Danny Sculthorpe
Encyclopedia
Danny Sculthorpe is an English professional rugby league
footballer. Born in Oldham
, Greater Manchester
, he currently plays as a prop for Widnes Vikings
.
The younger brother of the St Helens player Paul Sculthorpe
, he signed for Wigan Warriors
at the end of 2001 from Rochdale Hornets
. Sculthorpe had previously had spells with Leeds Academy and Warrington - whom he joined as part of the deal that took Iestyn Harris
to Leeds. However, as a diabetic, he had been dogged by injury and dietary / fitness issues at both teams. The same has continued at Wakefield, and many are questioning if he will ever be any good on the pitch again.
Sculthorpe injured his back training with weights in January 2002, keeping him out of the Wigan first team squad. He returned to fitness with a four week loan spell at his former club, Rochdale. Wigan coach Stuart Raper
commented: "Danny's fit, but we've nowhere to play him. At Rochdale he's in an environment he'll be comfortable in and it will enable us to assess his return to fitness. It is another step on his road back to match action."
Raper's confidence in Sculthorpe was confirmed when he was recalled from Rochdale in September 2002. He made his first team début on his 23rd birthday, helping the Warriors to crush St Helens, a team that contained his brother Paul, 48-8 at the JJB Stadium
. He consolidated his position as a first team regular during 2003. In 2004 Danny signed a new 3-year contract with Wigan despite speculation linking him with a move to St Helens. Assistant coach Denis Betts
said: "I never had any doubt that Danny would stay here. He has developed into a top-quality player and we are pleased he has committed his future to us." He spent Super League XI
on loan at Castleford Tigers
from Wigan
, before joining Wakefield
for the Super League XII
season in 2007.
Danny joined Huddersfield Giants
in a swap loan deal with Michael Korkidas
, before moving on to Bradford. He failed to make a single appearance for Bradford after his diabetes forced him into taking a year off from the sport. His contract with Bradford ended and he quickly moved onto the Widnes Vikings in the Championship.
Danny was also picked to play for Lancashire in the 2003 Origin match.
, coached by Wigan assistant coach John Kear
. He was later named in the 2003 England A squad to face Australia
and to play in the European Nations Cup
.
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. Born in Oldham
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, he currently plays as a prop for Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
.
The younger brother of the St Helens player Paul Sculthorpe
Paul Sculthorpe
Paul Sculthorpe , is an English retired rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A Great Britain international representative /, and /, he played club football for St. Helens, with whom he won a total of four Grand Finals, three Challenge Cups and two World Club Challenges...
, he signed for Wigan 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....
at the end of 2001 from Rochdale Hornets
Rochdale Hornets
Rochdale Hornets RLFC is an English professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. They currently play in Championship One...
. Sculthorpe had previously had spells with Leeds Academy and Warrington - whom he joined as part of the deal that took 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...
to Leeds. However, as a diabetic, he had been dogged by injury and dietary / fitness issues at both teams. The same has continued at Wakefield, and many are questioning if he will ever be any good on the pitch again.
Sculthorpe injured his back training with weights in January 2002, keeping him out of the Wigan first team squad. He returned to fitness with a four week loan spell at his former club, Rochdale. Wigan coach Stuart Raper
Stuart Raper
Stuart Raper is an Australian former professional rugby league player and coach. He has since become a sideline commentator for the NRL with Foxsports...
commented: "Danny's fit, but we've nowhere to play him. At Rochdale he's in an environment he'll be comfortable in and it will enable us to assess his return to fitness. It is another step on his road back to match action."
Raper's confidence in Sculthorpe was confirmed when he was recalled from Rochdale in September 2002. He made his first team début on his 23rd birthday, helping the Warriors to crush St Helens, a team that contained his brother Paul, 48-8 at the JJB Stadium
JJB Stadium
The DW Stadium is a sports stadium in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, that is home to Wigan Athletic football club and Wigan Warriors rugby league club....
. He consolidated his position as a first team regular during 2003. In 2004 Danny signed a new 3-year contract with Wigan despite speculation linking him with a move to St Helens. Assistant coach Denis Betts
Denis Betts
Denis C. Betts is an English rugby league coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Widnes Vikings in the Engage Super League. He played for Wigan in the Rugby League Premiership and the Australian NRL, for the Auckland Warriors, and also represented England at the 1995 Rugby...
said: "I never had any doubt that Danny would stay here. He has developed into a top-quality player and we are pleased he has committed his future to us." He spent Super League XI
Super League XI
Engage Super League XI was the official name for the year 2006's Super League season in the sport of rugby league in Europe. Bradford Bulls were looking to retain the title they won in Super League X....
on loan at Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers
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', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
from 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....
, before joining Wakefield
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...
for the Super League XII
Super League XII
Engage Super League XII is the official name for the year 2007's Super League season in the sport of rugby league.The 2007 season kicked off on the weekend of 2 February 2007 at the Galpharm Stadium. For the first time, the league had a staggered start due to the World Club Challenge between St...
season in 2007.
Danny joined 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 swap loan deal with Michael Korkidas
Michael Korkidas
Michael Korkidas is an Australian-Greek rugby league player who currently plays for the Keighley Cougars. He primarily plays at .-Playing career:...
, before moving on to Bradford. He failed to make a single appearance for Bradford after his diabetes forced him into taking a year off from the sport. His contract with Bradford ended and he quickly moved onto the Widnes Vikings in the Championship.
Danny was also picked to play for Lancashire in the 2003 Origin match.
International career
Danny toured South Africa in 2001 with the U21 England squadEngland national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
, coached by Wigan assistant coach John Kear
John Kear
John Kear is an English rugby league coach and former rugby league player. Kear is currently the coach of Batley Bulldogs...
. He was later named in the 2003 England A squad to face Australia
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
and to play in the European Nations Cup
Rugby League European Nations Cup
The European Cup is a rugby league football tournament for European nations that was first held in 1935. The tournament was first started in 1935, with England, Wales and France each playing each other once...
.