Leon Pryce

Leon Pryce (born 9 October 1981) is a professional rugby League coach who most recently coached Workington Town in League 1 and an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a stand-off, wing, centre and fullback in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.

Leon Pryce

Personal information
Full name	Leon Pryce
Born	(1981-10-09) 9 October 1981 (age 43) Bradford, Yorkshire, England
Playing information
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Weight	15 st 13 lb (101 kg)[1]
Position	Stand-off, Wing, Centre, Fullback
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1998–06 Bradford Bulls 206 94 0 0 376 2006–11 St Helens 160 73 0 0 292 2012–14 Catalans Dragons 81 20 0 0 80 2015–16 Hull F.C. 38 8 0 0 32 2017 Bradford Bulls 11 0 0 0 0 Total 496 195 0 0 780 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1999–08 England 7 3 0 0 12 2001–07 Great Britain 17 5 0 0 20 2001–03 Yorkshire 4 3 0 0 12
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 2018–19 Workington Town 40 24 0 16 60
Source: [2][3][4][5][6]

A Great Britain and England international back, he previously played for St Helens, with whom he had Challenge Cup, and Super League Championship success, the Catalans Dragons, Hull FC and the Bradford Bulls.^[2][3][4][5] He is a product of the Bradford Bulls Academy system.

Background

Pryce was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England.

Personal life

Of Jamaican descent,^[7] Pryce comes from a family of rugby league players; he is the older brother of Bradford Bulls player Karl Pryce, and his son, Will Pryce, has also found a profession in rugby league as in 2019 he signed a professional contract with Huddersfield Giants after representing the England U16 international squad against France whilst also scoring a try. His cousin, Steve Pryce, has coached in Jamaica,^[8][9] and he is also the cousin of Featherstone Rovers player Waine Pryce.

Playing career

Bradford Bulls

At age 16, Pryce captained the England schools side. Pryce came through the academy ranks at Bradford Bulls, after the club signed him from amateur side Queensbury in Bradford. Pryce played for Bradford on the wing in the 1999 Super League Grand Final which was lost to St. Helens. He made his full début for England against France in 1999, and has also represented his home county of Yorkshire.

Pryce played for Bradford on the wing in their 2001 Super League Grand Final victory against the Wigan. As Super League VI champions, Bradford played against 2001 NRL Premiers, the Newcastle Knights in the 2002 World Club Challenge. Pryce was selected for the substitutes bench in Bradford's victory. Later that year Pryce played for Bradford from the substitutes bench in their 2002 Super League Grand Final loss against St. Helens.

In 2003, Pryce received 120 hours community service for unlawful wounding, after attacking former Bulls' fitness conditioner Eddie McGuinness with a glass.^[10] He played for Bradford from the substitutes bench in their 2003 Super League Grand Final victory against the Wigan. Having won Super League VIII, Bradford played against 2003 NRL Premiers, Penrith Panthers in the 2004 World Club Challenge. Pryce played at stand-off half back and scored a try in Bradford's 22–4 victory. He played for Bradford on the wing and scored a try in their 2005 Super League Grand Final victory against Leeds, winning the Harry Sunderland Award for a Man of the Match performance.

St Helens

After Bradford did not renew his contract in 2005, in 2006 Pryce joined St. Helens. One of the key issues in the decision was that he would start at stand off, a position Pryce has long coveted.^{[citation needed]}

Pryce won his first trophy with St Helens in August 2006, defeating Huddersfield in the Challenge Cup Final at Twickenham. St Helens reached the 2006 Super League Grand final to be contested against Hull FC, and Pryce played at stand-off half back, scoring a try in Saints' 26–4 victory. As 2006 Super League champions, St Helens faced 2006 NRL Premiers Brisbane Broncos in the 2007 World Club Challenge. Pryce played at stand-off half back in the Saints' 18–14 victory. He went on to win the Challenge Cup again in 2007 when Saints beat Catalans Dragons 30–8 at Wembley Stadium. He was a joint winner of the Lance Todd Trophy along with Paul Wellens.

In July 2007, Pryce was accused of squeezing Sam Burgess' testicles.^[11] He was later found guilty of the incident and banned for three matches.^[12] That year he was voted rugby league's dirtiest player by RL Weekly readers.^{[citation needed]}

Pryce playing for St Helens in 2008

He was again found guilty of a similar misconduct, against Bradford forward Andy Lynch on 22 February 2008. However, he escaped a possible eight-match ban as the disciplinary panel ruled the contact "minimal".^[13]

His success at the club continued as he helped Saints to a 26–18 win over Hull in the 2008 Challenge Cup Final.

