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CASTLEFORD TIGERS RLFC
CastlefordTigersLogo.png
Full name Castleford Tigers
Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s) Cas
Tigers
Classy Cas
Ground The Jungle,
Castleford
(Capacity 11,750)
Chairman England Jack Fulton
Coach Australia Terry Matterson
Captain England Ryan Hudson
League European UnionSuper League
2009 position 7th
Founded 1926
Challenge Cups 4
Website castigers.com
Home colours
Away colours

Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas' 'Cas Tigers' or 'Classy Cas'. In the early days many of their supporters worked as glassblowers which is another of the club's nicknames.

The Tigers play their home games at 'The Jungle' named after their former sponsor Jungle.com. After the company was bought by 'Argos' they removed all affiliation with the Tigers but the club decided to keep the name for marketing purposes. The ground was previous named after the road it is situated, 'Wheldon Road', and despite its decrepit style the ground is still believed to offer one of the best and most volatile atmospheres in the game. Wakefield Council has granted planning permission for a new stadium to be built at nearby Glasshoughton.

Contents

[edit] History

There was also a Castleford team which took part in the Yorkshire League from 1896-97 to 1905-06 inclusive.

Castleford Rugby League Football Club was founded in June 1926, after a successful era in the Yorkshire Senior Competition and were admitted to the sport's professional ranks in 1926. Cas played at the Sandy Desert ground from 1920 to 1927 before moving to Wheldon Road. The club was quick to achieve success, winning the Yorkshire League in 1932, followed by their first Challenge Cup title in 1935. The club record attendance was set at 25,449 for the third round Challenge Cup match against Hunslet in 1935.

Castleford, the winners of the 1935 Challenge Cup met French cup holders US Lyon Villeurbanne in a match played at Paris on 12 May 1935 for a trophy that would later become the Lord Derby Cup. US Lyon Villeurbanne won it and were awarded the trophy.

Castleford were beaten Championship finalists in 1938-39. Cas dropped out of the wartime Yorkshire league in 1942-3 and did not return to league competition until 1944-5.

[edit] Post World War Two

The official attendance for a second round Challenge Cup match in 1967 against Hull KR was 22,582 but a reported 8,000 people got in without paying.

Castleford were again beaten Championship finalists in 1968-69, when they suffered a late defeat to arch-rivals Leeds.

The legendary half-back pairing of Alan Hardisty and Keith Hepworth inspired the club to back-to-back Challenge Cup triumphs in 1969 ( v Salford) and 1970 ( v Wigan). Castleford's 7-2 victory over Wigan in the 1970 Challenge Cup Final is the joint lowest winning score at Wembley, along with Salford's 7-4 victory over Barrow in the 1938 Challenge Cup Final.

From the introduction of two divisions in 1973 until the Super League era Castleford were one of a handful of clubs to have constantly remained in the top division of British rugby league.

In 1983/84 Castleford were beaten 18-10 by Hull Kingston Rovers in the Divisional Premiership final at Headingley.

Castleford made it to the final of the 1988 Yorkshire Cup but were beaten 33-12 by Leeds at Elland Road.

They were the leading club in Yorkshire in the early 1990s, finishing in the top four of the Championship no less than four times during this period.

John Joyner took up the reins as head coach in May 1993. The highlight of the early 1990s was in 1994 when Castleford defeated Wigan to claim the Regal Trophy at Headingley in a 33-2 victory. They were semi-finalists in the Challenge Cup and were also narrowly defeated in the Premiership final. At the end of that campaign Joyner was named as the Coach of the Year.

[edit] Super League era

Wheldon Road during the Superleague era

Castleford added 'Tigers' to their name for the 1992/93 season.

When Super League was suggested Castleford were supposed to merge with Wakefield Trinity and Featherstone Rovers to form 'Calder'. Trinity's shareholders voted 2:1 in favour of a merger but Featherstone's members voted against and an unmerged Cas were founder members of Super League in 1996.

At the start of the 1997 season Castleford were seen as a team making up the numbers and few held hopes for them avoiding relegation. John Joyner resigned in April 1997 to be replaced by Stuart Raper. The club were in crisis with relegation on the cards, Raper turned the season around, the Tigers even won at champions Bradford. They just managed to avoid being relegated, eventually finishing tenth.

With a new season in 1998 many pundits predicted the Tigers would be relegated to National League One. Castleford, in fact stayed near the top of the table for the majority of the season and eventually finished sixth. Cas' Challenge Cup run started with a last-minute try victory over Leeds at Headingley on Valentine’s Day, before beating Bradford in the fifth round. The Cup run was ended by eventual-winners Sheffield in the quarter-finals.

