Gareth Ellis

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Gareth Ellis
Personal information
Full name Gareth Ellis
Date of birth May 3, 1981 (1981-05-03) (age 27)
Place of birth Castleford, Yorkshire, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.89 m)
Weight 16 st 1 lb (102 kg)
School(s) Selby High School
Selby College
Club information
Position(s) Second row / Loose forward / Centre
Current club Leeds Rhinos
Number 12
Youth clubs
Years Club
Castleford Lock Lane
Senior clubs*
Years Club Apps (points)
2000 ‐ 05
2005 ‐		 Wakefield Trinity
Leeds Rhinos		 112 (100)
93 (92)
Representative teams
2000 ‐
2003
2003 ‐		 England A
Yorkshire
Great Britain		 4 (4)
1 (4)
19 (12)

* Professional club appearances and points
counted for domestic first grade only.

Gareth Ellis (born in Castleford, West Yorkshire on 3 May 1981) is a rugby league player who plays for Leeds Rhinos.

Contents

[edit] Wakefield Trinity

Ellis came through the junior ranks at Wakefield before breaking in the Wildcats team in 2000. He made over 100 appearances for Wakefield and became the club's first player to represent Great Britain for 12 years in 2003, the last player being Michael Jackson.

[edit] Leeds Rhinos

The second row joined the Rhinos from Wakefield in 2005, making his debut in the World Club Challenge win over Canterbury Bulldogs. [1] In the same year, Ellis also received Challenge Cup and Super League grand final runners up medals. He has been a regular in Lions squads since and toured Australia for the Tri-Nations Series in 2006.

[edit] Representative Football

He has been capped 17 times for Great Britain and was last year named in the International Team of the Year having started the last 11 Tests for the Lions. [2]

[edit] Wests Tigers

In February 2008, Ellis agreed terms with Australian National Rugby League club, Wests Tigers, for a three-year deal commencing in 2009.[3]

Great Britain forward Gareth Ellis cited a lifestyle change and the desire to test himself on the biggest stage for his reasons to quit Super League champions Leeds Rhinos at the end of the new season. [2] [4] [5] Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has praised new signing Gareth Ellis on making a decision based purely on a challenge rather than money. [6]

Ellis was linked with a move to another Sydney club Manly Sea Eagles last year. [7]

He will join the list of British players who have played for the Wests Tigers joint venture through the likes of Andy Currier,Ellery Hanley, Lee Crooks, Gary Schofield and Harvey Howard. [8]

Gareth Ellis will become the first Great Britain forward to switch to the NRL, generally regarded as the toughest league in the world, since former Sydney Roosters hitman Adrian Morley spent six successful seasons down under. [9] [10]

Ellis, who has made 82 Super League appearances for Leeds, will be the only Englishman to ply his trade in the NRL - but he has been tipped to be a big success. [11]

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Ellis agrees Tigers deal. Sportinglife (2008-02-08). Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  2. ^ a b Rhinos confirm Ellis move for 2009. Leeds Rhinos (2008-02-08). Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  3. ^ "Marshall extends his contract", Fox Sports News (Australia), 2008-02-08. Retrieved on 2008-02-08. 
  4. ^ Ellis pledges to focus on Rhinos. Sportinglife (2008-02-08). Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  5. ^ Tigers confirm Marshall retention, Ellis signing. Leaguehq (2008-02-08). Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  6. ^ Challenge is the key for Ellis says Sheens. Wests Tigers (2008-02-08). Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  7. ^ Ellis to become a Tiger. Sky Sports (2008-02-08). Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  8. ^ Wests Tigers sign world's best second rower. Wests Tigers (2008-02-08). Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  9. ^ GB's Ellis reportedly signs with Tigers. NRL.com (2008-02-08). Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  10. ^ Ellis agrees switch to Australia. BBC (2008-02-08). Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  11. ^ Ellis to leave Leeds. Sportinglife (2008-02-08). Retrieved on 2008-02-08.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Great Britain national rugby league team – current squad

 Brown •  Burrow •  Carvell •  Clarke •  Coley •  Ellis •  Gardner •  Graham •  Hock •  Hodgson •  Langley •  Lynch •  McGuire •  Melling •  Morley •

 O'Loughlin •  Roby •  Sinfield •  Sykes •  Thorman •  Wild •  Wilkin •  Yeaman • Coach: Tony Smith