell 2001
  • Most career goals: 2317 by Jim Sullivan,
  • Most career points: 4883 by Jim Sullivan,
  • Most career appearances: 774 by Jim Sullivan,
  • Most International Test caps: 36 by Shaun Edwards (Great Britain)

Team records

  • Biggest victory: 116-0 vs Flimby & Fothergill, 14 February 1925
  • Highest attendance: 47,747 vs St Helens, 27 March 1959
  • Highest attendance, for rugby league, at the JJB: 25,004 (Good Friday 2005 vs St Helens)

Team of the Decade

The team of the decade was voted for by the fans, in an online poll, on the club's official website. The vote was conducted during Super League X (2005).

Nat Player Position Years
England Kris Radlinski Full Back 1993 to 2006
England Jason Robinson Right Wing 1992 to 2000
Samoa Va'aiga Tuigamala Right Centre 1993 to 1996
England Gary Connolly Left Centre 1992 to 2002 and 2004
England Martin Offiah Left Wing 1991-1996
New Zealand Henry Paul Stand Off 1994-1998
England Shaun Edwards Scrum Half 1983-1996
Australia Craig Smith Prop 2002-2004
England Terry Newton Hooker 2000-2005
England Terry O'Connor Prop 1994-2004
England Denis Betts Second Row 1986-1995 and 1998-2001
EnglandRepublic of Ireland Michael "Mick" Cassidy Second Row 1990-2004
England Andrew Farrell Loose Forward 1991-2004

Notable Former Players

† denotes a member of the Wigan Rugby League Hall of Fame

‡ Along with Garry Schofield (7), Bobbie Goulding (1) and Lee Crooks (1), John Gray (1) is one of only four players to ever score a drop goal for Great Britain.

Players earning International Caps while at Wigan

Players Recieiving Testimonial matches

† denotes a member of the Wigan Rugby League Hall of Fame

In the Community

Wigan confirmed via the official website that they had been granted charitable status on Wednesday 29th April 2009. Wigan Warriors carry out extensive community work that stretches from Amateur Rugby League Football clubs to Schools as well as running highly successful community training camps for young people. A part of the community work is visiting primary schools to deliver a programme specifically designed for young people entitled 'Lessons for Life'. The programme is delivered via a geographic family of schools approach and results in each school receiving two hours of Rugby League coaching per week for a six week period. Additionally every school is offered the opportunity to start an extra curricular club and take part in a "Warriors Tag Festival". The club will now be able to deliver an even more extensive community programme via the Wigan Warriors Community Foundation

2009 Squad

No Nat Player Position Weight(kg) Height(m) Age Overseas Previous Club
1 Full Back
2 Australia Amos Roberts Right Wing 92 28 Yes Sydney Roosters
3 England Darrell Goulding Right Centre 90 1.82 20 No Wigan Warriors Academy
4 Samoa George Carmont Left Centre 91 1.80 30 No Newcastle Knights
5 Republic of Ireland Pat Richards Left Wing 99 1.91 26 No Wests Tigers
6 Australia Tim Smith Scrum Half 92 1.80 23 Yes Parramatta Eels
7 New Zealand Thomas Leuluai Scrum Half 85 1.71 23 No Harlequins RL
8 England Stuart Fielden Prop 108 1.91 29 No Bradford Bulls
9 Australia Mark Riddell Hooker 109 1.82 27 Yes Parramatta Eels
10 Samoa Iafeta Paleaaesina Prop 118 1.87 26 Yes New Zealand Warriors
11 England Gareth Hock Second Row 92 1.88 25 No Wigan Warriors Academy
12 Australia Phil Bailey Second Row 93 1.89 28 Yes Cronulla Sharks
13 England Sean O'Loughlin Loose Forward 93 1.87 25 No Wigan Warriors Academy
14 England Joel Tomkins Second Row 95 1.88 21 No Wigan Warriors Academy
15 England Andy Coley Prop 108 1.89 29 No Salford City Reds
16 Samoa Harrison Hansen Second Row 89 1.84 22 No Wigan Warriors Academy
17 Republic of Ireland Michael McIlorum Hooker 79 1.74 20 No Wigan Warriors Academy
19 Republic of Ireland Paul Prescott Prop 99 1.90 22 No Wigan Warriors Academy
20 England Karl Pryce Centre 118 1.98 22 No Gloucester RU
21 Australia Cameron Phelps Centre 89 1.78 23 Yes Canterbury Bulldogs
22 England Martin Gleeson Centre 96 1.85 28 No Warrington Wolves
23 Republic of Ireland Eamon O'Carroll Prop 103 1.80 21 No Wigan Warriors Academy
24 England Lee Mossop Prop 104 1.85 19 No Wigan Warriors Academy
25 England Sam Tomkins Stand Off 77 1.80 19 No Wigan Warriors Academy
26 England Mark Flanagan Loose Forward 90 1.74 20 No Bradford Bulls
27 England Liam Farrell Second Row No Wigan Warriors Academy
28 England Shaun Ainscough Left Wing 86 1.73 18 No Wigan Warriors Academy
29 England Ben Davies Open Prop 19 No Wigan Warriors Academy
30 England Chris Tuson Second Row 18 No Wigan Warriors Academy
31 England Ian Thornley Left Centre No Wigan Warriors Academy

