Darren Wright (rugby) explained

Darren Wright
Birth Date:17 January 1968
Birth Place:Leigh, England
Club1:Widnes
Year1start:1985
Year1end:96
Appearances1:345
Tries1:107
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:428
Club2:North Sydney
Year2start:1990
Appearances2:2
Tries2:0
Goals2:0
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:0
Teama:Lancashire
Yearastart:1987
Appearancesa:1
Triesa:0
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:0
Teamb:Great Britain U-21
Yearbstart:1987
Yearbend:88
Appearancesb:2
Triesb:1
Goalsb:0
Fieldgoalsb:0
Pointsb:4
Teamc:Great Britain
Yearcstart:1988
Appearancesc:1
Triesc:0
Goalsc:0
Fieldgoalsc:0
Pointsc:0
Ru Club1:Sale
Ru Year1start:1996
Ru Year1end:97
Ru Club2:Orrell
Ru Year2start:1997
Ru Year2end:99
Retired:yes
Source:[1]

Darren Wright (born 17 January 1968) is an English professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played as a or . He spent most of playing career with rugby league club Widnes, scoring over 100 tries for the club between 1985 and 1996, and also played briefly for Australian club North Sydney. He played at representative level for Great Britain, winning one cap during the 1988 Lions tour. In 1996, he switched to rugby union, playing for Sale and Orrell.

Background

Darren Wright was born in Leigh, Lancashire, England. A former Leigh Miners Welfare amateur,[2] Wright was signed by Widnes in March 1985.[3]

Rugby league career

Club career

Wright made his debut for Widnes as a substitute in December 1985 in a league match against York.

Wright played, and scored a try in Widnes' 6–12 defeat by Wigan in the 1988–89 John Player Special Trophy Final during the 1988–89 season at Burnden Park, Bolton on Saturday 7 January 1989.[4]

During the 1989–90 Rugby Football League season, he played for defending champions Widnes at centre in their 1989 World Club Challenge victory against the visiting Canberra Raiders.

Wright played for North Sydney during the 1990 NSWRL season.[5]

Wright played on the in Widnes' 24–18 victory over Salford in the 1990 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1990–91 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 29 September 1990.

During the 1991–92 season, Wright played at in the 24–0 victory over Leeds in the 1991–92 Regal Trophy Final at Central Park, Wigan on 11 January 1992.

Darren Wright's Testimonial match at Widnes took place in 1995.

Representative career

Wright was called up for the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour as a replacement for the injured Shaun Edwards.[6] He came on a substitute in the second test match against Australia on 28 June 1988.[7] This was Wright's only cap for the senior Great Britain side.

Rugby union career

In July 1996, Wright joined rugby union club Sale, along with fellow Widnes teammates John Devereux and Adrian Hadley.[8] After one season at the club, he moved to Orrell.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  2. Book: Fletcher . Raymond . Howes . David . Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1996 . 1996 . Headline Publishing Group . London . 978-0-7472-7767-5. 143.
  3. Book: Fletcher . Raymond . Howes . David . Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1985-86 . 1985 . Queen Anne Press . London . 978-0-356-10944-2. 375.
  4. Web site: 7th January 1989: Wigan 12 Widnes 6 (John Player Trophy Final). wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. 1 January 2015. 18 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518082424/http://wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=2756. dead.
  5. News: Souths Upheaval As Piggins Moves The Deckchairs . Sydney Morning Herald . 2 May 1990 . 72 . subscription . NewsBank.
  6. News: Wright covers for Edwards . The Guardian . 26 May 1988 . London . 15 . subscription . ProQuest.
  7. Web site: Ashes Series 1988 Series - Game 2 . Rugby League Project . 29 August 2022.
  8. Web site: Llewellyn . David . Courage Clubs' Championship National League One: Club-by-club guides . The Independent . 29 August 2022 . 27 August 1996.
  9. Web site: Trow . Paul . Rugby union: England's super 12: Club-by-club guide to the Allied Dunbar Premiership . The Independent . 29 August 2022 . 16 August 1997.