Phil Cantillon
Encyclopedia
Phil Cantillon is a British former rugby league
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He signed professionally for his home town club Wigan
in 1992 and captained Great Britain Academy on the 1994 Australia Tour and in 1995, whilst appearing for the first team in the annual Wigan Sevens in 1994. The Wigan side contained a host an international stars including hookers Martin Dermott and Martin Hall, which restricted his first team opportunities.
In the 1995 Centenary season, Phil Larder
, then Great Britain's coach, signed Cantillon for the Keighley Cougars
. Cantillon made his first team debut in 1995 against Wakefield scoring a hat-trick
of tries and featuring in every games during the season. Cantillon was selected for full England Honours in 1996 featuring in the inaugural Super League World Nines competition in Fiji, which lost to Australia in the semi finals stage at the age of 19.
Cantillon enjoyed a further 2 seasons at Keighley Cougars making his name as a free scoring hooker making over 75 appearances and scoring 30 tries. In 1997 Cantillon joined Leeds Rhinos
and made his Super League
debut against his home town club scoring a try and played all the remaining matches in the first team under Dean Bell
in 97. After a frustrating 1998 season at Leeds Rhinos, Widnes Vikings
snapped Cantillon up in 1999 which was the start of a record breaking spell with the Vikings.
Cantillon soon became a cult figure and fans favourite at the Halton Stadium
and appeared over 152 consecutive appearances for the club. Cantillon first broke the try scoring tries in a match feat against Oldham in 1999 with 5 Tries. In 2000 the quick fire hooker broke the world record for number of tries scored in a season by a hooker with 30 and further equaled the number of tries scored in match again with 5. 2001 season was a season to remember with Widnes earning promotion to Super League by defeating Oldham in the NFP Grand Final with Cantillon taking the Man of the Match Award, and demolished the number of tries in a match record with 7 in a single match against York and also surpassed the legendary Ellery Hanley
's world record for tries in a season by a forward with 48. Cantillon scored over a centenary of tries for the Vikings and is placed in the all time top ten scoring charts for Widnes with other legendary figures.
2002 and 2003 seasons were enjoyed in the top flight in Super League with Widnes, with Cantillon becoming a thorn in many Super League teams' sides, this led to his selection in the England squad for the Super League World Sevens Tournament in Australia, consisting of a match winning performance in the semi final stages to set up a close defeat by Parramatta Eels
in the Final.
After disappointing contract neogations, Cantillon reluctantly left the Vikings and joined Halifax RLFC
who had just been relegated from Super league in 2004 and were in the process of building a strong side for automatic promotion. Cantillon also was employed as Halifax Rugby League's Development Officer.
Cantillon was named captain of the Ireland national rugby league team
in 2004, qualifying for under the grandparent rule after firstly representing England. Ireland enjoyed an outstanding European Nations tournament, finally losing to France in Dublin, with firstly an away win versus Scotland in which Cantillon scored his first try for Ireland.
Cantillon appeared 27 times for Halifax, scoring 15 tries in a side that failed to gain promotion as expected, Cantillon signed for Rochdale Hornets
as a senior player in 2005 under player coach Bobbie Goulding
.
Cantillon again captained Ireland R.L to the European Nations Final after breaking the international record for number of tries in a game with 4 in a semi final 36 - 18 win over Scotland. Ireland eventually lost to England in the final staged at Warrington, with Ireland producing a strong performance against an England side packed full of emerging Super League Internationals
Cantillon enjoyed 2 successfully seasons at Rochdale Hornets who made play off positions in both seasons, appearing almost 60 times and scoring 25 tries in the process.
Cantillon captained Ireland to impressive World Cup qualifying wins against Russia and Lebanon, ensuring they booked their place for the 2008 World Cup
in Australia, signing of his performances by holding the record for number of tries scored by any player for Ireland R.L with 9, and taking them to be ranked 2nd best team in Europe
Cantillon took up an assistant coaches role at Blackpool Panthers
in 2007 making 30 appearance and scoring 16 tries in a struggling side, before eventually retiring at the end of 2007.
Cantillon made almost 400 first team appearances in a 16 years professional career, scoring 200 tries. Cantillon represented Great Britain Academy, England R.L and captained Ireland R.L during his career and still holds the world record for most tries in a match (7) and most tries in a season (48) by a Rugby League forward in domestic Rugby League.
Whilst internationally records still stand for most tries in a match for Ireland R.L with 4 and highest number of tries for Ireland R.L with 9.
He has played internationally for both England
and Ireland
He holds the world record for most tries in a season and a match for a forward.
He has also modeled clothing for an Aldi
Catalogue published in 2005
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 of the 1990s and 2000s. He signed professionally for his home town club Wigan
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....
in 1992 and captained Great Britain Academy on the 1994 Australia Tour and in 1995, whilst appearing for the first team in the annual Wigan Sevens in 1994. The Wigan side contained a host an international stars including hookers Martin Dermott and Martin Hall, which restricted his first team opportunities.
In the 1995 Centenary season, Phil Larder
Phil Larder
Phil Larder MBE , is an English rugby league and rugby union coach.After graduating with a degree in Physical Education and Sports Science from Loughborough University in 1965, he played rugby union at centre for Broughton Park in Manchester and then Sale...
, then Great Britain's coach, signed Cantillon for the Keighley Cougars
Keighley Cougars
Keighley Cougars are a professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2012 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 32-12 against Workington...
. Cantillon made his first team debut in 1995 against Wakefield scoring a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
of tries and featuring in every games during the season. Cantillon was selected for full England Honours in 1996 featuring in the inaugural Super League World Nines competition in Fiji, which lost to Australia in the semi finals stage at the age of 19.
