Mark Calderwood
Encyclopedia
Mark Calderwood is an English professional rugby league
footballer who is currently looking for a new club after being released by Super League
club Hull. He plays as a winger.
Calderwood has been linked with the likes of Wakefield Wildcats
, Crusaders RL and Salford City Reds
, however, no deal has been reached yet. With John Kear
the coach at Wakefield, they are the favourites to secure his signature for 2011. He has joined Harlequins on a month-long trial, in a bid to win a contract at the London side.
He made his debut against London from the bench in the first match of the season he scored his first try for Leeds in a Rugby League Challenge Cup
semi final against St Helens and went to score 12 tries in the rest of the 2001 season. He also won the Eddie Waring Memorial Award as the best try in the 2001 Challenge Cup.
In 2002 and 2003 he finished the leading try scorer at Leeds Rhinos
and the leading try scorer for the Super League. He was a Grand Final winner with Leeds Rhinos in 2004 when Leeds beat Bradford Bulls
16-8 at Old Trafford.
2005 was another good season for Mark he finished leading Super League try scorer for the third time with 27 touchdowns in 28 appearances during 2005 and 35 tries in all competitions. During 2005 he received a runners-up medal in the Challenge Cup when Leeds lost 25-24 to Hull in the final and another runners-up medal in the Super League
Grand Final when Leeds lost to Bradford 15-6. Despite he success with Leeds, Mark refused a contract extension with the Leeds and instead signed a 2-year contract with Wigan Warriors starting in 2006.
but it took him 3 months to get his first try for Wigan which came against Castleford Tigers
in May 2006. Wigan spent most of 2006 struggling against relegation from the Super League but despite this he managed to form a good playing connection with Wigan full back Chris Ashton
. Mark did miss several months of the 2006 season with an injury and finished the season with 6 tries.
Mark scored a hat trick of tries in Wigan's epic 31-30 playoff win over Bradford
on 21 September 2007 as the Warriors fought back from a 30-6 deficit but was forced off the field in the following game against Hull with a broken bone in the bottom of his leg which forced him to miss Wigan's final game of the 2007 season against Leeds Rhinos
.
The next season turned out to be his final one for the club. His form was mixed throughout the campaign and was signalled out for poor performances especially in the 46-10 defeat to local rivals St Helens. Throughout his Wigan career he was criticised for not producing the form that gave him his name at Leeds, many fans thought that he had pace but was not giving everything into every match which began to have negative effect on his future at the club.
Mark has signed for Hull for the 2009 season
for the England U21 tour to South Africa. He scored 4 tries in the first test, when England won 112-6 and a further 2 tries in the second test.
He retained his place in the England side in 2002 and was part of the squad that lost 34-12 to New Zealand
. In 2002 the England A squad toured Fiji and Tonga and Mark played a part in both of England’s victories, beating Fiji 44-8 and Tonga 30-18.
Mark represented England in the 2006 Federation Shield, scoring two tries in the opening match against France. 2002 saw Mark make his debut for Yorkshire in the Origin game, when Yorkshire were defeated 22-18 and retained his place in 2003, scoring a sensational try at Odsal when Yorkshire defeated Lancashire 56-6. Mark also lifted the European Nations Cup with England, helping them reach the final with a hat trick against Russia
in the qualifiers and then four against France in the final, with a man of the match performance.
He has withdrawn from the Scotland training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
after being called up by England
.
In September 2008 he was named in the England training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
, and in October 2008 he was named in the final 24-man England squad.
He has been named in the England
team to face Wales
at the Keepmoat Stadium prior to England's departure for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
. but he like many other England stars produced many disappointing performances.
He is also eligible to represent Jamaica
and the West Indies
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 who is currently looking for a new club after being released by 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...
club Hull. He plays as a winger.
Calderwood has been linked with the likes of Wakefield Wildcats
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...
, Crusaders RL and Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
, however, no deal has been reached yet. With 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...
the coach at Wakefield, they are the favourites to secure his signature for 2011. He has joined Harlequins on a month-long trial, in a bid to win a contract at the London side.