In the 1999 season the Tigers had bettered their previous season and found themselves in third on a couple of occasions, sometimes fourth before finishing in fifth, the last of the play-off places. Wigan were beaten 14-10 on their own turf as the Tigers set up a date at Leeds. Leeds were beaten 17-16 and Cas met St Helens in the semi-final but lost 36-6. Cas had another good Challenge Cup run 1999 campaign knocking out Hull, York and Salford before finally being beaten by London Broncos in the semi-final with a last minute try.

2000 was Raper's last season with the Tigers and their performance somewhat mirrored their previous season as they finished fifth and into the play-offs for a consecutive season.

They made the semi final of the Challenge Cup once again in 2002.

They were relegated from Super League at the end of the 2004 season, but were promoted back the following season, after winning the National League One Grand Final against Whitehaven.

Castleford currently play their traditional black and amber, however their previous colours were orange and black. A limited edition shirt in these traditional colours was released to commemorate participation in the 2005 final of the Northern Rail Cup, which Castleford lost 16-18 to Hull Kingston Rovers, in front of 9,400 people (a record attendance for the cup). The club experienced record sales of the new home shirt for 2007.

Even after a solid return season under the coaching of Terry Matterson, they were once again relegated from the Super League on Saturday 16 September 2006 after losing 29-17 to rivals Wakefield Trinity Wildcats at Belle Vue, Wakefield. The match dubbed "The Battle of Belle Vue" was the last game of the season and whoever lost the match would have been relegated. This caused uproar in the rugby league community. Castleford were relegated with the highest points total for a relegated side in Super League history with 19 and more importantly the fact that they did not actually finish bottom of the league however the newly created Catalan Dragons were given immunity from relegation and since it was the French side that did finish bottom, the team directly above them (which turned out to be Castleford) would be relegated instead.

In (2007) Castleford Tigers participated in National League One, the second tier of British rugby league. They were rewarded for a safe passage through to the Carnegie Challenge Cup 4th Round with an away tie at local rivals and 4 times Super League Champions Bradford Bulls, however the Tigers lost the tie narrowly going down 24-16. Castleford were promoted at the first time of asking when they overcame rivals Widnes Vikings 42-10 on October 7, 2007 in the National League Grand Final. This meant that they participated in Super League XIII in 2008.

On 22 July 2008 the club learned that their Super League licence application for the 2009-11 period had been successful.[1][2]

[edit] Super League 2008

In a disappointing season the Castleford Tigers finished bottom of the Super League; however with no relegation for the first time in Super League history, the club was not overly concerned about that result. Their main concern in 2008 was fighting for a licence to play in the 2009 season. The 14 clubs who received a licence would, barring catastrophic financial reverses, stay in the Super League for at least 3 years with no risk of relegation. Ultimately, all of the teams from Super League XIII (2008), plus Celtic Crusaders and Salford, were accepted.

The Tigers got much publicity in 2008 by giving a trial to the shamed 100 m sprinter Dwain Chambers for a month, but he did not seem worthy of receiving a contract[citation needed] and was therefore released instead. He did help out with the local schools as well as play against York City Knights in a friendly game.

Castleford also added to their team throughout 2008 season with Matt Cook coming on loan until the end of the season from Bradford Bulls; however after a month he was called back into the Bradford team. They also got Brendan Hlad on loan from the Penrith Panthers until the end of the season, however he has not featured in coach Terry Matterson's plans much since his arrival, playing three games all from off the bench, and scoring no points.

At the same time Castleford added another body to the squad by signing former Wakefield Trinity Wildcats player Ned Catic from the French side Lyon XIII but he hasn't been offered another contract and Joined Barrow Raiders in the Championship. In June they signed Mitchell Sargent from NRL side Newcastle Knights on a 2 and half year deal. Unfortunately, Sargent's move had been held up by red tape due to delays in issuing work visas to players. The Tigers were hopeful he would join the club soon, and indeed he did after enlisting the help of local MP to the Pontefract and Castleford constituency, Yvette Cooper. He was a hit with the fans straight away and will be playing with Castleford for to 2009 season also.

In June they released Tom Haberecht from his 1 year deal, due to quota restrictions. This was to enable Sargent to join the club. Haberecht is currently on trial at local rivals Featherstone Rovers. In the same month the Tigers also loaned out young forward prospect Nathan Massey to Rovers and Jack Lee.