Trivia

  • Wigan have won more trophies than any other British rugby league club.
  • In rugby league, only the professional Australian clubs South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney City Roosters have won more trophies than Wigan.
  • Wigan were the first rugby league club to win at Wembley Stadium.
  • Wigan are the only club to win the Challenge Cup 4 times in a row.
  • Wigan are the only club to have won the Championship 3 times in a row.
  • Wigan won the Championship 7 times in a row from 1989 to 1995.
  • Wigan won the Challenge Cup, a record, 8 times in a row from 1988 to 1995.
  • Wigan are the only British club to win the World Club Challenge in Australia.
  • Wigan have appeared in four World Club Challenge Finals, winning three.
  • Wigan were the first and last winners of the Lancashire Cup.
  • Wigan were the first winners of the British Grand Final in 1998.
  • Wigan supplied a record 13 tourists for the 1989 Great Britain team a record held by themselves before.
  • Wigan is only one of two rugby league clubs to have won the Middlesex 7s rugby union tournament.
  • Wigan have broken the World Record Transfer fee 8 times including the triple signings of Ellery Hanley , Joe Lydon and Andy Gregory in 1986. They currently hold the record of £450,000 for Stuart Fielden[12].
  • Wigan hold the all time League attendance record of 47,477 v St Helens in 1959.
  • Wigan hold the two division era attendance record of 29,839 v St Helens in 1993.
  • Wigan hold the Super League attendance record of 25,004 v St Helens in 2005.
  • The mid-to-late 1980s and early-to-mid-1990s is the most successful period for the club to date, however, even without this glorious trophy laden period, Wigan would still have won more trophies than any other professional British rugby league club due to their successes throughout their history.
  • Only two Englishmen have won the coverted Golden Boot Award, both played for Wigan. Ellery Hanley (1989) & Andrew Farrell (2004)
  • The first Wigan player to win the Man of Steel award was George Fairbairn in the early 1970s.
  • Wigan are often referred to, by the Australian media, as the "English glamour club".
  • Wigan have been referred to, by the French media, as the "aristocrats" of rugby league and have also been referred to as "mythical". This refers to the meaning of the word as "based on or told of in traditional stories".

References

  1. ^ http://www.wiganwarriors.com/MidContent.asp?cid=22
  2. ^ Wigan Warriors - The Official Website
  3. ^ "Wigan sack Raper". BBC Sport. 2003-07-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Gregory in health scare". BBC Sport. 2004-04-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "Wigan replace Moran with Dobson". BBC Sport. 2006-05-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Fielden in shock switch to Wigan". BBC Sport. 2006-06-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b "Wigan docked two points for salary breach". Manchester Evening News. 2006-05-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "Wigan lose points over salary cap" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Lindsey to retire from Wigan role". BBC Sport. 2007-07-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Warriors unveil new kit and sponsor". wigantoday.net. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  10. ^ Wigan History - 1800 To Now
  11. ^ http://www.wiganwarriors.com/news_full.asp?newsid=3375
  12. ^ http://www.wiganwarriors.com/news_full.asp?newsid=2126
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