Adrian Vowles

Adrian Vowles
Personal information
Born 30 May 1971
Charleville, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Position Lock, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1993–94 Gold Coast Seagulls 38 6 7 0 38
1995–96 Nth. Qld. Cowboys 41 0 0 0 30
1997–01 Castleford Tigers 142 33 1 1 135
2002 Leeds Rhinos 17 2 0 0 8
2002–03 Wakefield Trinity 27 6 1 0 26
2003–05 Castleford Tigers 6 0 0 0 0
Total 271 47 9 1 237
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1994 Queensland 1 0 0 0 0
2000 Scotland 3 1 0 0 4
Source: NRL Stats, RLP

Adrian Vowles (born 30 May 1971) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played in Australia for several years, gaining State of Origin selection in 1994, but spent the majority of his career in the European Super League. Vowles also represented for Scotland.

Playing career

Starting out playing in the country town of Charleville, Queensland he won his first premiership with Charleville Railways.

Gold Coast Seagulls

Vowles was Clubman of the Year in his début year with the Gold Coast Seagulls and was selected as a reserve back in Queensland's second State of Origin match in 1994.

North Queensland Cowboys

Vowles signed with the North Queensland Cowboys in 1995 but had the misfortune to be sent off in the club's first premiership match, the 32-16 loss to the Sydney Bulldogs.

The Cowboys used six different captains as they struggled through a difficult foundation season in 1995. Vowles, appointed by new coach Graham Lowe, took on the role in 1996.

Castleford Tigers

After two seasons at the helm in North Queensland, Vowles moved to England to play with Castleford from 1997 through to 2001. During that time he was selected to represent Scotland in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup,[1] as well as being voted the winner of the Man of Steel award in 1999.[2] He played the last three games of the 2003 season when he was granted a release from Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. He returned to the Tigers in 2005 for a brief spell in their promotion winning season back into the Super League.

Leeds Rhinos

Vowles moved to Leeds Rhinos in 2002 but switched to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats mid-season to take on a player-coach role.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

Vowles and co-coach Shane McNally saved Wakefield Trinity Wildcats (captain) (Heritage #1197) from relegation in the 2002 season. Vowles remained with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats until the final three matches of the 2003 season, when he was granted a release by the club, and he returned to Australia.

Toowoomba Clydesdales

Vowles returned to his home state Queensland to play in the Queensland Cup for the Brisbane Broncos feeder club the Toowoomba Clydesdales. Strong performances throughout season 2004 almost had Vowles running on the field in top flight premiership football again in the National Rugby League competition after an 8 year absence.

Burleigh Bears

After a year in the Queensland Cup at Toowoomba, Vowles shifted clubs and headed for the Queensland Gold Coast to play for the Burleigh Bears in 2005. He played in the QLD Cup Grand Final side which were runners up to the NQ Young Guns. Vowles then became assistant coach before relinquishing that role to become CEO.

Honoured at Castleford

Adrian Vowles is a Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee.[3]

Honoured by Arriva Yorkshire

Arriva Yorkshire honoured 13 rugby league footballers on Thursday 20 August 2009, at a ceremony at The Jungle, the home of the Castleford Tigers. A fleet of new buses were named after the 'Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team'. Members of the public nominated the best ever rugby league footballers to have played in West Yorkshire, supported by local rugby league journalists; James Deighton from BBC Leeds, and Tim Butcher, editor of Rugby League World. The 'Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team' is; Trevor Foster MBE, Neil Fox MBE, Albert Goldthorpe, Alan Hardisty, Stan Kielty, Lewis Jones, Roger Millward MBE, Malcolm Reilly, Garry Schofield, Keith Senior, David Topliss, Dave Valentine, and Adrian Vowles.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk". thecastlefordtigers. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "World Cup Star - Adrian Vowles". sportinglife.com (sportinglife.com). 2000. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
  3. ↑ "Hall of Fame at castigers.com". castigers. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  4. ↑ "Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team". Arriva Yorkshire. 2009-08-20. Retrieved 2009-08-20.

External links