This season, with franchises on the horizon, has seen the Tigers retain four of their major squad players from the local area. Franchise licences are issued this season, with one of the criteria being home-grown players, an area the Tigers are making significant strides in. The first player to sign up to a new four-year deal was Joe Westerman, who was touted with a move to Leeds Rhinos, which turned out to be nothing more than mere speculation. Joe has been named in the current England squad for the World Cup. Following Joe into a new 4 year deal as well is Australian Ryan McGoldrick, who has been a figurehead and major PR puller for the club over the last couple of seasons. The Tigers also retained their longest serving player in the face of Craig Huby, who pen to paper on a 3 year deal. After several weeks of negotiations, and intense speculation that he was about to move to Bradford Bulls, Michael Shenton finally but pen to paper on a new 2 year deal, who, like Westerman has also been called up to the England squad for the World Cup. Following Shenton was Liam Higgins who put pen to paper on a 1 Year Deal with the club. Also Matterson has signed some top name players from the NRL in Rangi Chase, Dean Widders and Sione Faumuina. And when the Super League Transfer window opened cas signed England International player Stuart Jones from Huddersfield Giants on a 1 Year Deal. Also the Tigers have signed ex-captain Ryan Hudson on a 4 Year Deal from the Huddersfield Giants. Continuing recruitment for the 2009 season Castleford Tigers have also signed Chris Feather and James Evans - both on one year deals and both from Bradford Bulls. Youngster Joe Arundel got promoted from the academy and is now joining the senior squad on a two-year deal at only 17 years old. James Ford is a winger who has signed a one year deal at Castleford from Sheffield Eagles in the National League One.

Leaving Castleford Tigers will be Peter Lupton, who is now going to be joining Celtic Crusaders, Andrew Henderson; Castlefords captain both times they were relegated into the National League set up has been let go and his joining Gateshead Thunder to add to the already big number of ex-Castleford players. Adam Fletcher has been let go as has Ned Catic was released by The tigers and as joined Barrow Raiders, however. Mark Leafa will also be leaving and is now a free agent. Luke Dorn has left to join Harlequins RLFC - the team he scored a hat-trick against earlier in the season of 2008. Stuart Donlan has left to go back to hometown club Leigh Centurions. Scott Moore has finished his loan move and now will join Huddersfield Giants on a season loan from St Helens RLFC. Awen Guttenbiel has retired and now will go back to Australia to hopefully continue on his coaching ambitions.

[edit] 2010 Squad

As of 28 September 2009:

1 England Richard Owen Fullback Tigers Academy
2 England Kirk Dixon Winger/Centre Hull FC
3 England Michael Shenton Centre/Winger Tigers Academy
4 Wales James Evans Centre/Winger Bradford Bulls
5 England Michael Wainwright Winger Batley Bulldogs
6 New Zealand Rangi Chase Stand off/Half Back/Hooker St George Illawarra Dragons
7 Australia Brent Sherwin Half Back Canterbury Bulldogs
8 Australia Mitchell Sargent Prop Newcastle Knights
9 England Ryan Hudson Hooker Huddersfield Giants
10 England Craig Huby Prop/Second Row Tigers Academy
11 England Brett Ferres Second Row Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
12 England Ryan Clayton Second Row Salford City Reds
13 England Joe Westerman Loose Forward/Second Row Tigers Academy
14 England Stuart Jones Second Row/Hooker Huddersfield Giants
15 England Liam Higgins Prop Hull FC
16 England ? ? ?
17 England ? ? ?
18 England Nathan Massey Prop/Second Row Tigers Academy
19 England Kirk Netherton Hooker/Second Row Hull Kingston Rovers
20 England ? ? ?
21 England ? ? ?
22 England ? ? ?
23 United States Ryan McGoldrick FB,C,SO,HB,LF Cronulla Sharks
24 England ? ? ?
25 Australia Dean Widders Second Row, Prop, Centre South Sydney Rabbitohs
26 England Jordan Thompson Winger/Fullback/Stand off Tigers Academy
27 England Joe Arundel Centre/Winger/Fullback Tigers Acadmey
28 England John Davies Second Row/Loose Forward Tigers Academy
29 England Ben Gledhill Prop Tigers Academy
30 England Jamie Cording Second Row/Centre Tigers Academy
31 England Jonathan Walker Prop Tigers Academy
xx England Steve Snitch Second Row/Prop Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
xx Scotland Paul Jackson Prop Huddersfield Giants

[edit] 2010 Transfers In

No In Nat Name Moved From Contract Length
1st England Steve Snitch Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 3 Year Deal
2nd Scotland Paul Jackson Huddersfield Giants 2 Year Deal

[edit] 2010 Transfers Out

Nat Name Moved To
New Zealand Sione Faumuina Released
England James Ford Widnes Vikings
England Chris Feather Villeneuve
Republic of Ireland Ryan Boyle Salford City Reds

