Morgan Knowles(born 5 November 1996) is a professionalrugby leaguefootballer who plays as aloose forwardorsecond-rowforSt Helensin theSuper League.[3]He has played for bothWalesandEnglandat international level.

Morgan Knowles
Personal information
Born(1996-11-05)5 November 1996(age 28)
Barrow-in-Furness,Cumbria, England
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight15 st 2 lb (96 kg)
Playing information
PositionLoose forward,Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015– St Helens 211 29 0 0 116
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015–17 Wales 4 1 0 0 4
2021–22 England 4 0 0 0 0
Source:[1][2]
As of 5 November 2022

Background

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Knowles was born inBarrow-in-Furness,Cumbria,England, and attendedUlverston Victoria High School.[4]He played junior rugby league for Barrow Island before signing forSt Helensat the age of 15.[5]

Career

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Knowles made his first team debut for Saints in May 2015, appearing as a substitute in aChallenge Cupgame againstYork City Knights.[6]He established a regular place in the first team during the following year, and was rewarded with a new three-year contract at the club.[5]

He played in the2019 Challenge Cup Finaldefeat byWarringtonatWembley Stadium.[7] Knowles played in the2019 Super League Grand Finalvictory overSalfordatOld Trafford.[8][9][10]

Knowles played in St Helens2020 Super League Grand Finalvictory over Wigan at theKingston Communications Stadiumin Hull.[11] On 17 July 2021, he played for St. Helens in their 26-122021 Challenge Cup Finalvictory over Castleford.[12] On 9 October 2021, he played in St. Helens2021 Super League Grand Finalvictory overCatalans Dragons.[13] In the 2022 semi-final, Knowles was sent to the sin bin for a chicken wing tackle during St Helens 19-12 victory overSalfordwhich sent the club into their fourth consecutive grand final. Knowles was later suspended for two matches. St Helens appealed the decision which the RFL rejected. Knowles and St Helens then put in a second appeal which was successful meaning he was free to play in the 2022 Super League Grand Final.[14] On 24 September 2022, Knowles played for St Helens in their2022 Super League Grand Finalvictory overLeeds.[15] On 18 February 2023, Knowles played in St Helens 13-12 upset victory overPenrithin the2023 World Club Challenge.[16] On 12 April 2023, Knowles was suspended for five matches and issued a £500 fine after he was placed on report for an illegal tackle during St Helens 14-6 loss to Wigan in round 8 of the competition.[17] On 22 May 2023, Knowles was suspended for two games following being red carded during the clubs Challenge Cup victory overHalifax.Knowles was sent off in the final minute of the game for a high tackle on Halifax hooker Tom Inman.[18] Knowles played 21 games for St Helens in the 2023 Super League season as the club finished third on the table. Knowles played in St Helens narrow loss against the Catalans Dragons in the semi-final which stopped them reaching a fifth successive grand final.[19] Knowles played 16 matches for St Helens in the 2024 Super League season which saw the club finish sixth on the table. Knowles played in St Helens golden point extra-time playoff loss against Warrington.[20]

Representative

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On25 June 2021he made a try scoring début forEnglandin their 24-26 defeat to theCombined Nations All Stars,staged at theHalliwell Jones Stadium,Warrington,as part of England’s2021 Rugby League World Cuppreparation.[21]

References

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  1. ^"Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org".rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017.Retrieved1 January2018.
  2. ^"Player Summary: Morgan Knowles".Rugby League Records.Rugby League Record Keepers Club.Retrieved22 November2024.
  3. ^"St Helens sign up Morgan Knowles, Ricky Bailey, Jake Spedding and Levy Nzoungou".Sky Sports. 19 August 2015.Retrieved10 September2016.
  4. ^"St Helens bow for Barrow Island junior Morgan Knowles".North West Evening Mail. 16 February 2016.Retrieved10 September2016.
  5. ^ab"Morgan Knowles and Matty Fleming sign new St Helens contracts".BBC. 16 August 2016.Retrieved10 September2016.
  6. ^"Challenge Cup sixth round: St Helens 46-6 York".BBC Sport.15 May 2015.Retrieved30 March2023.
  7. ^"St Helens 4-18 Warrington RESULT: Challenge Cup Final as it happened from Wembley".Mirror. 24 August 2019.Retrieved1 November2019.
  8. ^"St Helens give Justin Holbrook the perfect send-off with commanding Grand Final victory over Salford".Telegraph. 12 October 2019.Retrieved25 October2019.
  9. ^Unwin, Will (12 October 2019)."St Helens 23-6 Salford Red Devils: Super League Grand Final – as it happened".The Guardian.
  10. ^"St Helens win 2019 Super League League Leaders' shield".Sky Sports.
  11. ^"Super League Grand Final: Wigan 4-8 St Helens".BBC Sport.
  12. ^"How St Helens players have celebrated their first Challenge Cup win in 13 years".www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk.
  13. ^"Super League Grand Final: Catalans Dragons 10-12 St Helens: Saints win three in a row".BBC Sport.
  14. ^"St Helens' Morgan Knowles to play in Grand Final after winning second appeal against suspension".www.skysports.com.
  15. ^Bower, Aaron (24 September 2022)."St Helens sink Leeds to win record fourth consecutive Grand Final".The Observer.
  16. ^"St Helens stun Penrith to win World Club Challenge".BBC Sport.
  17. ^"St Helens' Morgan Knowles' big ban for tackle on Mike Cooper".www.sthelensstar.co.uk.11 April 2023.
  18. ^"Morgan Knowles receives suspension following Challenge Cup red card".www.loverugbyleague.com.22 May 2023.
  19. ^"Paul Wellens Q&A: Saints review of year and a look to 2024".www.sthelensstar.co.uk.14 October 2023.
  20. ^Bower, Aaron (28 September 2024)."'Soul destroying': Warrington eliminate St Helens in golden drop goal thriller ".The Observer.
  21. ^"England 24-26 Combined All Stars - Shaun Wane loses first game".BBC Sport.25 June 2021.Retrieved26 June2021.
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