Andy Last Explained

Andy Last
Fullname:Andrew Gary Last[1]
Birth Date:25 March 1981
Birth Place:Kingston upon Hull, Humberside, England
Year1start:1999
Year1end:05
Appearances1:29
Tries1:4
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:16
Coachyear1start:2020
Coachgames1:14
Coachwins1:8
Coachdraws1:0
Coachlosses1:6
Coachyear2start:2023
Coachgames2:19
Coachwins2:4
Coachdraws2:0
Coachlosses2:15
Source:[2] [3] [4]
Updated:4 August 2023

Andy Last (born 25 March 1981) is an English professional rugby league coach who is the assistant coach for the England national rugby league team and a former professional rugby league footballer.

He is a former head coach of Hull FC and the Castleford Tigers in the Super League. He played as a for Hull FC (Heritage № 964) in the Super League between 1999 and 2005.

Background

Last was born in Kingston upon Hull, Humberside, England.

Playing career

On 1 August 1999, Last made his Super League debut for Hull FC against the Warrington Wolves.[5] The return of Lee Jackson to Hull in 2001 saw Last playing mainly for the A-team, before he suffered a broken tibia and fibula to end his career prematurely. He made a total of 29 appearances and scored 4 tries, with his final appearance made at the age of 24.

Coaching career

Hull F.C. (youth, assistant, interim)

Last joined the coaching staff of Hull FC. In 2005, he led the club's under-21s side to Academy Grand Final victory.[6] He worked as an assistant coach for the first team under Lee Radford, winning back-to-back Challenge Cups in 2016 and 2017.[7]

On 12 March 2020, Last was announced as Hull's interim head coach following Radford's dismissal, with Kieron Purtill being his assistant.[8] [9] Four days later, the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Last would only coach his first game in August.[10] [11] He guided Hull to a 6th-placed finish and reached the play-off semi-finals.[12] In November 2020, Hull appointed Brett Hodgson as their new head coach, with Last offered an alternative position.[13]

Wakefield Trinity (assistant)

On 21 December 2020, Wakefield Trinity appointed Last as an assistant coach, to work alongside Chris Chester and Willie Poching. Last said he opted for this role to "spread [his] wings and gain some different experiences", rather than remaining at Hull in a role "tailored to his skill-set" according to chairman Adam Pearson.[14]

Castleford Tigers (assistant, interim)

On 29 September 2021, the Castleford Tigers announced the appointment of Last as assistant coach following the arrival of Lee Radford as head coach.[15] [16]

On 6 March 2023, Last was appointed interim head coach of Castleford when Radford was relieved of his duties.[17] [18] He took charge of six fixtures while the club held talks with candidates in their selection process. On 19 April 2023, he was named as full-time head coach on a two-and-a-half-year deal.[19] On 4 August 2023, immediately following a defeat against Huddersfield that left the Tigers at the bottom of the Super League table for the first time, Last departed Castleford.[20] [21] [22]

England (assistant)

In April 2020, while interim head coach of Hull FC, Last joined the coaching staff for the England national team in the build up towards the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[23] [24]

In June 2024, Last was Acting Head Coach for England's mid-season game against France, as Head Coach Shaun Wane was recovering from an ankle operation.[25] Last guided England to a 40–8 victory.[26]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?scan=1&r=266586593:6560&d=bmd_1653949805 FreeBMD Entry Information
  2. https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/andy-last/summary.html Rugby League Project playing
  3. https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/andy-last/summary.html Rugby League Project coaching
  4. https://stats.rugbyleaguerecords.com/playersummary.php?tselect=5007 RL Record Keepers' Club
  5. Web site: Bazeley . Marc . 25 April 2020 . Andy Last: England assistant and Hull FC coach stepping out of the shadows . 5 August 2023 . Sky Sports.
  6. Web site: 30 January 2021 . What became of Hull FC's 2005 Academy Grand Final winners . 27 February 2021 . Hull Daily Mail.
  7. Web site: 21 December 2020 . Andy Last: Wakefield Trinity bring long-serving Hull coach in as Chester's assistant . 5 August 2023 . BBC Sport.
  8. Web site: 12 March 2020 . Super League: Lee Radford sacked after Hull beaten by Warrington . 5 August 2023 . BBC Sport.
  9. Web site: Darbyshire . Drew . 12 March 2020 . Lee Radford sacked by Hull FC . 5 August 2023 . Love Rugby League.
  10. Web site: Bazeley . Marc . 23 April 2020 . Andy Last uses break to settle into Hull FC interim head coach role . 5 August 2023 . Sky Sports.
  11. Web site: Newsum . Matt . 7 August 2020 . Andy Last: Hull FC interim boss on the progression from fan to head coach . 5 August 2023 . BBC Sport.
  12. Web site: Newsum . Matt . 19 November 2020 . Super League play-offs: Wigan Warriors beat Hull FC 29-2 to reach Grand Final . 5 August 2023 . BBC Sport.
  13. Web site: 25 November 2020 . Brett Hodgson: Hull FC appoint former Warrington and Huddersfield full-back as head coach . 5 August 2023 . BBC Sport.
  14. Web site: 21 December 2020 . Andy Last departs Hull FC to link up with Super League rivals Wakefield Trinity . 5 August 2023 . Sky Sports.
  15. Web site: 29 September 2021 . Andy Last appointed assistant coach . 5 August 2023 . Castleford Tigers.
  16. Web site: 30 September 2021 . Andy Last looking forward to Lee Radford reunion . 5 August 2023 . Love Rugby League.
  17. Web site: 6 March 2023 . Super League: Lee Radford relieved of duties as Castleford Tigers coach as Andy Last takes interim charge . 5 August 2023 . Sky Sports.
  18. Web site: Newsum . Matt . 6 March 2023 . Lee Radford: Castleford Tigers coach leaves Super League club by mutual agreement . 5 August 2023 . BBC Sport.
  19. Web site: 19 April 2023 . Andy Last: Castleford name England assistant as head coach after interim stint . 5 August 2023 . BBC Sport.
  20. Web site: 4 August 2023 . Andy Last: Castleford Tigers sack head coach after falling to bottom of Super League . 4 August 2023 . BBC Sport.
  21. Web site: 4 August 2023 . Andy Last: Castleford Tigers head coach sacked following 28-0 home defeat to Huddersfield Giants . 5 August 2023 . Sky Sports.
  22. Web site: O'Brien . James . 4 August 2023 . Castleford Tigers 0 Huddersfield Giants 28: Andy Last sacked after fifth defeat in a row . 5 August 2023 . The Yorkshire Post.
  23. Web site: Smailes . James . 15 April 2020 . Hull FC interim coach Andy Last joins England set-up as Shaun Wane names coaching team . 5 August 2023 . Hull Daily Mail.
  24. Web site: Gordon . James . 18 April 2023 . England coach gives backing as Andy Last set for Castleford job . 5 August 2023 . Love Rugby League.
  25. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/c729wv5r2d5o
  26. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/cw9ylwnl9zpo

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Andy Last".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.