Joe Mbu
Encyclopedia
Joe Mbu is a rugby league
coach and former professional player. Mbu played for Harlequins Rugby League in the Super League
. He is the current coach of the London Skolars
.
He was a product of the London Broncos academy setup, having played his early rugby at London Skolars
. As a teenager Mbu also played rugby union
as well, playing for an extremely successful Finchley RFC youth team in North London.
In 2002, Joe was loaned out by the Broncos to Huddersfield Giants
to gain experience in their Senior Academy side. He started the 2003 season with a similar loan out at Leeds Rhinos
before being recalled to London to make his Super League
debut.
Mbu played in the Super League
for the London Broncos/Harlequins RL from 2003 to 2006. He became a crowd favourite amongst Harlequins fans for his solid and dependable performances for the club.
Mbu joined the National League One
team Doncaster Lakers for the 2007 season and was appointed captain.
He rejoined the now Harequins club midway through the 2007 season due to Doncaster's financial difficulties. He remained at the club for several seasons before retiring at the end of the 2009 season.
In October 2010 London Skolars
appointed Joe Mbu as their head coach.
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...
coach and former professional player. Mbu played for Harlequins Rugby League in the Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
. He is the current coach of the London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...
.
Playing career
Joe Mbu's usual position was . He also operated on the / and positions.He was a product of the London Broncos academy setup, having played his early rugby at London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...
. As a teenager Mbu also played rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
as well, playing for an extremely successful Finchley RFC youth team in North London.
In 2002, Joe was loaned out by the Broncos to 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....
to gain experience in their Senior Academy side. He started the 2003 season with a similar loan out at 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...
before being recalled to London to make his Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
debut.
Mbu played in the Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
for the London Broncos/Harlequins RL from 2003 to 2006. He became a crowd favourite amongst Harlequins fans for his solid and dependable performances for the club.
Mbu joined the National League One
Rugby League National Leagues
The Championship, known as Co-operative Championship due to sponsorship by The Co-operative Group, is a professional rugby league competition based in the United Kingdom. It is currently contested by ten teams from England. It acts as Europe's second-tier competition below the Super League, and has...
team Doncaster Lakers for the 2007 season and was appointed captain.
He rejoined the now Harequins club midway through the 2007 season due to Doncaster's financial difficulties. He remained at the club for several seasons before retiring at the end of the 2009 season.
Coaching career
After retirement, Mbu coached the London Skolars Under 16s in 2010. The team finished bottom of the table after winning only two games.In October 2010 London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...
appointed Joe Mbu as their head coach.