.gif)
Brian Noble (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Brian 'Nobby' D. Noble is an English
former rugby league
footballer. Noble is also the former coach of the Great Britain National Rugby League team
. He was also the captain of the 1984 Great Britain touring team to Australia. He is the only man to coach a club to three Super League Grand Final victories.
(now Bradford Bulls). His début came in the 1978-1979 season and was the beginning of almost 15 years and over 400 games with the club, concluding in the centenary season of 1995-96 following a spell at Wakefield Trinity
.
Brian combined his professional career with his job as a policeman, and captained Great Britain on the Lions' tour of Australasia in 1984. He played in all seven tests on the tour, including the test in Papua New Guinea.
! - Brian was a hugely popular choice to succeed departing coach Matthew Elliott.
In July 2002, Brian Noble received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bradford
for his achievements as a rugby league player both at national level, with Bradford Northern
and in recognition of his contributions to the Bradford Bulls as first team coach.
Whilst head coach of Bradford Bulls
, 'Nobby' guided the Bulls to two Minor Premiership titles, victory in three Grand Finals in 2001, 2003 and 2005, the Rugby League Challenge Cup
in 2003 and to three World Club Championships in 2002, 2004 and 2006. He was named Super League coach of the year in 2003 and succeeded David Waite
as Great Britain coach following the 2003 Ashes series.
; nine days after the sacking of Ian Millward
. Brian took over at the club during a relegation battle which at one point looked as though Wigan
would lose, however he has been credited for keeping the Warriors
in the Super League following a number of impressive performances.
On the 17th January 2007 it was announced that his contract as head coach of the British National team would not be renewed.
In June 2009 there was speculation that Wigan Warriors chairman Ian Lenagan
had approached New Zealand
national rugby league coach Stephen Kearney
in relation to succeeding Brian Noble as head coach at Wigan.
In October 2009, after the defeat to St Helens in the semi-final play-off game, Noble announced he would be leaving to club after a meeting with the chairman, Lenegan, the week before.
in September 2009, on 14 October 2009, Noble was confirmed as the new head coach of the Welsh
side Crusaders. Jon Sharp
was first-team coach, and Iestyn Harris
, who is also Wales coach, was an assistant. In the 2010 season Noble managed to gain 13 wins which was a vast improvement on the season before and took them into the play offs for the 1st time. The most notable win was probably at the home of 3 time consecutive engage Super League Champions Leeds Rhinos
in June where they came out on top 32-26.
In November 2010, Noble confirmed his departure from Crusaders Rugby League after only one season in charge. His last match as Head Coach was the 18-12 loss away to the Huddersfield Giants
in a close fought Elimination Play-off tie. Crusaders had led 8-0 at Half Time.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer. Noble is also the former coach of the Great Britain National Rugby League team
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
. He was also the captain of the 1984 Great Britain touring team to Australia. He is the only man to coach a club to three Super League Grand Final victories.
Playing career
Brian Noble's early rugby league career was as a member of the Police Boys' Clubs before he signed for Bradford NorthernBradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
(now Bradford Bulls). His début came in the 1978-1979 season and was the beginning of almost 15 years and over 400 games with the club, concluding in the centenary season of 1995-96 following a spell at Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
.
Brian combined his professional career with his job as a policeman, and captained Great Britain on the Lions' tour of Australasia in 1984. He played in all seven tests on the tour, including the test in Papua New Guinea.
Bradford Bulls
A Bradford stalwart as a player, coaching always seemed to be the natural progression for Brian Noble. After 6 years of serving in the backroom staff at the club following his retirement, he finally got his big shot when appointed as Bradford head coach in November 2000. After initial confusion regarding chairman Chris Caisley's appointment - the tabloids reported that the new coach was Radio 4 comedian Ross NobleRoss Noble
Ross Markham Noble is an English stand-up comedian, brought up in Cramlington, Northumberland, England.Noble rose to mainstream popularity through making appearances on British television, particularly interviews and on celebrity quiz shows such as Have I Got News for You...
! - Brian was a hugely popular choice to succeed departing coach Matthew Elliott.
In July 2002, Brian Noble received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bradford
University of Bradford
The University of Bradford is a British university located in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The University received its Royal Charter in 1966, making it the 40th University to be created in Britain, but its origins date back to the early 1800s...
for his achievements as a rugby league player both at national level, with Bradford Northern
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
and in recognition of his contributions to the Bradford Bulls as first team coach.
Whilst head coach of Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
, 'Nobby' guided the Bulls to two Minor Premiership titles, victory in three Grand Finals in 2001, 2003 and 2005, the Rugby League Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
in 2003 and to three World Club Championships in 2002, 2004 and 2006. He was named Super League coach of the year in 2003 and succeeded David Waite
David Waite
David Waite is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He has also coached Great Britain in the Rugby League Tri-Nations.Waite holds a British passport, courtesy of his father being born in Leicester....
as Great Britain coach following the 2003 Ashes series.
Wigan Warriors
On 20 April 2006 Brian took up the position of Head Coach at Wigan WarriorsWigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
; nine days after the sacking of Ian Millward
Ian Millward
Ian Millward is an Australian rugby league coach and former player. Millward is currently the head coach at Super League side Castleford....
. Brian took over at the club during a relegation battle which at one point looked as though Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
would lose, however he has been credited for keeping the Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
in the Super League following a number of impressive performances.
On the 17th January 2007 it was announced that his contract as head coach of the British National team would not be renewed.
In June 2009 there was speculation that Wigan Warriors chairman Ian Lenagan
Ian Lenagan
Ian Lenagan is a Business entrepreneur, theatre producer and shareholder of Harlequins RL & Oxford United FC as well as chairman and owner of Wigan Warriors-Early life:...
had approached New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
national rugby league coach Stephen Kearney
Stephen Kearney
Stephen Peter Kearney, ONZM is a professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Parramatta Eels in the NRL as well as the New Zealand national team...
in relation to succeeding Brian Noble as head coach at Wigan.
In October 2009, after the defeat to St Helens in the semi-final play-off game, Noble announced he would be leaving to club after a meeting with the chairman, Lenegan, the week before.
Crusaders RL
After much media speculation about his future, in part through long standing knee problems and the departure of John DixonJohn Dixon (rugby league)
John Dixon is an Australian former rugby league football coach and player. He played during the 1970s and coached the Welsh Crusaders club of Super League and was also head coach of Wales RL until mid 2009...
in September 2009, on 14 October 2009, Noble was confirmed as the new head coach of the Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
side Crusaders. Jon Sharp
Jon Sharp
Jon Sharp is the current first team coach of Super League club Crusaders Rugby League. Between 2004 and 2008 he was head coach of Huddersfield Giants, having been appointed in 2003 when Tony Smith left the club for Leeds Rhinos. He was also part of the Great Britain coaching set-up under head coach...
was first-team coach, and Iestyn Harris
Iestyn Harris
Iestyn Rhys Harris is a Welsh former rugby league footballer, who is currently the assistant coach at Wigan Warriors. Harris is a former Man of Steel winner and has also represented Wales on numerous occasions at both codes of rugby...
, who is also Wales coach, was an assistant. In the 2010 season Noble managed to gain 13 wins which was a vast improvement on the season before and took them into the play offs for the 1st time. The most notable win was probably at the home of 3 time consecutive engage Super League Champions Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
in June where they came out on top 32-26.
In November 2010, Noble confirmed his departure from Crusaders Rugby League after only one season in charge. His last match as Head Coach was the 18-12 loss away to the Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
in a close fought Elimination Play-off tie. Crusaders had led 8-0 at Half Time.