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Leon Pryce

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Leon Pryce
Personal information
Full nameLeon Pryce
Born(1981-10-09)9 October 1981(age 42)
Bradford,Yorkshire, England
Playing information
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Weight15 st 13 lb (101 kg)[1]
PositionStand-off,Wing,Centre,Fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1998–06 Bradford Bulls 206 94 0 0 376
2006–11 St Helens 160 73 0 0 292
2012–14 Catalans Dragons 81 20 0 0 80
2015–16 Hull F.C. 38 8 0 0 32
2017 Bradford Bulls 11 0 0 0 0
Total 496 195 0 0 780
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1999–08 England 7 3 0 0 12
2001–07 Great Britain 17 5 0 0 20
2001–03 Yorkshire 4 3 0 0 12
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2018–19 Workington Town 40 24 0 16 60

Leon Pryce(born 9 October 1981) is a professionalrugby Leaguecoach who most recently coachedWorkington TowninLeague 1and an English former professionalrugby leaguefootballer who played as astand-off,wing,centreandfullbackin the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.

A Great Britain andEnglandinternational back, he previously played forSt Helens,with whom he hadChallenge Cup,and Super League Championship success, theCatalans Dragons,Hull FCand theBradford Bulls.[2][3][4][5]He is a product of theBradford Bulls Academysystem.

Background[edit]

Pryce was born inBradford,Yorkshire,England.

Personal life[edit]

OfJamaicandescent,[7]Pryce comes from a family of rugby league players; he is the older brother ofBradford BullsplayerKarl Pryce,and his son,Will Pryce,has also found a profession in rugby league as in 2019 he signed a professional contract with Huddersfield Giants after representing the England U16 international squad against France whilst also scoring a try. His cousin, Steve Pryce, has coached in Jamaica,[8][9]and he is also the cousin ofFeatherstone RoversplayerWaine Pryce.

Playing career[edit]

Bradford Bulls[edit]

At age 16, Pryce captained theEnglandschools side. Pryce came through the academy ranks atBradford Bulls,after the club signed him from amateur side Queensbury in Bradford. Pryce played for Bradford on the wing in the1999 Super League Grand Finalwhich was lost toSt. Helens.He made his full début forEnglandagainstFrancein 1999, and has also represented his home county ofYorkshire.

Pryce played for Bradford on the wing in their2001 Super League Grand Finalvictory against theWigan.AsSuper League VIchampions, Bradford played against2001 NRLPremiers, theNewcastle Knightsin the2002 World Club Challenge.Pryce was selected for the substitutes bench in Bradford's victory. Later that year Pryce played for Bradford from the substitutes bench in their2002 Super League Grand Finalloss against St. Helens.

In 2003, Pryce received 120 hours community service for unlawful wounding, after attacking former Bulls' fitness conditioner Eddie McGuinness with a glass.[10]He played for Bradford from the substitutes bench in their2003 Super League Grand Finalvictory against theWigan.Having wonSuper League VIII,Bradford played against 2003 NRL Premiers,Penrith Panthersin the2004 World Club Challenge.Pryce played at stand-off half back and scored a try in Bradford's 22–4 victory. He played for Bradford on the wing and scored a try in their2005 Super League Grand Finalvictory againstLeeds,winning theHarry Sunderland Awardfor aMan of the Matchperformance.

St Helens[edit]

After Bradford did not renew his contract in 2005, in 2006 Pryce joined St. Helens. One of the key issues in the decision was that he would start atstand off,a position Pryce has long coveted.[citation needed]

Pryce won his first trophy with St Helens in August 2006, defeatingHuddersfieldin theChallenge Cup FinalatTwickenham.St Helens reached the2006 Super League Grand finalto be contested againstHull FC,and Pryce played at stand-off half back, scoring a try in Saints' 26–4 victory. As 2006 Super League champions, St Helens faced 2006 NRL PremiersBrisbane Broncosin the2007 World Club Challenge.Pryce played at stand-off half back in the Saints' 18–14 victory. He went on to win the Challenge Cup again in2007when Saints beatCatalans Dragons30–8 atWembley Stadium.He was a joint winner of theLance Todd Trophyalong withPaul Wellens.

In July 2007, Pryce was accused of squeezingSam Burgess'testicles.[11]He was later found guilty of the incident and banned for three matches.[12]That year he was voted rugby league's dirtiest player byRL Weeklyreaders.[citation needed]

Pryce playing for St Helens in 2008

He was again found guilty of a similar misconduct, against Bradford forwardAndy Lynchon 22 February 2008. However, he escaped a possible eight-match ban as the disciplinary panel ruled the contact "minimal".[13]

His success at the club continued as he helped Saints to a 26–18 win over Hull in the2008 Challenge Cup Final.

He was named in theEngland squadfor the2008 Rugby League World Cup.[14]

He was named in theSuper League Dream Teamfor the 2008'sSuper League XIIIseason.[15]

He played in 2008'sSuper League XIII Grand Finaldefeat by Leeds.[16]

Pryce went with the England squad to compete in the2008 Rugby League World Cuptournament in Australia. InGroup A's first match againstPapua New Guineahe played at stand-off half back in England's victory.

In 2008 Pryce was charged and appeared in court alongsideStuart Reardonon charges of assault and violence following an alleged incident at Reardon's estranged wife's house inQueensbury,Bradford. They were charged with using violence to gain entry and common assault. The charge of using violence to gain entry against both defendants was dropped after the prosecution offered no evidence.[17]In March 2009, having been found guilty of common assault, the pair were given a 12-week suspended sentence.

