John Bentley (rugby)
Encyclopedia
John Bentley is an English
former Rugby League
and Rugby Union
wing three quarter.
in 1988 aged 21 and played on the summer tour against Australia
.
After training as a policeman he switched codes from Rugby Union, which was then an amateur-only game, to Rugby League, where he became a professional. He played for Great Britain
at league and signed for Leeds
, before moving on to Halifax
, as well as enjoying a short spell in Australia with Balmain Tigers
.
When Rugby Union turned professional, he signed for Union side Newcastle Falcons
in 1996, helping the side to their first and so far only Premiership
title. He was then selected for the 1997 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, where he played in the second Test, playing opposite James Small
.
After the tour he played twice more for England at Rugby Union before switching back to League with Huddersfield Giants
.
He is currently Director of Rugby at Cleckheaton RUFC – his first and hometown club – and is involved with Leeds Tykes
community rugby programme and matchday entertainment. He is an Honorary President of the Yorkshire Region of the rugby charity Wooden Spoon
improving the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in Britain and Ireland.
Born in Dewsbury
, he currently lives in nearby Mirfield
with his wife Sandy and three children. Hosting but most certainly coaching rugby camps across England with Sale Sharks, Newcastle Falcons and Leeds Carnegie.
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...
and 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...
wing three quarter.
Career
Originally a Union player, he made his England debut against IrelandIreland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
in 1988 aged 21 and played on the summer tour against Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
.
After training as a policeman he switched codes from Rugby Union, which was then an amateur-only game, to Rugby League, where he became a professional. He played for Great Britain
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"....
at league and signed for Leeds
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 moving on to Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
, as well as enjoying a short spell in Australia with Balmain Tigers
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
.
When Rugby Union turned professional, he signed for Union side Newcastle Falcons
Newcastle Falcons
The Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...
in 1996, helping the side to their first and so far only Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
title. He was then selected for the 1997 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, where he played in the second Test, playing opposite James Small
James Small (rugby player)
James Small is a former South African rugby union footballer who played on the wing for the Springboks. His international debut was against the All Blacks in 1992 and he made his final appearance against Scotland in 1997. He was part of the 1995 rugby world cup winning Springbok team, and famously...
.
After the tour he played twice more for England at Rugby Union before switching back to League with 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....
.
He is currently Director of Rugby at Cleckheaton RUFC – his first and hometown club – and is involved with Leeds Tykes
Leeds Tykes
Leeds Carnegie is an English rugby union club, based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, currently playing in the RFU Championship. In recent years, they have bounced between the Premiership and the second-level National Division One, now known as the RFU Championship; they were either promoted or relegated...
community rugby programme and matchday entertainment. He is an Honorary President of the Yorkshire Region of the rugby charity Wooden Spoon
Wooden Spoon Society
Wooden Spoon is a children's charity founded in 1983, when the England rugby team received the Wooden Spoon in the 5 Nations. Spoon is dedicated to helping children and young people who are disadvantaged physically, mentally or socially by using sport as a method of improving lives while...
improving the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in Britain and Ireland.
Born in Dewsbury
Dewsbury
Dewsbury is a minster town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It is to the west of Wakefield, east of Huddersfield and south of Leeds...
, he currently lives in nearby Mirfield
Mirfield
Mirfield is a small town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It is located on the A644 road between Brighouse and Dewsbury...
with his wife Sandy and three children. Hosting but most certainly coaching rugby camps across England with Sale Sharks, Newcastle Falcons and Leeds Carnegie.