Nigel Wright (rugby league)

Nigel Wright
Personal information
Full nameNigel Wright
Born (1973-11-08) 8 November 1973 (age 51)
Playing information
PositionStand-off, Loose forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1990–93 Wakefield Trinity 27+6 6 12 6 54
1993–98 Wigan 36 11 0 4 48
1994–95(loan) → Wakefield 19 6 53 11 141
1998–2000 Huddersfield 10 1 0 0 4
Total 98 24 65 21 247
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1993–95 GB Under 21 3+1 0 0 0 0
1995 England 1 0 0 1 1
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2011 Barrow Raiders
Source: [1][2][3][4]

Nigel Wright (8 November 1973) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s, and has coached in the 2010s. He played at representative level for England, and at club level for Stanley Rangers ARLFC, Wakefield Trinity, Wigan and Huddersfield Giants as a stand-off, or loose forward, [1] and coached for Barrow Raiders.[3]

Playing career

Club career

Wright is the joint-fifth youngest player (along with Neil Fox) to make his début for Wakefield Trinity aged 16-years and 3-months in 1990.[citation needed]

Wright played stand-off and scored a goal, and a drop goal in Trinity's 29–16 victory over Sheffield Eagles in the 1992–93 Yorkshire Cup Final at Elland Road, Leeds on 18 October 1992.[5]

In 1993, Wigan paid Wakefield a fee of £140,000 for Wright, which was a record transfer fee for a teenager.[6] A series of ankle injuries limited his impact at Wigan,[7] and was released by the club at the end of the 1998 season.[8]

After playing one season for Huddersfield Giants, injuries forced Wright to retire prematurely.[6]

International honours

Nigel Wright won a cap for England while at Wakefield Trinity in 1995 against France.[2] He is one of only eight players to have scored a drop goal for England.[9]

Coaching career

In 2009, Wright joined the coaching staff at Warrington Wolves as an assistant to James Lowes.[10]

Wright was named as assistant to Garry Schofield at Barrow Raiders ahead of the 2011 season.[11] In March 2011, Wright took over as head coach following the departure of Schofield.[12] He left the club in July 2011.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ^ RL Record Keepers' Club
  5. ^ Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC – FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9
  6. ^ a b Hadfield, Dave (6 May 2011). "Nigel Wright: Busy juggling Canary Wharf gym job and leading Barrow". The Independent. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Tickle follows Lydon's lead". bbc.co.uk. 20 June 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  8. ^ Hadfield, Dave (31 December 1998). "Rugby League: Reilly not ready to risk recall for Wright". The Independent. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Drop Goal Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 23 August 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  10. ^ "Former Warrington Wolves assistant coach Nigel Wright unsure of next step". Warrington Guardian. 19 September 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Garry Schofield named as new Barrow Raiders coach". BBC Sport. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  12. ^ "Nigel Wright appointed as Barrow Raiders coach". BBC Sport. 16 March 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  13. ^ "Barrow Raiders appoint Dave Clark after Nigel Wright exit". BBC Sport. 5 July 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2022.