Cantillon enjoyed a further 2 seasons at Keighley Cougars making his name as a free scoring hooker making over 75 appearances and scoring 30 tries. In 1997 Cantillon joined 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 made his 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...
debut against his home town club scoring a try and played all the remaining matches in the first team under Dean Bell
Dean Bell
Dean Bell is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer and coach. A New Zealand international representative centre, he played his club football in England, Australia and New Zealand, but most notably with Wigan, with whom he won seven consecutive Challenge Cup finals, a Lance Todd Trophy and a...
in 97. After a frustrating 1998 season at Leeds Rhinos, 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...
snapped Cantillon up in 1999 which was the start of a record breaking spell with the Vikings.
Cantillon soon became a cult figure and fans favourite at the Halton Stadium
Halton Stadium
The Stobart Stadium Halton is a rugby league stadium in Widnes, England. The Widnes Vikings play their home games there as do Everton Reserves...
and appeared over 152 consecutive appearances for the club. Cantillon first broke the try scoring tries in a match feat against Oldham in 1999 with 5 Tries. In 2000 the quick fire hooker broke the world record for number of tries scored in a season by a hooker with 30 and further equaled the number of tries scored in match again with 5. 2001 season was a season to remember with Widnes earning promotion to Super League by defeating Oldham in the NFP Grand Final with Cantillon taking the Man of the Match Award, and demolished the number of tries in a match record with 7 in a single match against York and also surpassed the legendary Ellery Hanley
Ellery Hanley
Ellery Cuthwyn Hanley MBE is a British former rugby league footballer of the 1970s, 80s and 90s, and former head coach of Great Britain, St. Helens and Doncaster. As a player he played most of his games at /, or /. Over a period of nineteen years, he played for Bradford Northern, Wigan, Balmain,...
's world record for tries in a season by a forward with 48. Cantillon scored over a centenary of tries for the Vikings and is placed in the all time top ten scoring charts for Widnes with other legendary figures.
2002 and 2003 seasons were enjoyed in the top flight in Super League with Widnes, with Cantillon becoming a thorn in many Super League teams' sides, this led to his selection in the England squad for the Super League World Sevens Tournament in Australia, consisting of a match winning performance in the semi final stages to set up a close defeat by Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
in the Final.
After disappointing contract neogations, Cantillon reluctantly left the Vikings and joined Halifax RLFC
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...
who had just been relegated from Super league in 2004 and were in the process of building a strong side for automatic promotion. Cantillon also was employed as Halifax Rugby League's Development Officer.
Cantillon was named captain of the Ireland national rugby league team
Ireland national rugby league team
The Ireland national rugby league team, known as the Wolfhounds, represent the island of Ireland in rugby league football. The team is organized by Rugby League Ireland and are accredited as an affiliate member of the Rugby League International Federation...
in 2004, qualifying for under the grandparent rule after firstly representing England. Ireland enjoyed an outstanding European Nations tournament, finally losing to France in Dublin, with firstly an away win versus Scotland in which Cantillon scored his first try for Ireland.
Cantillon appeared 27 times for Halifax, scoring 15 tries in a side that failed to gain promotion as expected, Cantillon signed for Rochdale Hornets
Rochdale Hornets
Rochdale Hornets RLFC is an English professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. They currently play in Championship One...
as a senior player in 2005 under player coach Bobbie Goulding
Bobbie Goulding
Bobbie Goulding is an English rugby league football coach and former player. He is currently the French national team's head coach....
.
Cantillon again captained Ireland R.L to the European Nations Final after breaking the international record for number of tries in a game with 4 in a semi final 36 - 18 win over Scotland. Ireland eventually lost to England in the final staged at Warrington, with Ireland producing a strong performance against an England side packed full of emerging Super League Internationals
Cantillon enjoyed 2 successfully seasons at Rochdale Hornets who made play off positions in both seasons, appearing almost 60 times and scoring 25 tries in the process.
Cantillon captained Ireland to impressive World Cup qualifying wins against Russia and Lebanon, ensuring they booked their place for the 2008 World Cup
2008 World Cup
2008 World Cup can refer to:*The 2008 Rugby League World Cup*The 2008 Alpine Skiing World Cup*The 2008 VIVA World Cup*The 2008 Speedway World Cup*FIFA Futsal World Cup 2008*FIFA Club World Cup 2008-See also:...
in Australia, signing of his performances by holding the record for number of tries scored by any player for Ireland R.L with 9, and taking them to be ranked 2nd best team in Europe
Cantillon took up an assistant coaches role at Blackpool Panthers
Blackpool Panthers
Blackpool & The Fylde Panthers RLFC was an English professional rugby league club based in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. They played at Woodlands Memorial Ground owned by Fylde rugby union club...
in 2007 making 30 appearance and scoring 16 tries in a struggling side, before eventually retiring at the end of 2007.
Cantillon made almost 400 first team appearances in a 16 years professional career, scoring 200 tries. Cantillon represented Great Britain Academy, England R.L and captained Ireland R.L during his career and still holds the world record for most tries in a match (7) and most tries in a season (48) by a Rugby League forward in domestic Rugby League.
Whilst internationally records still stand for most tries in a match for Ireland R.L with 4 and highest number of tries for Ireland R.L with 9.
He has played internationally for both 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...
and Ireland
Ireland national rugby league team
The Ireland national rugby league team, known as the Wolfhounds, represent the island of Ireland in rugby league football. The team is organized by Rugby League Ireland and are accredited as an affiliate member of the Rugby League International Federation...
He holds the world record for most tries in a season and a match for a forward.
He has also modeled clothing for an Aldi
ALDI
ALDI Einkauf GmbH & Co. oHG, doing business as ', short for "Albrecht Discount", is a discount supermarket chain based in Germany...
Catalogue published in 2005