Adrian Antonio Gardner(born 24 June 1983) is an English former professionalrugby leaguefootballer, who spent the vast majority of his career withSt Helensin theSuper League.[3][4]He was anEnglandandGreat Britain representativewinger.[5][6]
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| Full name | Adrian Antonio Gardner[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 24 June 1983 Barrow-in-Furness,Cumbria, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 14 st 11 lb (94 kg)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early and personal life
editBorn in Barrow-in-Furness, Gardner is the elder brother of ex-Salford City Redswing,Mat Gardner.He is of Brazilian descent through his mother.[7] Gardner attendedSt. Bernard's Catholic High Schoolin Barrow.[8]
Career
editHe began his career at his home town clubBarrow Raiders,and after 11-years at St. Helens, ended his playing days with a season loan move to theHull Kingston Rovers.
Gardner made his Super League début in a match against theLondon Broncoson 28 March 2002, which St. Helens lost. Having wonSuper League VI,St. Helens contested the2003 World Club Challengeagainst 2002 NRL Premiers, theSydney Roosters.Gardner played on the wing in Saints' 38–0 loss. He established himself as a first team regular in 2003 and has now appeared 281 times for St Helens, scoring 167tries.Gardner played for St Helens on the wing in their2006 Challenge CupFinal victory againstHuddersfield Giants.Gardner also finished the 2006 season as St. Helens leading try scorer with 29 tries in all competitions.
Gardner was named in the Great Britain training squad throughout 2006. He scored on his international début in XXXX Test match against New Zealand on 27 June 2006.
St. Helens reached the2006 Super League Grand finalto be contested againstHull FC,and Gardner played on the wing and scored atryin Saints' 26–4 victory. He was a surprise omission from the Great Britain squad for the2006 Tri-nations. As 2006 Super League champions, St Helens faced 2006 NRL Premiers theBrisbane Broncosin the2007 World Club Challenge.Gardner played on the wing and scored twotriesin Saints' 18–14 victory.
Gardner was selected in June 2007 in a young Great Britain team named by new coach Tony Smith for their match against France at Headingley. On 25 August, he scored two tries for St. Helens atWembley Stadiumto help Saints win their 11th Challenge Cup.
He was named in theSuper League Dream Teamfor 2008'sSuper League XIIIseason.[9]
He played in the2008 Super League Grand Finaldefeat byLeeds.[10]
Gardner was selected for theEngland squadto compete in the2008 Rugby League World Cuptournament in Australia.[11]Group A's first match againstPapua New Guineahe played on the wing and scored two tries in England's victory.
He played in the2009 Super League Grand Finaldefeat by theLeeds RhinosatOld Trafford.[12]
In the 2014 season, Ade Gardner played on loan at Hull KR, scoring 8 tries in 18 appearances. On 17 May at theEtihad Stadiumduring the 2014 Magic Weekend, he scored 2 tries in Hull KR's 38–24 victory against Hull.[13] 8 days later at KCOM Craven Park, he scored another 2 tries in Hull KR's 48–16 victory over the London Broncos.[14]
Retirement
editIn November 2014, after returning to St Helens, Ade Gardner announced his retirement from the sport after 15 years as a professional. It had been Gardner's intention to play on till 2015, but accepted an offer to join Saints' backroom staff instead, as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach.[15]
References
edit- ^"Jon Wilkin column".BBC Sport.28 February 2007.Retrieved3 December2017.
- ^"Meet the Teams First Team Players".web page.Saints RFC. 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 15 July 2011.Retrieved11 June2011.
- ^ab"Profile at loverugbyleague".loverugbyleague. 31 December 2017.Retrieved1 January2018.
- ^ab"Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org".rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017.Retrieved1 January2018.
- ^ab"England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk".englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2016.Retrieved1 January2018.
- ^ab"Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk".englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 17 April 2018.Retrieved1 January2018.
- ^"Hull KR: Ade Gardner eyes 2016 Olympics with Brazil sevens team".BBC News.24 June 2014.
- ^"Keep it old school with chance to buy your former rugby jerseys so St Bernard's High in Barrow can fund new kit".The Mail.20 February 2017.
- ^"2008 engage Super League Dream Team".Super League. 15 September 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 18 September 2008.Retrieved26 September2008.
- ^"2008 Grand Final".BBC. 4 October 2008.Archivedfrom the original on 5 October 2008.Retrieved5 October2008.
- ^"Purdham earns World Cup call-up".BBC. 7 October 2008.Archivedfrom the original on 9 October 2008.Retrieved7 October2008.
- ^Fletcher, Paul (10 October 2009)."St Helens 10-18 Leeds Rhinos".BBC Sport.Retrieved22 November2019.
- ^"Magic Weekend: Hull KR 38–24 Hull FC".BBC Sport.Retrieved28 May2014.
- ^"Rugby League – Rovers romp to London win – Yahoo Eurosport UK".Yahoo!.Retrieved28 May2014.
- ^Bower, Aaron (7 November 2014)."Ade Gardner joins St Helens backroom team".Total Rugby League.
External links
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