Rob Parker (rugby league)
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Robert Russell Parker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 5 September 1981 Westhoughton, Bolton, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 109 kg (17 st 2 lb) [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Prop, Second-row | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rob Parker (born 5 September 1981) is an English professional rugby league footballer for Leigh Centurions, signing from Super League neighbours Salford City Reds in time for the 2012 season. An England international representative forward, he previously played for super League clubs Bradford, London and Warrington.
Playing career
Parker played his junior rugby with Leigh East. Debuting in 2000 Parker marked his case for a regular position in Super League during a ten-game loan spell with London Broncos in 2001. He then rose out of the Bradford Bulls Academy to establish himself as an integral part of the powerful Bulls pack, collected Super League medals in 2003 and 2005 and played in a winning Challenge Cup Final (2003) and World Club Challenge (2004). A near ever present in the all conquering Bradford team which won the league and cup double in 2003, he missed out on a spot in the 2003 Super League Grand Final. Having won Super League VIII, Bradford played against 2003 NRL Premiers, the Penrith Panthers in the 2004 World Club Challenge. Parker played from the interchange bench in the Bulls' 22-4 victory. At the end of that year he played for the Bradford Bulls from the interchange bench in their 2004 Super League Grand Final loss against the Leeds Rhinos. An accomplished performer in both front and second row. Whilst at Bradford Bulls, Parker was loaned out to Wakefield RFC where he made seven Rugby Union appearances over two seasons. He was appointed England captain in 2004 and led his country to the European Nations Cup. Parker won caps for England while at Bradford Bulls in 2004 against Russia, France, and Ireland.[2]
Signed by Warrington Wolves for the 2006 season, released from his contract at the end of the 2008 season. After joining Salford City Reds he was announced as their new club captain on 10 February after long-serving skipper Malcolm Alker was stripped of the captaincy during pre-season. During the 2009 Murrayfield Magic, the crowd chanted his name for the first twenty minutes of his game against Harlequins as a sign of respect for what he has done for the game of rugby league.[3]
In July 2011, he went on loan to Castleford Tigers, to help ease their injury crisis in the prop department.[4] Parker joined hometown club Leigh Centurions in time for the 2012 Co-Operative Championship season.
Rob is now the Commercial Manager at Bradford Bulls and has seen the commercial income at the club dramatically raise since his appointment.
Rob is also close friends with Tom Hardy, Ben Amos and Chris Smalling from "Team Sophie".
References
- ^ "Salford City Reds Official club website". web page. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ 1 June 2009.
- ^ 1st July 2011. Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine
External links
Template:2000 Challenge Cup Winners Template:2003 Challenge Cup Winners Template:Bradford Bulls - 2004 World Club Challenge Winners