Luke Burgess (rugby league)

For the Australian rugby union player of the same name, see Luke Burgess (rugby union).
Luke Burgess
Personal information
Born 20 February 1987
Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England
Height 194 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 112 kg (17 st 9 lb)
Playing information
Position Prop, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2007 London Harlequins 3 0 0 0 0
2008–11 Leeds Rhinos 80 6 0 0 24
2011–14 South Sydney 51 2 0 0 8
2015- Manly-Warringah 8 0 0 0 0
Total 142 8 0 0 32
Source: RLP

Luke Burgess (born 20 February 1987) is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He previously played for South Sydney Rabbitohs). A forward like his brothers Sam, George and Tom, he previously played in Super League for English sides, Harlequins and Leeds Rhinos, with whom he won the 2009 Super League Grand Final. He was a part of the Rabbitohs squad that won the 2014 NRL Premiership, being named on an extended bench for the final.[1]

Background

Burgess was born on 20 February 1987 in Liversedge, Wakefield, West Yorkshire. His late father, Mark Burgess who died of Motor neurone disease, was also a rugby league footballer who played for Nottingham City, Rochdale Hornets, Dewsbury and Hunslet;[2] whilst his mother Julie is a teacher, currently employed at The Scots College in Bellevue Hill, Sydney.[3] His younger brother Sam, and younger twin brothers Tom and George, are all professional rugby league footballers as well.[4]

He attended Heckmondwike Grammar School to receive a secondary education before becoming a professional rugby player. He played his junior rugby for Dewsbury Moor, and also played for Liversedge Cricket Club.

Professional playing career

Super League

Luke Burgess with the Super League trophy in 2009.

Burgess played Prop for the Leeds Rhinos having previously been on loan to Harlequins RL and Doncaster. He made his first appearance for Leeds in defeat at Castleford Tigers in March 2008.

Burgess' début game was against Castleford Tigers at Wheldon Road, Leeds lost this game. Burgess scored his first try on his second game against Harlequins RL. At the end of the 2008 season, Burgess became the inaugural winner of the Albert Goldthorpe Rookie of the Year Award, presented by the leading trade newspaper, Rugby Leaguer & League Express.[5]

In 2009, Burgess played in 28 games, however, he only scored one try for the club against Salford City Reds, compared to five tries from only five appearances in 2008.

On 21 June 2011 it was confirmed that Luke had signed for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, joining brothers Sam, Tom and George, at the club who play in the Australian NRL.[6]

National Rugby League

During the 2011 NRL season Burgess was named to make his NRL debut for Souths having been in Australia for less than two weeks.[7]

In May 2013, model Yolanda Hodgson who had been a contestant on Australia's Next Top Model in 2011, gave birth to the couples first child, daughter Grace Luca.[8] In August 2013, the Burgess brothers became the first set of four brothers to line up in the same Australian side since Ray, Roy, Rex and Bernard Norman played for Sydney's Annandale club in the 1910 NSWRFL season.[9]

In 2015, he joined the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, after being granted an early leave by the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

References

  1. http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2014/10/05/grand_final_late_mail_team_changes.html
  2. Irvine, Christopher (26 October 2007). "Sam Burgess inspired by memory of late father". The Times Online. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  3. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/meet-the-magnificent-mrs-burgess/story-fni0cvc9-1226690449682
  4. "Bulls snap up Burgess twins". Halifax Evening Courier. 17 January 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  5. "The Albert Goldthorpe Awards". totalrl.com. League Publications. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  6. "Family affair at Rabbitohs". Sky Sports. 21 June 2011.
  7. Nicolussi, Christian (29 June 2011). "Luke Burgess named to make NRL debut with South Sydney". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  8. "NRL's Luke Burgess and model Yolanda Hodgson welcome baby Grace to the world". The Daily Telegraph. 8 May 2013.
  9. "Rugby league history as FOUR English brothers star for Russell Crowe's side". Mirror. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.

External links