Barrie McDermott

Barrie McDermott

Personal information
Full name	Barrie McDermott
Born	(1972-07-22)22 July 1972 Oldham,Lancashire,England
Playing information
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	17 st 5 lb (110 kg)
Position	Prop
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1991–94 Oldham 40 6 0 0 24 1994–95 Wigan 13 4 0 0 16 1995–05 Leeds Rhinos 283 40 0 0 160 1997(loan) →Bramley 4 1 0 0 4 2006 Widnes Vikings 27 5 1 0 22 Total 367 56 1 0 226 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2001–02 Lancashire 3 0 0 0 0 1996 England 1 0 0 0 0 2000–05 Ireland 13 2 0 0 8 1994–03 Great Britain 15 0 0 0 0
Source:

Barrie "Baz" McDermott(born 22 July 1972) is a former professionalrugby leaguefootballer who played as apropin the 1990s and 2000s.

AGreat Britaininternational representativeprop,he played his club football atOldham,Wigan,theLeeds Rhinos(with whom he won both aSuper LeagueChampionship andChallenge CupFinal),Bramleyand theWidnes Vikings.

McDermott later became the Head of Youth Development with his former club,Leeds Rhinos,and appears as a pundit onSky Sports.In 2006 Barrie McDermott was included in the Southstander.comHall of Fame.

Background

McDermott was born inOldham,Lancashire,England.

Playing career

1990s

A native ofOldham,McDermott started out with hishometown clubbefore transferring toWigan,where he won a championship and representedGreat Britain.He had originally wished to join thearmybut was unable to do so after an accident with an air rifle that caused him to lose an eye. His early career was marked by his aggressive playing style, knocking outPaul Sironenwith a high elbow during atour matchfor Wigan in October 1994.After a two-match ban, McDermott made hisTestdebut off the bench in the opening match of theAshesseries, a victory againstAustraliaatWembley.McDermott played in the remaining two matches as Australia won the series, and would earn 15 caps with Great Britain.

Barrie McDermott played as a substitute in Wigan's1994–95 Regal Trophyvictory, a 40–10 win overWarrington,and in the1995–96Final, a 25–16 victory overSt. Helens.

McDermott joinedLeedsin 1996, and made his soleEnglandappearance in aEuropean Championshipvictory overWalesatCardiff Arms Parkthat autumn. He missed the Rhinos'1998 Grand Finaldefeat against his previous club, but was a try-scorer in the 52—16Challenge Cupfinal victory over theLondon Broncos,the club's first Challenge Cup final victory for 21 years. During the 1997 season, McDermott spent a few weeks as a loan player withBramley.

2000s

McDermott first representedIrelandat the2000 Rugby League World Cup,later earning 13 caps with the Irish side, and also representedLancashirein theOrigin Series.His autobiography,Made for Rugbywas published in 2004. McDermott become only the 22nd Leeds player to win the league championship and the Challenge Cup in 2004 when he played for theLeeds Rhinosfrom the interchange bench in their2004 Super League Grand Finalvictory against theBradford Bulls.

In his final season with Leeds, McDermott opened the season with a testimonial match against Oldham,then helped Leeds to lift the2005 World Club Challenge.The Rhinos beat theNational Rugby LeaguechampionsCanterbury Bulldogsin front of 37,028 atElland Road,a record crowd for a World Club Challenge held in Britain. Leeds also reached the2005 Challenge Cupfinal, losing by a point toHull F.C.atCardiff'sMillennium Stadium,and finished the season with another final defeat, againstBradford Bullsin theSuper League Grand FinalatOld Trafford.

McDermott in 2016.

Barrie played in 2 Grand Finals, 3 Challenge Cup Finals and a World Club Challenge. He won 1 Grand Final winners ring, a Challenge Cup winners medal and a World Club Challenge winners medal. Barrie played 283 games for Leeds scoring 40 tries including 1 hat-trick. Although he announced his retirement from the game at the end of 2005'sSuper League X,McDermott played another year with theWidnes VikingsinNorthern League One.After a season playing with his good friendTerry O'Connorhe finally retired in 2006.

Post playing

Following retirement, Barrie initially worked in a community role at Leeds Rhinos before joining the Leeds coaching setup where he is currently the Head of Youth Development.He regularly works forSky Sports,both as a pundit at live games and as an off-field character where he regularly appears in light-hearted features with long-time friend Terry O'Connor. He is also involved in Leeds' corporate entertainment division on match days.

Even after his playing career was over, McDermott remained involved with theChallenge Cup.Leeds Metropolitan University,who were the main sponsors of the event in 2009, announced him as their official "Carnegie Ambassador" for the2009 Challenge Cup.

Further reading

• Barrie McDermott, Peter Smith (2005).Made for Rugby: The Autobiography.UK: Macmillan.ISBN0-330-41981-1.

External links

• Leeds Rhinos profile
• SouthStander.com Hall of Fame
• 2001 Ashes profile
• RLeague.com Profile