Scotland Pro Player Profiles (original) (raw)

SCOTLAND 2007 PEN PICS
Updated 28/10/07
By Gavin Willacy - rlbravehearts@hotmail.com

Jamie BENN � Featherstone Rovers � 2 caps
Born: 4/5/77. Jamie spent several seasons with York Wasps and Dewsbury Rams as well as kicking 15 goals in 11 Super League appearances for Castleford Tigers in 1998 and 2000. The Cas-based stand-off or loose forward was first in the Scotland squad in 1999 but was injured playing for the National League East XIII and has to wait seven years for a recall! After two successful years with Castleford Panthers and Wetherby Bulldogs Jamie played twice for Scotland A in 2006, before returning to the pro ranks with Featherstone. Has scored tries in his first two appearances for Scotland.

Danny BROUGH � Wakefield Trinity Wildcats � 5 caps
Born: 15/1/83. Scrum-half Danny shot to stardom in 2005 when his prolific kicking won the Challenge Cup for Hull FC but lost his place under Peter Sharp and moved to Cas. He began his career at Wakefield before dropping down to hometown club Dewsbury Rams and then on to York City Knights. In 2003, he played for the NLU21 rep side and was voted NL2 Young Player of the Year and made his Scotland debut in 2004 with five goals against Wales. Named NL Players Player of the Year after helping Cas to the NL1 title, Danny will re-join Wakefield next season.

Ben FISHER � Hull KR � 4 caps
Born: 4/2/81. Born in Sydney with a Glaswegian father, hooker Ben spent three seasons on the books of the Roosters before joining North Sydney Bears in 2001, winning several player of the year awards. The highly-rated youngster then joined Halifax in 2004 and fulfilled his promise, earning a move to a full-time environment at Hull KR, whom he helped into Super League for 2007. In his debut season in the top flight, Ben made more tackles � 841 - than any other player in the league and won awards from the Rovers fans. Made his Scotland de but in 2004 and has played most games since.

Richard FLETCHER � Whitehaven � 5 caps
Born: 17/5/81. Richard started with Fish Trades and Ideal Isberg amateur clubs, and gained Academy rep honours for Yorkshire and Great Britain. A strong-running back row forward, he turned professional and made 67 Super League appearances for Hull FC, before moving to Castleford Tigers after a short spell with Brisbane Easts in 2005. Having appeared for Great Britain Under-21s in 1999, 'Fletch' made it into the Scotland World Cup squad but did not play until 2001. Scotland assistant coach Dave Rotheram signed him for Whitehaven for the 2007 season.

Ritchy HAWKYARD � Swinton Lions � 1 cap
Born: 1/1/86. Richie was a stand-out player for Scotland Students and was capped by both Scotland �A� and Great Britain Students in 2006. The young scrum-half started at Meltham All Blacks before joining Halifax academy. As well as playing for Slaithwaite Saracens, better known to �Where The Heart Is� viewers as Skelthwaite Scorpions, Richie came through the Under-21s at Bradford Bulls to make his Super League debut this year. A plasterer by trade, �Titch� joined Swinton Lions recently before making his full international debut in France in October. Born in Huddersfield, Richie�s family is from Dundee.

Andrew HENDERSON � Castleford Tigers � 6 caps
Born: 17/6/79. Born in Torquay with a Glaswegian father, Andrew moved to Australia�s Central Coast when he was eight. After playing for Erina Eagles and North Sydney Bears, the diminutive half-back/hooker Andrew had a year with Steve McCormack at Salford City Reds before moving to Barrow Raiders. He spent the 2004 season in the NSW Premier League with Balmain Tigers before joining Castleford, whom he has captained to the NL1 crown in 2005 and 2007. �Hendo� won Man of the Match Award on his Scotland debut in 2003 and has played most games since.

Kevin HENDERSON � Wakefield Trinity Wildcats � 1 cap
Born: 11/1/80. Kevin was signed by Wakefield midway through from the 2005 season from Leigh Centurions and established himself in 2007 as a Super League regular. He was one of the three Henderson brothers playing in the Super League in 2006, scoring in the final match of the season against Castleford to relegate them and his brother, Andrew. Kevin played reserve grade football for Newcastle Knights, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Central Coast Bears. A centre or second row, Kevin made his Scotland debut in France last weekend.

