Mike McMeeken explained

Mike McMeeken
Fullname:Michael Joseph McMeeken[1]
Birth Date:1994 5, df=yes
Birth Place:Basingstoke, Hampshire, England
Height:1.95abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Weight:101abbr=onNaNabbr=on[2]
Club1:London Broncos
Year1start:2012
Year1end:14
Appearances1:37
Tries1:5
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:20
Year2start:2014
Appearances2:3
Tries2:1
Goals2:0
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:4
Club3:Castleford Tigers
Year3start:2015
Year3end:20
Appearances3:139
Tries3:34
Goals3:0
Fieldgoals3:0
Points3:136
Club4:Catalans Dragons
Year4start:2021
Year4end:present
Appearances4:58
Tries4:16
Goals4:0
Fieldgoals4:0
Points4:64
Club5:Wakefield Trinity
Year5start:2025
Appearances5:0
Tries5:0
Goals5:0
Fieldgoals5:0
Points5:0
Teama:England
Yearastart:2017
Yearaend:22
Appearancesa:9
Triesa:1
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:4
Source:[3] [4]
Updated:5 November 2022

Mike McMeeken (born 10 May 1994) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a forward for the Catalans Dragons in the Super League and England at international level.[4]

He started his career in the Super League with the London Broncos, also playing on loan in League 1 at the London Skolars before joining the Tigers in 2015. He joined Catalans Dragons in December 2020, ahead of the 2021 season.[5]

Background

McMeeken was born in Basingstoke, and raised in Fleet, Hampshire, England.[6]

He initially played rugby union from an early age, but was introduced to rugby league at ten years old, and began playing for amateur side West London Sharks.[7] [8]

Club career

He started his professional career at London Broncos, making his senior début in 2012. During the 2014 season, he scored his first try for the club in a defeat against Salford Red Devils.[9] He also spent time at Championship One clubs London Skolars and Hemel Stags on dual-registration.[10] [11]

Following London's relegation from Super League at the end of the 2014 season, McMeeken joined Castleford Tigers on a two-year deal.[12] He then signed a two-year extension, keeping him at Castleford until 2018.[13]

In 2017, McMeeken signed a further two-year extension until the end of the 2020 season.[14] He played in the 2017 Super League Grand Final defeat by Leeds at Old Trafford.[15] [16] [17]

In December 2020, McMeeken signed a two-year contract with Catalans Dragons.[18] On 9 October 2021, he played for Catalans Dragons in their 2021 Super League Grand Final defeat against St Helens.[19]

In April 2022, McMeeken signed a two-year contract extension with Catalans.[20] On 14 October 2023, McMeeken played in Catalans 2023 Super League Grand Final loss against Wigan.[21]

International career

In 2011, McMeeken was selected in the England academy squad.

In February 2017, he was included in the England elite performance squad announced by coach Wayne Bennett.[22] In May 2017, McMeeken made his international début for the England senior team in the 30–10 victory over Samoa in Campbelltown Australia.[23] He was also selected in the England squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup,[24] making one appearance during the tournament in England's 36–6 win against France.[25]

McMeeken was recalled to the England setup in 2022, and was selected for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. He played in four of England's five games, scoring his first international try against Greece.[26]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/LiU-KHtajgwMkGbUVpjKnk2Iq_s/appointments Companies House
  2. Web site: Castleford Tigers 1st Team Mike McMeeken. . 2015. Official Castleford Tigers web site. Castleford Tigers Rugby League Football Club Ltd. 25 June 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150626113219/http://www.castigers.com/player/553. 26 June 2015.
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20141016201944/http://www.londonbroncosrl.com/rugby/fixturesandresults/squad_first_xiii.php London Official
  4. Web site: Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  5. News: Mike McMeeken: Castleford's England international forward joins Catalans Dragons. BBC Sport . 13 December 2020.
  6. Web site: From Basingstoke to Perpignan: Mike McMeeken takes the road less travelled to World Cup . The Times . 16 September 2023 . 18 June 2022 . subscription.
  7. Web site: Smith. Peter. Castleford Tigers: McMeeken intent on earning his stripes. Yorkshire Evening Post. 11 December 2017. 28 November 2014.
  8. Web site: Harlequins' Mike McMeekan selected for England academy. BBC Sport. 11 December 2017. 6 October 2011.
  9. Web site: Red Devils too good for Broncos . Eurosport . 17 September 2023 . 22 February 2014.
  10. Web site: Gateshead Thunder 24 London Skolars 16 . London Skolars . 17 September 2023.
  11. Web site: Bloomfield's road to recovery . Oldham Evening Chronicle . 17 September 2023 . 14 August 2014.
  12. Web site: Bower. Aaron. Cas sign London Broncos duo Moore and McMeeken. Total Rugby League. 11 December 2017. 11 September 2014.
  13. Web site: Mike McMeeken: Castleford Tigers forward extends deal . BBC Sport . 17 September 2023 . 19 November 2015.
  14. Web site: Mike McMeeken: Castleford Tigers second row signs two-year contract extension . BBC Sport . 17 September 2023 . 5 July 2017.
  15. Web site: Castleford 6-24 Leeds: Grand Final 2017 – as it happened. Guardian. 7 October 2017. 6 November 2019.
  16. Web site: Grand Final 2017: Castleford 6-24 Leeds Rhinos. 7 October 2017. BBC Sport. 6 November 2019.
  17. Web site: Danny McGuire guides Leeds to Grand Final success over Castleford. 7 October 2017. Guardian. 6 November 2019.
  18. Web site: Mike McMeeken: Castleford's England international forward joins Catalans Dragons . BBC Sport . 16 September 2023 . 11 December 2020.
  19. News: Super League Grand Final: Catalans Dragons 10-12 St Helens: Saints win three in a row. BBC Sport .
  20. Web site: Mike McMeeken: Catalans Dragons back-rower signs two-year extension . BBC Sport . 17 September 2023 . 22 April 2022.
  21. News: Wigan Warriors crowned Super League champions after downing Dragons. The Observer. 14 October 2023 . Bower . Aaron .
  22. Web site: Mike McMeeken quick to appreciate influence of Castleford Tigers' coach Daryl Powell . Yorkshire Post . 17 September 2023 . 27 February 2017.
  23. Web site: England v Samoa: Chris McQueen & Mike McMeeken to make international debuts . BBC Sport . 17 September 2023 . 4 May 2017.
  24. Web site: England rugby league World Cup squad revealed - and James Roby is back in the fold. Mirror. 9 October 2017. 30 October 2019.
  25. Web site: Fixtures . European Rugby League . 17 September 2023.
  26. Web site: Rugby League World Cup: England rout Greece with 17 tries as Dom Young helps secure Group A top spot . Sky Sports . 17 September 2023 . 29 October 2022.