[edit] Players earning International Caps while at Castleford


  • Leslie "Les" Adams (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee), for England while at Leeds 1931 Wales; while at Castleford 1936 Wales; 1939 France, for Great Britain while at Leeds 1932 Australia
  • Arthur "Artie" Atkinson (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee), for England while at Castleford 1929 Other Nations; 1930 Other Nations; 1931 Wales; 1932 Wales; 1933 Australia; 1936 France, for Great Britain while at Castleford 1929-30 Australia x 3; 1932 Australia x 3, New Zealand x 3;1933 Australia; 1936 Australia
  • Kevin Beardmore (#9) (1986 Challenge Cup Winner) (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee) (Testimonial match 1988), for England while at Castleford 1984 Wales, for Great Britain while at Castleford 1987 France; 1988 Papua New Guinea, New Zealand
  • William "Bill" Bryant (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee), for Great Britain while at Castleford circa-1964
  • J. Cole, for England while at Castleford 1906 Other Nations
  • Lee Crooks, for England while at Castleford 1992 Wales, for Great Britain while at Hull 1982 Australia x 2; 1984 France (sub), Australia x 2; 1985 New Zealand, New Zealand (sub); 1986 France x 2, Australia x 3; 1987 France; while at Leeds 1989 France; while at Castleford 1992 France x 2, Papua New Guinea, Australia; 1994 France
  • James "Jim" Croston, for England while at Castleford 1936 Wales; 1938 Wales x 2, France; 1939 France, Wales, for Great Britain while at Castleford 1937 Australia
  • Bernard Cunniffe (#2) (1935 Challenge Cup Winner), for England/Great Britain while at Castleford 1937 France
  • William "Billy" J. Davies, for Great Britain while at Castleford circa-1933
  • Derek Edwards, for Great Britain while at Castleford 1968 France; 1970 Australia; 1971 New Zealand x 2 (World Cup Squad 1968 0-caps)
  • St. John Ellis (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee), for Great Britain while at Castleford 1991 France x 2 (sub); 1994 France (sub).
  • Keith England (#11) (1986 Challenge Cup Winner), for Great Britain while at Castleford circa-1987
  • Stephen "Steve" Fenton, for England while at Castleford 1981 France, Wales
  • Michael "Mike" Ford (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee), for England while at Castleford 1992 Wales, for Great Britain while at Castleford 1993 France (sub) x 2


  • Richard Goddard, for England while at Castleford 1995 France
  • Wayne Godwin, for England while at Castleford 2004 Russia, France
  • Awen Guttenbeil for Tonga while at Castleford ?
  • Alan Hardisty (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee) (Testimonial match 1968), for Great Britain while at Castleford 1964 France x 3; 1965 France, New Zealand; 1966 Australia x 3, New Zealand; 1967 France x 2; 1970 Australia
  • Lee Harland, for England while at Castleford 1999 France (sub) x 2
  • Dennis Hartley (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee), for England while at Castleford 1968 Wales, for Great Britain while at Hunslet 1964 France x 2; while at Castleford 1968 France; 1969 France; 1970 Australia x 2, New Zealand x 2; 1970 Australia x 2, France (World Cup 1970 3-caps)
  • Andrew Henderson, for Scotland while at Castleford ?
  • Keith Hepworth (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee) (Testimonial match 1968), for Great Britain while at Castleford (World Cup 1970 4-caps)
  • Shaun Irwin, for Great Britain while at Castleford 1990
  • John Joyner (1986 Challenge Cup Winner) (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee) (Testimonial match 1992), for England while at Castleford 1980 Wales, France; 1981 France, Wales, for Great Britain while at Castleford 1978 Australia x 2; 1979 Australia x 3, New Zealand x 3; 1980 New Zealand x 3; 1983 France x 2; 1984 France, New Zealand (sub) x 2
  • Brian Lockwood (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee), for England while at Castleford 1970 France (sub); while at Hull K.R. 1979 Wales, France, for Great Britain while at Castleford 1972 Australia x 2, France, New Zealand; 1973 Australia x 2; 1974 France; while at Hull K.R. 1978 Australia; 1979 New Zealand (sub) (World Cup 1972 4-caps)
  • Andy Lynch, for England while at Castleford 2004 Russia, France, Ireland; while at Bradford 2005 France (sub), New Zealand (sub), for Great Britain while at Bradford 2007 France


