Jon Clarke
Encyclopedia
Jon Clarke is a hooker for Super League rugby league
club Widnes Vikings
. He has previously played for Wigan Warriors
, London Broncos & Warrington Wolves
.
Jon was the Super League
's most effective tackler in 2004. He is a physical hooker with an infectious competitive spirit, Clarke's versatility saw him switch between dummy half and back row with great success. Generally used as the Wolves' starting no.9, he hits big in the early part of the game and is a strong defender from marker. He was Super League's most effective tackler in 2004 with a 99% success rate, and was fourth highest tackler in the competition in 2005.
Represented Great Britain Academy as Captain whilst coming through the junior ranks at Wigan, he played in their 1997 Premiership Final winning side against St Helens. Followed his ex Wigan coach John Monie to London Broncos in 2000, but returned north during the 2001 season when the Wolves were forced to sign a hooker on loan to solve an injury crisis. Made an instant impact with some courageous performances against top sides to earn a permanent deal at the club, and has grown into a stalwart of Paul Cullen's Wolves.
In June 2007 Clarke was called up to the Great Britain
squad for the Test match
against France
He is extremely popular with the Wire fans, especially the females, because of his distinctive flowing dark locks.
Recently the Wire fans voted him 'Greatest Hooker' in Wire's history, beating John Thursfield and Mark Roskell into 2nd and 3rd place.
He has been forced to rule himself out contention for the England training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
through injury.
Clarke played for Warrington
in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Leeds Rhinos
.
It was announced on September 6th 2011 that Clarke would be joining Widnes Vikings
in their forthcoming return to Super League
On signing, Clarke told the fans. "The Vikings are an ambitious club and I'm an ambitious player. The goals I had as an 18 year-old making his way in the game are still the same to this day, and ultimately that is to perform to the best of my ability every single week both on and off the pitch. I've had ten fantastic years at Warrington but the time has now come for me to part company with the club and move onto the next chapter of my career. Before I do that, I'll be doing my utmost to make sure that I can go out on a high and finish my time there on the right note."
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...
club 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...
. He has previously played 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....
, London Broncos & Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
.
Jon was 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...
's most effective tackler in 2004. He is a physical hooker with an infectious competitive spirit, Clarke's versatility saw him switch between dummy half and back row with great success. Generally used as the Wolves' starting no.9, he hits big in the early part of the game and is a strong defender from marker. He was Super League's most effective tackler in 2004 with a 99% success rate, and was fourth highest tackler in the competition in 2005.
Represented Great Britain Academy as Captain whilst coming through the junior ranks at Wigan, he played in their 1997 Premiership Final winning side against St Helens. Followed his ex Wigan coach John Monie to London Broncos in 2000, but returned north during the 2001 season when the Wolves were forced to sign a hooker on loan to solve an injury crisis. Made an instant impact with some courageous performances against top sides to earn a permanent deal at the club, and has grown into a stalwart of Paul Cullen's Wolves.
In June 2007 Clarke was called up to the 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"....
squad for the Test match
Test match (rugby league)
A Test match in rugby league football is a representative match between teams representing members of the Rugby League International Federation.The definition of a Test match differs from that of an international match...
against France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
He is extremely popular with the Wire fans, especially the females, because of his distinctive flowing dark locks.
Recently the Wire fans voted him 'Greatest Hooker' in Wire's history, beating John Thursfield and Mark Roskell into 2nd and 3rd place.
He has been forced to rule himself out contention for the England training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
through injury.
Clarke played for Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final victory over the 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...
.
It was announced on September 6th 2011 that Clarke would be joining 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...
in their forthcoming return to 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...
On signing, Clarke told the fans. "The Vikings are an ambitious club and I'm an ambitious player. The goals I had as an 18 year-old making his way in the game are still the same to this day, and ultimately that is to perform to the best of my ability every single week both on and off the pitch. I've had ten fantastic years at Warrington but the time has now come for me to part company with the club and move onto the next chapter of my career. Before I do that, I'll be doing my utmost to make sure that I can go out on a high and finish my time there on the right note."