He was named in the England squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.^[14]

He was named in the Super League Dream Team for the 2008's Super League XIII season.^[15]

He played in 2008's Super League XIII Grand Final defeat by Leeds.^[16]

Pryce went with the England squad to compete in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup tournament in Australia. In Group A's first match against Papua New Guinea he played at stand-off half back in England's victory.

In 2008 Pryce was charged and appeared in court alongside Stuart Reardon on charges of assault and violence following an alleged incident at Reardon's estranged wife's house in Queensbury, Bradford. They were charged with using violence to gain entry and common assault. The charge of using violence to gain entry against both defendants was dropped after the prosecution offered no evidence.^[17] In March 2009, having been found guilty of common assault, the pair were given a 12-week suspended sentence.

He played in the 2009 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford.^{[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]}

Catalans Dragons

After being released by St Helens in 2011, Pryce signed for the Perpignan based Catalans Dragons for the 2012 season. The Stand-off made his début against Castleford Tigers in a 28–20 victory and was named Man of the Match. He went on to play 80 times for the French side and scored a total of 20 tries in the three seasons he spent at the club.

Hull FC

Pryce signed for Hull in 2015. In 2016 he was part of the team that won the Challenge Cup at Wembley for the first time. At the end of the 2016 season, Pryce announced his departure from Hull after two seasons and 38 appearances.

Bradford Bulls

Pryce re-signed for his hometown club Bradford ahead of the 2017 season, however the Bulls were liquidated in January 2017, casting doubt over Pryce's playing future. A new club was formed, soon after the old club was liquidated, and which Pryce signed for. The new club was kept in the Championship, but started on −12 points. After just 11 games Pryce announced his immediate retirement after a poor start to the season and fans booing his and the team's performance.

Post-playing career

After Pryce retired he set up his own player agency. His son Will Pryce plays for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL

Coaching career

After retiring during the 2017 season, Leon accepted an offer to coach League 1 side Workington Town for the 2018 season.^[30]

Honours

Club

• Super League (4): 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006
• World Club Challenge (3): 2002, 2004, 2007
• League Leader's Shield (6): 1999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Challenge Cup (6): 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2016

References

1. "Hull 1st Team Leon Pryce (archived by web.archive.org)". Hull FC. 2015. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
2. "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
3. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
4. "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
5. "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
6. "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
7. "Sports Jamaica:: World Champions back Rugby League in the WI:: Rugby". Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
8. Craven, Dave (13 January 2009). "Pryce lands Jamaica coaching role". Thetelegraphandargus.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
9. "Leeds Rhinos : News : JAMAICA RUGBY LEAGUE STARS HIT TOWN WITH CONNECTING COMMUNITIES". Archived from the original on 30 December 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
10. Wilson, Andy (6 December 2003). "Pryce free to play for Bradford after avoiding prison". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
11. Pryce accuse of squeezing tactics p.12 Daily Telegraph No. 47,324, 31 July 2007
12. "Pryce hit by three-match penalty". BBC Sport. 1 August 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
13. Wilson, Andy (26 February 2008). "Repeat offender Pryce relieved not to bag a lengthy ban". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
14. "Purdham earns World Cup call-up". BBC Sport. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
15. "2008 engage Super League Dream Team". Super League. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 21 July 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
16. "2008 Grand Final". BBC Sport. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
17. "Great Britain Rugby Stars Stuart Reardon and Leon Pryce Sentenced for 'Terrifying' Assault | UK News | Sky News". Archived from the original on 26 April 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
18. "Rhinos Take Super League Title". Sky News. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
19. Burke, David (11 October 2009). "Smith's Crisp". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
20. AFP (11 October 2009). "Leeds makes it Super League hat-trick". ABC News. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
21. AAP (11 October 2009). "Leeds claim third successive Grand Final". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
22. Linfoot, Ben (10 October 2009). "Grand Final: Leeds Rhinos 18 St Helens 10". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
23. "Potter refuses to blame video ref". Liverpool Echo. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
24. Fletcher, Paul (10 October 2009). "St Helens 10–18 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
25. "Third time unlucky as Saints fail to halt Rhinos' charge to title". Liverpool Daily Post. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
26. "Sinfield hails winning culture". Daily Mirror. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
27. Stewart, Rob (12 October 2009). "Lee Smith targets place in England rugby union team after Grand Final victory". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
28. "Sinfield hails historic title win". BBC Sport. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
29. "Leeds Rhinos fans in homecoming welcome". Yorkshire Evening Post. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
30. "Leon Pryce lands coaching job at Workington". Telegraph & Argus. 15 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.

External links

• (archived by web.archive.org) Bradford Bulls profile
• (archived by web.archive.org) St Helens profile
• Profile at saints.org.uk
• (archived by web.archive.org) 2001 Ashes profile
• Players to watch – Leon Pryce (England)