Jack HOWIESON � Sheffield Eagles � 5 caps
Born: 28/7/81. A product of Hemel Stags RLFC, Jack represented Scotland Students for several seasons and was capped by Great Britain Students against the Kiwis and Australians in 2000. While studying at Sheffield Hallam University, prop Jack turned pro with Sheffield Eagles, where he is now captain and one of the best props in NL1. He made his full Scotland debut against Ireland in 2003. Father moved south from Edinburgh in 1970s.

Paul JACKSON � Huddersfield Giants � 1 cap
Born: 29/9/78. Born in Atherton in North Queensland, prop Paul is a product of the Leeds amateur club Stanningley. He started his pro career at Leeds Rhinos before joining Huddersfield Giants. After a spell with Wakefield Trinity, he moved to Castleford Tigers in 2002but returned to Huddersfield in 2005 and has just signed a new contract to remain there until 2009. He has made over 200 appearances in Super League. Paul made his Scotland debut late in his career, against Wales in 2006, aged 28.

Wade LIDDELL � Eastern Suburbs Tigers � 4 caps
Born: 1/6/79. Born in Brisbane, full-back or centre Wade had an excellent two seasons with Gateshead Thunder, topping their try-scoring list as they reached the NL2 play-offs in 2005, before returning to Eastern Suburbs Tigers for 2007. Wade learned his league at Springwood juniors, where his Scottish father coached, before playing for Logan Brothers and Brisbane Souths Colts. He then played more than 100 Queensland Cup matches for Easts, partnering Australian legend Steve Renouf in the centres in the 2004 Grand Final.

Neil LOWE � Keighley Cougars � 6 caps
Born: 20/12/78. Leeds-born Neil joined Featherstone Rovers from Hunslet Parkside in 1997 and was selected for Great Britain Academy. He moved to Salford City Reds in 2003 but missed much of the season with injury before returning to Fev. Spent 2006 with Doncaster Lakers before a short spell with York City Knights. Has signed for Keighley for 2008. In and out of the Scotland team for nearly a decade, Neil was voted Man of the Match in Scotland�s win in Wales last year. Played for Scotland �A� against France Federale last week.

Duncan MacGILLIVRAY � Wakefield Trinity � 2 caps
Born: 25/10/75. Tall second-rower Duncan was born in Darwin, Australia and made his debut in the NRL with Penrith Panthers, where he played 46 times in five years, scoring two tries. He moved then to South Sydney Rabbitohs on their return to the NRL in 2001 and after a spell with French Elite side Carcassonne, joined Wakefield in 2004, becoming a major player in the emergence as a force in Super League. Duncan made his Scotland debut in Ireland in 2004. Brother-in-law of former Wakefield team-mate Sid Domic.

Dave McCONNELL � Leigh Centurions � 8 caps
Born: 25/3/81. Dave scored four tries in just five Super league appearances for his first club St Helens, before excelling in NL2 with Chorley Lynx and earning a brief return to the top flight with London Broncos in 2003. Hooker �Jock� then moved on to Leigh Centurions - just before making his Scotland debut in 2003 - and helped them into the top flight before moving on to play for Bobbie Goulding at Rochdale Hornets. He returned to Leigh last July. Captained Scotland for the first time in Wales in 2005.

Iain MARSH � Rochdale Hornets � 6 caps
Born: 6/10/80. A St Helens native from Blackbrook and son of former Oldham player Derek, Iain played five times in Super League during five years with at Salford Reds and after a short spell at St Helens went to Barrow where he helped the Raiders to promotion from NL2. A solid defender and very strong finisher, Iain moved from Oldham to Batley shortly after making his Scotland debut in 2004 and helped them become one of the top teams in NL1. Spent 2007 with Rochdale Hornets.

Iain MORRISON � Widnes Vikings � 4 caps
Born: 6/5/83. Born in Ashford, Middlesex to a Glaswegian father, Morrison learned the game at Kingston Warriors, was capped by BARLA and made one appearance for London Broncos, before playing rugby union for Scotland U19s, Harlequins and Gloucester. He returned to League with Huddersfield Giants becoming a Super League regular in the second row. After impressing club and country coach Steve McCormack during a spell on loan at Whitehaven, Iain joined Hull KR and has just completed two exciting years at Craven Park. Scotland�s Man of the match in France last week.