He played in the2009 Super League Grand Finaldefeat by theLeeds RhinosatOld Trafford.[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]

Catalans Dragons[edit]

After being released by St Helens in 2011, Pryce signed for thePerpignanbasedCatalans Dragonsfor the 2012 season. The Stand-off made his début againstCastleford Tigersin a 28–20 victory and was named Man of the Match. He went on to play 80 times for the French side and scored a total of 20 tries in the three seasons he spent at the club.

Hull FC[edit]

Pryce signed for Hull in 2015. In 2016 he was part of the team that won the Challenge Cup at Wembley for the first time. At the end of the 2016 season, Pryce announced his departure from Hull after two seasons and 38 appearances.

Bradford Bulls[edit]

Pryce re-signed for his hometown club Bradford ahead of the 2017 season, however the Bulls were liquidated in January 2017, casting doubt over Pryce's playing future. A new club was formed, soon after the old club was liquidated, and which Pryce signed for. The new club was kept in the Championship, but started on −12 points. After just 11 games Pryce announced his immediate retirement after a poor start to the season and fans booing his and the team's performance.

Post-playing career[edit]

After Pryce retired he set up his own player agency. His sonWill Pryceplays for theNewcastle Knightsin the NRL

Coaching career[edit]

After retiring during the 2017 season, Leon accepted an offer to coachLeague 1sideWorkington Townfor the 2018 season.[30]

Honours[edit]

Club[edit]


References[edit]

  1. ^ab"Hull 1st Team Leon Pryce (archived by web.archive.org)".Hull FC.2015. Archived fromthe originalon 15 February 2015.Retrieved15 July2015.
  2. ^ab"Profile at loverugbyleague.com".loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017.Retrieved1 January2018.
  3. ^ab"Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org".rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017.Retrieved1 January2018.
  4. ^ab"England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk".englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2016.Retrieved1 January2018.
  5. ^ab"Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk".englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 18 April 2018.Retrieved1 January2018.
  6. ^"Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org".rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017.Retrieved1 January2018.
  7. ^"Sports Jamaica:: World Champions back Rugby League in the WI:: Rugby".Archived fromthe originalon 30 November 2010.Retrieved27 August2009.
  8. ^Craven, Dave (13 January 2009)."Pryce lands Jamaica coaching role".Thetelegraphandargus.co.uk.Retrieved20 April2017.
  9. ^"Leeds Rhinos: News: JAMAICA RUGBY LEAGUE STARS HIT TOWN WITH CONNECTING COMMUNITIES".Archived fromthe originalon 30 December 2009.Retrieved15 December2009.
  10. ^Wilson, Andy (6 December 2003)."Pryce free to play for Bradford after avoiding prison".The Guardian.Retrieved13 July2017.
  11. ^Pryce accuse of squeezing tacticsp.12Daily TelegraphNo. 47,324, 31 July 2007
  12. ^"Pryce hit by three-match penalty".BBC Sport.1 August 2007.Retrieved1 January2012.
  13. ^Wilson, Andy (26 February 2008)."Repeat offender Pryce relieved not to bag a lengthy ban".The Guardian.London.Retrieved1 January2012.
  14. ^"Purdham earns World Cup call-up".BBC Sport.7 October 2008.Retrieved1 January2012.
  15. ^"2008 engage Super League Dream Team".Super League. 31 December 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 21 July 2010.Retrieved1 January2012.
  16. ^"2008 Grand Final".BBC Sport.4 October 2008.Retrieved1 January2012.
  17. ^"Great Britain Rugby Stars Stuart Reardon and Leon Pryce Sentenced for 'Terrifying' Assault | UK News | Sky News".Archived fromthe originalon 26 April 2009.Retrieved23 April2009.
  18. ^"Rhinos Take Super League Title".Sky News. 11 October 2009.Retrieved22 November2019.
  19. ^Burke, David (11 October 2009)."Smith's Crisp".Daily Mirror.Retrieved22 November2019.
  20. ^AFP (11 October 2009)."Leeds makes it Super League hat-trick".ABCNews.Retrieved22 November2019.
  21. ^AAP(11 October 2009)."Leeds claim third successive Grand Final".National Rugby League.Archived fromthe originalon 3 October 2012.Retrieved22 November2019.
  22. ^Linfoot, Ben (10 October 2009)."Grand Final: Leeds Rhinos 18 St Helens 10".Sky Sports.Retrieved22 November2019.
  23. ^Correspondent (12 October 2009)."Potter refuses to blame video ref".Liverpool Echo.Retrieved22 November2019.
  24. ^Fletcher, Paul (10 October 2009)."St Helens 10–18 Leeds Rhinos".BBC Sport.Retrieved22 November2019.
  25. ^"Third time unlucky as Saints fail to halt Rhinos' charge to title".Liverpool Daily Post.12 October 2009.Retrieved22 November2019.
  26. ^"Sinfield hails winning culture".Daily Mirror.11 October 2009.Retrieved22 November2019.
  27. ^Stewart, Rob (12 October 2009)."Lee Smith targets place in England rugby union team after Grand Final victory".The Telegraph.Retrieved22 November2019.
  28. ^"Sinfield hails historic title win".BBC Sport.11 October 2009.Retrieved22 November2019.
  29. ^"Leeds Rhinos fans in homecoming welcome".Yorkshire Evening Post.12 October 2009.Retrieved22 November2019.
  30. ^"Leon Pryce lands coaching job at Workington".Telegraph & Argus.15 October 2017.Retrieved16 October2017.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leon_Pryce&oldid=1231743405"