  • Francis Maloney, for England while at Castleford 1999 France x 2
  • Anthony "Tony" Marchant (#3) (1986 Challenge Cup Winner) for Great Britain while at Castleford 1986
  • Roger Millward, for England while at Hull K.R. 1969 Wales, France; 1970 Wales (sub), France; 1975 France, Wales, France x 2, Wales x 2, Australia x 2, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea; 1977 Wales, France; 1978 France, Wales, for Great Britain while at Castleford 1966 France; while at Hull K.R. 1967 Australia x 3; 1968 France x 2, Australia, France, New Zealand; 1970 Australia x 2, New Zealand x 3; 1971 France, New Zealand x 3; 1973 Australia; 1974 Australia x 2, Australia (sub); 1977 France, New Zealand, Australia x 2; 1978 Australia x 3
  • Tawera Nikau (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee), for New Zealand while at Castleford?, for Aotearoa Māori while at Castleford?
  • Steve 'Knocker' Norton, for England while at Castleford 1975 Wales x 2, New Zealand x 2, Australia x 2, France, Papua New Guinea; 1977 France; while at Hull 1978 Wales; 1981 Wales x 2, for Great Britain while at Castleford 1974 Australia (sub), New Zealand x 2; while at Hull 1978 Australia x 3; 1979 Australia x 2; 1980 New Zealand; 1981 France x 2; 1982 Australia
  • Danny Orr, for England while at Castleford 1999 France x 2, for Great Britain while at Castleford 2002 New Zealand (sub) x 2
  • David Plange (#2) (1986 Challenge Cup Winner), for Great Britain while at Castleford circa-1988
  • Malcolm "Mal" Reilly (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee), for England while at Castleford 1970 Wales, France; 1977 Wales (sub), for Great Britain while at Castleford 1970 Australia x 3, New Zealand x 3, Australia x 2, France (World Cup 1970 3-caps)
  • Terrence "Terry" Richardson, for England while at Castleford 1981 Wales
  • James "Jimmy" Robinson, for England while at Castleford 1944 Wales
  • Darren Rogers, for England while at Castleford 1999 France x 2; 2000 Russia, Fiji, Ireland


  • Richard Russell, for England while at Castleford 1995 Wales
  • Edward L. Sadler (#13) (1935 Challenge Cup Winner), for England while at Castleford 1939 Wales
  • Dean Sampson (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee), for England while at Castleford 1995 Fiji, South Africa (sub), Wales (sub); 1999 France x 2, for Great Britain while at Castleford 1997 ASL (sub)
  • Peter Small (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee) , for Great Britain while at Castleford 1962 New Zealand
  • Anthony "Tony" Smith, for England while at Castleford 1995 France (sub), Fiji, South Africa (sub), Wales, Australia; while at Wigan 2000 Australia, Fiji, Ireland (sub), New Zealand, for Great Britain while at Castleford 1996 Papua New Guinea (sub), Fiji (sub); while at Wigan 1998 New Zealand x 3
  • Michael Shenton, for England while at Castleford 2008 Wales
  • Graham Steadman (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee), for Great Britain while at Castleford circa-1992
  • Gareth Stephens, for Wales while at Castleford 1995 ?-caps
  • Gary Stephens (Testimonial match 1980), for Great Britain while at Castleford circa-1979
  • Nathan Sykes, for England while at Castleford 1999 France (sub); 2001 Wales (sub)
  • Thomas "Tommy" L. Taylor (#10) (1935 Challenge Cup Winner), for England while at Castleford 1945 Wales
  • Brendon Tuuta, for New Zealand while at Castleford 1995 ?-caps
  • Adrian Vowles (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee), for Scotland while at Castleford 2000 3-caps
  • Douglas "Doug" Walton circa-1965
  • John "Johnny" Ward (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee), for England while at Castleford 1969 Wales, France; while at Salford 1970 France, for Great Britain while at Castleford 1963 Australia; 1964 France x 2; while at Salford 1970 New Zealand
  • John Willie Ward [1], for England RU while at Castleford ≤1895, for Great Britain while at Castleford ≥1895
  • Kevin Ward (1986 Challenge Cup Winner) (Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee), for Great Britain, 1984-89? (concurrently won caps at while at Manly & subsequently won caps at St. Helens)

[edit] Other Notable Players





[edit] Honours

[edit] Records

[edit] Super League Era

[edit] Player records

[edit] Team records

[edit] All Time

[edit] Player records

[edit] Team records

  • Rugby League Championships: None. 1926-Present day
  • Biggest win: 106-0 vs Rochdale Hornets, 9 September 2007
  • Heaviest defeat: 4-72 vs St Helens, 13 August 2006
  • Highest attendance: 25,449 vs Hunslet 9 March 1935
  • Most Tries In One Season By A Single Player: 69 By Hooker Blake Dixsan

[edit] Sources

[edit] References

[edit] External links




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