Martin Aspinwall
Encyclopedia
Martin Aspinwall is an English
rugby league
player. He is 185 cm (6′ 1.5; inches) in height and weighs 94 kg (205 pounds).
Aspinwall started his career with the Wigan Warriors
as a top junior and was the first player to be signed onto their now pioneering scholarship scheme that was set up by Brian Foley and Dean Bell. On 8 July 2001, he made his debut against Huddersfield Giants at 19 years old and made six further substitute appearances in the same season. The 2002 Super League season proved to be a break-through year for him, as several injuries in the backs left the way open for him to establish himself in the first team. He played in at centre and wing in during Wigan’s league run-in and during the playoff series. Before the St Helens Final Elimination clash, Martin commented, “My goal at the beginning of the season was to get eight to ten games, maybe come off the bench, but because of the injury crisis that we’ve had, especially in the backs, I’ve found myself in the Semis now and one game away from a Grand Final.”
Coach Stuart Raper played Aspinwall alongside several other up and coming youngsters during the 2002 season. “It’s quite exciting for me to be able to play these guys,” said Raper. “The Aspinwalls and Briscoes are at the bit to get on that paddock. Martin continued his good form for the club and, in July 2003, signed a new two-year contract with the club, turning down strong interest from Warrington.
Martin was selected for the England A squad to face New Zealand at Brentford in November 2002 but had to withdraw due to a viral illness. He was later named in the 2003 England A squad to face Australia and in the European Nations Cup. Martin was picked to represent Lancashire in the 2003 Origin match.
Martin became a first team regular in the next two years,playing in the 2003 Grand Final defeat to Bradford Bulls & consistently pushing for International honours . At the end of his contract, which ran out in October 2005, Wigan allowed Martin to become a free-agent. He had made 107 competitive appearances for Wigan, scoring 24 tries. He quickly signed for Super League rivals Huddersfield Giants, where he played in the 2006 Challenge Cup Final defeat to St Helens at Twickenham. He was also Giants top try scorer in his first season with 15.
In October 2006, Martin was named in the 25-man Great Britain Tri-Nations
squad to tour Australia and New Zealand.
His 2007 season was cut short in July when he suffered an horrific cruciate knee injury against Warrington, ruling him potentially 12 months on the sidelines.
However he made a very speedy recovery and has been named in the England training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
.
Aspinwall was not offered an extension to his contract beyond the end of 2010, and linked up with Super League side Castleford Tigers
, before moving to Hull FC for the 2011 season.
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...
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...
player. He is 185 cm (6′ 1.5; inches) in height and weighs 94 kg (205 pounds).
Aspinwall started his career with the 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....
as a top junior and was the first player to be signed onto their now pioneering scholarship scheme that was set up by Brian Foley and Dean Bell. On 8 July 2001, he made his debut against Huddersfield Giants at 19 years old and made six further substitute appearances in the same season. The 2002 Super League season proved to be a break-through year for him, as several injuries in the backs left the way open for him to establish himself in the first team. He played in at centre and wing in during Wigan’s league run-in and during the playoff series. Before the St Helens Final Elimination clash, Martin commented, “My goal at the beginning of the season was to get eight to ten games, maybe come off the bench, but because of the injury crisis that we’ve had, especially in the backs, I’ve found myself in the Semis now and one game away from a Grand Final.”
Coach Stuart Raper played Aspinwall alongside several other up and coming youngsters during the 2002 season. “It’s quite exciting for me to be able to play these guys,” said Raper. “The Aspinwalls and Briscoes are at the bit to get on that paddock. Martin continued his good form for the club and, in July 2003, signed a new two-year contract with the club, turning down strong interest from Warrington.
Martin was selected for the England A squad to face New Zealand at Brentford in November 2002 but had to withdraw due to a viral illness. He was later named in the 2003 England A squad to face Australia and in the European Nations Cup. Martin was picked to represent Lancashire in the 2003 Origin match.
Martin became a first team regular in the next two years,playing in the 2003 Grand Final defeat to Bradford Bulls & consistently pushing for International honours . At the end of his contract, which ran out in October 2005, Wigan allowed Martin to become a free-agent. He had made 107 competitive appearances for Wigan, scoring 24 tries. He quickly signed for Super League rivals Huddersfield Giants, where he played in the 2006 Challenge Cup Final defeat to St Helens at Twickenham. He was also Giants top try scorer in his first season with 15.
In October 2006, Martin was named in the 25-man Great Britain Tri-Nations
2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations
The 2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations was hosted for the second time by Australia and New Zealand. Sponsored by Gillette the tournament followed the same format as in 2004 and 2005, with each team meeting the other two teams twice, and the top two teams at the end of the group stages proceeding to the...
squad to tour Australia and New Zealand.
His 2007 season was cut short in July when he suffered an horrific cruciate knee injury against Warrington, ruling him potentially 12 months on the sidelines.
However he made a very speedy recovery and has been 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...
.
Aspinwall was not offered an extension to his contract beyond the end of 2010, and linked up with Super League side 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'...
, before moving to Hull FC for the 2011 season.
External links
- Martin Aspinwall Wigan Playing Career Page on the Wigan RL Fansite.
- Picture
- Huddersfield Giants
- Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