Leeds Rhinos Career
Born in London, Mark started his playing career at Stanningley ARLFC before signing for the Leeds Rhinos Academy in 2000. He scored over 40 tries in his first season at the Leeds Rhinos Academy which earned him a call up into the first team in 2001.He made his debut against London from the bench in the first match of the season he scored his first try for Leeds in a Rugby League Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
semi final against St Helens and went to score 12 tries in the rest of the 2001 season. He also won the Eddie Waring Memorial Award as the best try in the 2001 Challenge Cup.
In 2002 and 2003 he finished the leading try scorer 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...
and the leading try scorer for the Super League. He was a Grand Final winner with Leeds Rhinos in 2004 when Leeds beat 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....
16-8 at Old Trafford.
2005 was another good season for Mark he finished leading Super League try scorer for the third time with 27 touchdowns in 28 appearances during 2005 and 35 tries in all competitions. During 2005 he received a runners-up medal in the Challenge Cup when Leeds lost 25-24 to Hull in the final and another runners-up medal 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...
Grand Final when Leeds lost to Bradford 15-6. Despite he success with Leeds, Mark refused a contract extension with the Leeds and instead signed a 2-year contract with Wigan Warriors starting in 2006.
Wigan Warriors Career
He made his Wigan debut against Catalans DragonsCatalans Dragons
The Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom...
but it took him 3 months to get his first try for Wigan which came against 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'...
in May 2006. Wigan spent most of 2006 struggling against relegation from the Super League but despite this he managed to form a good playing connection with Wigan full back Chris Ashton
Chris Ashton
Chris Ashton is an English rugby union player who has represented England in both Rugby League and Rugby Union...
. Mark did miss several months of the 2006 season with an injury and finished the season with 6 tries.
Mark scored a hat trick of tries in Wigan's epic 31-30 playoff win over Bradford
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....
on 21 September 2007 as the Warriors fought back from a 30-6 deficit but was forced off the field in the following game against Hull with a broken bone in the bottom of his leg which forced him to miss Wigan's final game of the 2007 season against 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...
.
The next season turned out to be his final one for the club. His form was mixed throughout the campaign and was signalled out for poor performances especially in the 46-10 defeat to local rivals St Helens. Throughout his Wigan career he was criticised for not producing the form that gave him his name at Leeds, many fans thought that he had pace but was not giving everything into every match which began to have negative effect on his future at the club.
Mark has signed for Hull for the 2009 season
Representative career
Mark has international and representative experience with England and Yorkshire. At the end of the 2001 season Mark was selected by John KearJohn Kear
John Kear is an English rugby league coach and former rugby league player. Kear is currently the coach of Batley Bulldogs...
for the England U21 tour to South Africa. He scored 4 tries in the first test, when England won 112-6 and a further 2 tries in the second test.
He retained his place in the England side in 2002 and was part of the squad that lost 34-12 to New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
. In 2002 the England A squad toured Fiji and Tonga and Mark played a part in both of England’s victories, beating Fiji 44-8 and Tonga 30-18.
Mark represented England in the 2006 Federation Shield, scoring two tries in the opening match against France. 2002 saw Mark make his debut for Yorkshire in the Origin game, when Yorkshire were defeated 22-18 and retained his place in 2003, scoring a sensational try at Odsal when Yorkshire defeated Lancashire 56-6. Mark also lifted the European Nations Cup with England, helping them reach the final with a hat trick against Russia
Russia national rugby league team
-2008 World Cup Qualifying:In 2006 Russia were involved in Europe Round One, defeating Netherlands national rugby league team and Serbia national rugby league team to finish second and keep their World Cup dream alive. They then went through to Europe Round Two in Europe Pool Two with Ireland and...
in the qualifiers and then four against France in the final, with a man of the match performance.
He has withdrawn from the Scotland 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...
after being called up by England
England 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...
.
In September 2008 he was named in 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...
, and in October 2008 he was named in the final 24-man England squad.
He has been named in the England
England 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...
team to face Wales
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
at the Keepmoat Stadium prior to England's departure 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...
. but he like many other England stars produced many disappointing performances.
He is also eligible to represent Jamaica
Jamaica national rugby league team
-See also:* Rugby League in the West Indies* West Indies National Team-External links:*...
and the West Indies