Sean Hoppe
Encyclopedia
Sean Edward Hoppe is a New Zealand
former professional rugby league
footballer who represented his country.
junior and played for them in the Auckland Rugby League
competition. In 1989 he was part of the Tigers Fox Memorial and Lion Red National Knockout title winning side. He was a part of several other Northcote winning teams during these years and scored two tries in the 1991 Lion Red League final. In 1992 he played for Auckland
in a preseason match against the Canberra Raiders
. Auckland lost 14-32 but Hoppe performed well enough to earn a contract and he moved to Canberra
.
However at the end of the 1993 season it was announced that Hoppe had signed for the new Auckland Warriors side who were to enter the competition in 1995. Canberra were unwilling to sign Hoppe for just one more year and so he joined the North Sydney Bears
for the 1994 season.
He was part of the Warriors inaugural side in 1995 and became a regular first team player. He was voted the competition’s best winger in 1995 and his 19 tries in the 1995 season remained a club record until it was surpassed by Francis Meli
in 2003. He is currently fourth on the club's all-time try scoring list with 44. Signed for a five year contract, he was released by the Warriors near the end of the 1999 season
so he could join St Helens in the English Super League
competition. Hoppe joined St Helens on a short term deal but then signed a two year deal with the club. This was then extended for another year and he retired at the end of the 2002 season.
His last two matches in 2002 were a Test match against France for the New Zealand Kiwis followed up by playing against the Kiwis for his club side, St Helens. Hoppe captained St Helens in his final match.
in 1989 and played for the New Zealand Māori rugby league team
from 1990.
Hoppe played in 35 test matches for New Zealand between 1992 and 2002, including the 1995 World Cup
. His test career originally ended in 1999 however in 2002 he was called up into the squad touring Europe as an injury replacement and played in the final test against Great Britain and the one off test against France. In these matches he played for the Kiwis in the Centres, rather than his usual Wing position.
Hoppe also represented New Zealand in the Super League Tri-series
in 1997 and played for Aotearoa Māori
at the 2000 World Cup
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
former professional 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...
footballer who represented his country.
Early years
Hoppe was a Northcote TigersNorthcote Tigers
The Northcote Tigers are a rugby league club based in Northcote, New Zealand. The club was founded in 1910 as the Northcote Warriors.The Tigers compete in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. Between 2000 and 2002 the Northcote Tigers competed in the national Bartercard...
junior and played for them in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition. In 1989 he was part of the Tigers Fox Memorial and Lion Red National Knockout title winning side. He was a part of several other Northcote winning teams during these years and scored two tries in the 1991 Lion Red League final. In 1992 he played for Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
in a preseason match against the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
. Auckland lost 14-32 but Hoppe performed well enough to earn a contract and he moved to Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
.
Playing career
Hoppe played 17 games in his first season and won the Raiders' 1992 Rookie of the year award. Hoppe was the New Zealand Player of the Year in 1993.However at the end of the 1993 season it was announced that Hoppe had signed for the new Auckland Warriors side who were to enter the competition in 1995. Canberra were unwilling to sign Hoppe for just one more year and so he joined the North Sydney Bears
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
for the 1994 season.
He was part of the Warriors inaugural side in 1995 and became a regular first team player. He was voted the competition’s best winger in 1995 and his 19 tries in the 1995 season remained a club record until it was surpassed by Francis Meli
Francis Meli
Francis Meli is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for St. Helens in the Super League competition. Meli has represented both New Zealand and Samoa in internationals. His usual position is on the wing....
in 2003. He is currently fourth on the club's all-time try scoring list with 44. Signed for a five year contract, he was released by the Warriors near the end of the 1999 season
1999 Auckland Warriors season
The Auckland Warriors 1999 season was the Auckland Warriors 5th first-grade season. The club competed in Australasia's National Rugby League. The coach of the team was Mark Graham while Matthew Ridge was the club's captain.-Milestones:...
so he could join St Helens in the English 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...
competition. Hoppe joined St Helens on a short term deal but then signed a two year deal with the club. This was then extended for another year and he retired at the end of the 2002 season.
His last two matches in 2002 were a Test match against France for the New Zealand Kiwis followed up by playing against the Kiwis for his club side, St Helens. Hoppe captained St Helens in his final match.
Later years
After retirement Hoppe moved to Bundaberg and is a referee in the Bundaberg Rugby League competition as well as serving as an assistant coach for their representative team.Representative career
Hoppe was a Junior KiwiJunior Kiwis
The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. They are not necessarily an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby league team. They are...
in 1989 and played for the New Zealand Māori rugby league team
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
from 1990.
Hoppe played in 35 test matches for New Zealand between 1992 and 2002, including the 1995 World Cup
1995 Rugby League World Cup
The 1995 Rugby League World Cup was held during October in the United Kingdom. It was the eleventh staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was marketed as the Halifax Centenary World Cup, reflecting the tournament's sponsorship and the fact that 1995 marked the 100th birthday of the sport...
. His test career originally ended in 1999 however in 2002 he was called up into the squad touring Europe as an injury replacement and played in the final test against Great Britain and the one off test against France. In these matches he played for the Kiwis in the Centres, rather than his usual Wing position.
Hoppe also represented New Zealand in the Super League Tri-series
Super League Tri-series
The Super League Tri-series was a rugby league football tournament contested in 1997 between Queensland, New South Wales and New Zealand representative rugby league teams...
in 1997 and played for Aotearoa Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
at the 2000 World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
.