Jonny Hepworth
Encyclopedia
Jonny Hepworth is a rugby league
and rugby union
player. His usual position is at fly-half or centre.
Hepworth plays for Leeds Tykes
, making his debut for them at Headingley Carnegie Stadium against London Welsh on 3 September 2006 at the start of the National League One 2006/7 season.
for the Castleford Panthers before joining Super League
outfit Leeds Rhinos
.
He made only one appearance for the Rhinos, under coach Daryl Powell
, before briefly joining the London Broncos on loan in 2002 and his hometown club Castleford Tigers
, also on loan, in 2003. Broncos coach Tony Rea
said on the arrival of Hepworth in May 2002: "He's an exciting young player and will give us some nice back-up."
In 2011 he signed for championship side Featherstone Rovers becoming a key figure in there side
side Leinster
, making six appearances and scoring one try.
During his brief stint at Castleford Tigers he was compared to Sean Long
of St Helens with his then coach Graham Steadman
saying in April 2004: "I would compare Jonny Hepworth with the likes of Sean Long. He's got similar attributes, he's pacy, he has a quality kicking game and he supports well. What he lacks at the moment is that self-confidence and belief to take a game by the scruff of the neck.
"He is in on merit because he is good enough and he's got to believe that. Obviously he's got to get game time and, on the back of that, the experience and confidence will come. He's got a great attitude and is certainly making good progress."
Hepworth captained the Leeds Rhinos academy team when they beat local rivals the Bradford Bulls
U-19 side in the Senior Academy Championship title with a 12–7 victory in a brilliant Grand Final
at Headingley
in October 2002.
He commented after the game: "We've worked hard all season and it's just what we wanted. They gave us everything in the first half and then we piled on the pressure and eventually got there. It was probably the biggest game of my life and it was great."
in Dublin on 6 November 2005 he said: "Apart from playing for a local team in Wakefield
when I was 15, coming on against Bath
was my first competitive game. But I think I've adapted well and fitted in well here."
"I'm picking up bits as we go along and settling in well, hopefully I can make a full debut today and show what I can do."
"If I was switching to be a union forward it'd be difficult, but as a utility back in league you can fit in more quickly. In league there's not much kicking, it's mainly just torpedo kicks when you're punting."
"But here everyone can kick and our coach David Knox has been helping me out with that."
He also featured for Clontarf
in north Dublin. He then signed for the Leeds Tykes, joining up again with Powell, the Tykes' first team coach.
Hepworth joined Rotherham Titans for the 2010–2011 season and made an immediate impression with his pace in possession and tenacious defence.
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...
player. His usual position is at fly-half or centre.
Hepworth plays for 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...
, making his debut for them at Headingley Carnegie Stadium against London Welsh on 3 September 2006 at the start of the National League One 2006/7 season.
Leeds Rhinos
Hepworth started playing junior rugby leagueRugby 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...
for the Castleford Panthers before joining 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...
outfit 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...
.
He made only one appearance for the Rhinos, under coach Daryl Powell
Daryl Powell
Daryl A. Powell is an English rugby league football coach and former player. He is the head coach of Featherstone Rovers Rugby League football club. He is a former /for Keighley Cougars, Sheffield Eagles and Leeds Rhinos...
, before briefly joining the London Broncos on loan in 2002 and his hometown club 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'...
, also on loan, in 2003. Broncos coach Tony Rea
Tony Rea
Tony Rea is an Australian rugby football coach and former rugby league administrator and player. He was the relief head coach of the Brumbies in the Super Rugby competition, following the dismissal of Andy Friend....
said on the arrival of Hepworth in May 2002: "He's an exciting young player and will give us some nice back-up."
In 2011 he signed for championship side Featherstone Rovers becoming a key figure in there side
Castleford Tigers
His move to Castleford Tigers was made permanent but when they were relegated from Super League in 2004 he switched codes and signed for Celtic LeagueCeltic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
side Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
, making six appearances and scoring one try.
During his brief stint at Castleford Tigers he was compared to Sean Long
Sean Long
Sean Long is an English former professional rugby league and current rugby union footballer with Preston Grasshoppers. He has played for Wigan, Widnes and Hull but is best known for playing for St Helens in the Super League. Internationally he has represented England and Great Britain at /...
of St Helens with his then coach Graham Steadman
Graham Steadman
Graham Steadman is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s, and coach of the 2000s, who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and Yorkshire, and at club level for York Wasps, Featherstone Rovers, and Castleford, playing at , or /, i.e...
saying in April 2004: "I would compare Jonny Hepworth with the likes of Sean Long. He's got similar attributes, he's pacy, he has a quality kicking game and he supports well. What he lacks at the moment is that self-confidence and belief to take a game by the scruff of the neck.
"He is in on merit because he is good enough and he's got to believe that. Obviously he's got to get game time and, on the back of that, the experience and confidence will come. He's got a great attitude and is certainly making good progress."
Hepworth captained the Leeds Rhinos academy team when they beat local rivals the 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....
U-19 side in the Senior Academy Championship title with a 12–7 victory in a brilliant Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
at Headingley
Headingley
Headingley is a suburb of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. It is approximately two miles out of the city centre, to the north west along the A660 road...
in October 2002.
He commented after the game: "We've worked hard all season and it's just what we wanted. They gave us everything in the first half and then we piled on the pressure and eventually got there. It was probably the biggest game of my life and it was great."
Leinster
Before making his full debut for Leinster against EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in Dublin on 6 November 2005 he said: "Apart from playing for a local team in Wakefield
Wakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
when I was 15, coming on against Bath
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
was my first competitive game. But I think I've adapted well and fitted in well here."
"I'm picking up bits as we go along and settling in well, hopefully I can make a full debut today and show what I can do."
"If I was switching to be a union forward it'd be difficult, but as a utility back in league you can fit in more quickly. In league there's not much kicking, it's mainly just torpedo kicks when you're punting."
"But here everyone can kick and our coach David Knox has been helping me out with that."
He also featured for Clontarf
Clontarf
Clontarf may refer to:Placenames:*Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland*Clontarf, New South Wales, Australia*Clontarf, Queensland, Australia*Clontarf, Minnesota, United StatesOther:*Battle of Clontarf, 1014...
in north Dublin. He then signed for the Leeds Tykes, joining up again with Powell, the Tykes' first team coach.
Hepworth joined Rotherham Titans for the 2010–2011 season and made an immediate impression with his pace in possession and tenacious defence.