Gareth MORTON � Venezia Mestre RU � 4 caps
Born: 21/10/82. Gareth, born in Perth but brought up in Aberfeldy, started his League career with Leigh East and Widnes after his family moved to Liverpool. He made his Scotland debut in 2001 while a teenager in Leeds Rhinos� Academy but then spent three years playing rugby union in Scotland for Borders, making the Scotland RU squad. He returned south and helped take Hull KR into Super League with his prolific kicking and ability to play second row or left centre. A former Great Britain U16 and Academy international, 6ft 5in Gareth is moving to Italy after this tournament to play union for Venezia.

Mick NANYN � Oldham Roughyeds � 3 caps
Born: 3/6/82. Mick made his Scotland debut in 2005 in the home defeat by Ireland while still with Whitehaven before following club and national coach Steve McCormack to Widnes. The son of the former Wigan, Blackpool and Rochdale forward of the same name, Mick Jr was born in Wigan and started his career with Swinton Lions before a spell with Rochdale. A prolific goal-kicking centre, he has reached, played in and lost the last three NL1 Grand Finals, all with coach Steve McCormack. He won a clutch of NL1 awards before moving recently to Oldham following Widnes� financial troubles.

Lee PATERSON � Carpentras � 1 cap
Born: 5/7/81. Lee recently moved to France to play for Carpentras in the Elite division this winter after a season in NL1 with Batley Bulldogs. Previously, Lee was a regular for hometown club York City Knights, captaining the side in 2006 and being named in the NL2 Dream Team in 2005. A product of the New Earswick All Blacks and York Wasps academy, Lee started his pro career at Keighley Cougars and won promotion from NL2 in 2003. A personal trainer by trade, he scored a try on his Scotland debut last week.

Mark SLATTER - Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks � 1 cap
Born: 22/5/81. �Slats� made his full debut off the bench last week in France having been first capped by Scotland Students in 2003 and Scotland A in 2005, playing in the historic win over England. Having started his career in Wakefield Trinity�s Academy, second-rower Mark was 18th man for the full Scotland pro side against Wales in 2004 while playing regularly in NL3 for Hillsborough Hawks. After spells with Hoyland Vikings and Dewsbury Celtic he is now back at Hillsborough.

Alex SZOSTAK � Villeneuve Leopards � 4 caps
Born: 4/3/86. Second row forward Alex made his Scotland debut in the win over Wales in 2004 while still a teenager, soon after winning the Trevor Foster Award from the Bradford Bulls Supporters for Clubman of the Year having played a major part in the Bulls Under-21s winning the Senior Academy Championship. Alex has just graduated from Leeds University with a degree in bio-physical mechanics, combining his studies with playing for Bradford�s second team. Born in the Yorkshire Dales, he has both Polish and Scottish heritage.

Andy TODD - Edinburgh Eagles � 1 cap
Born: 15/4/81. A tough versatile back, Andy can play hooker or centre. Originally from Strathaven in South Lanarkshire, Toddy made his Scotland A debut in the historic victory over England in 2005. He became captain of Scotland A in 2007 and made the step up to the senior squad this autumn, playing the whole of the game against France on the wing. Plays union for Edinburgh Academical at Raeburn Place, venue of the first ever Scotland-England rugby international.

Michael WAINWRIGHT � Leigh Centurions � 5 caps
Born: 25/2/75. Loose forward Mike started at amateur club Woolston Rovers before joining hometown club Warrington in 1992. He spent most of the next 15 years there, playing 229 top flight games, sandwiching a three-season spell at Salford City Reds. �Wedge� played for Great Britain Academy before making his Scotland debut against France in 1998 but spent six years out of the squad before making his return against Wales last year. After a few months back at Salford, Mike has rejoined former Scotland team-mate Darren Shaw at Leigh.

Oliver WILKES � Wakefield Trinity Wildcats � 4 caps
Born: 2/5/80. Oliver is from Stan Laurel�s hometown � Ulverston, on the south Cumbrian coast. He has played in Super League for Sheffield Eagles, Huddersfield Giants, Leigh Centurions and Wigan Warriors and may be in the elite division again next season. He has proven himself to be one of the best second-rowers below Super League with first club Halifax, Keighley Cougars, and with Steve McCormack at both Whitehaven and latterly Widnes. Oli made his Scotland debut in 2004 and has been an important member of the squad ever since.