Alan Hunte
Encyclopedia
Alan Hunte is an English
former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. A Great Britain international
representative three-quarter, he played his club football for Wakefield Trinity
, St. Helens, Hull, Warrington Wolves
and Salford City Reds
. Hunte is regarded as one of the fastest British wingers of his era, generally regarded as being second only in speed over 100m to Martin Offiah
.
Hunte was selected to go on the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand. He played in St Helens' 1996 Challenge Cup
Final-winning side.
Hull paid £250,000 for Alan Hunte when he moved from St Helens in 1997 as part of a deal that also included Steve Prescott
and Simon Booth
. Based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £391,000 in 2009).
In the 1997 post season, Hunte was selected to play for Great Britain
on the wing in all three matches of the Super League Test series
against Australia. His speed was shown in the third test when he ran down Aussie speedster Andrew Ettingshausen
over a 70m run after giving him a 10m start.
Hunte later moved to Warrington Wolves
and Salford City Reds
.
Hunte also switched codes to Rugby Union
, joining Pontypridd RFC
in 2000 in a blaze of publicity. Hunte's career at Pontypridd was short lived, however, as he struggled to come to grips with the vagaries of the Union code.
He is currently working within the coaching setup at Salford City Reds
as Head of Youth Development.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
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 of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. A Great Britain international
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
representative three-quarter, he played his club football for Wakefield Trinity
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...
, St. Helens, Hull, Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
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...
. Hunte is regarded as one of the fastest British wingers of his era, generally regarded as being second only in speed over 100m to Martin Offiah
Martin Offiah
Martin Offiah MBE is an English former rugby league and rugby union footballer.He is known as "Chariots" Offiah after the film Chariots of Fire...
.
Hunte was selected to go on the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand. He played in St Helens' 1996 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....
Final-winning side.
Hull paid £250,000 for Alan Hunte when he moved from St Helens in 1997 as part of a deal that also included Steve Prescott
Steve Prescott
Stephen Prescott MBE , is an English former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s.Son of Eric Prescott, a formidable forward with St Helens in the 1970s, Steve Prescott played for St. Helens in the Rugby League Premiership and the Super League, and for Hull and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats...
and Simon Booth
Simon Booth
Simon Booth born 9 December 1971 in Leigh, Greater Manchester, England is a former rugby league player. He played for St Helens in the European Super League as a .-External links:*...
. Based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £391,000 in 2009).
In the 1997 post season, Hunte was selected to play for Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
on the wing in all three matches of the Super League Test series
Super League Test series
The Super League Test series was a three-Test match series between the Great Britain national rugby league team and Super League's Australian national team held during November 1997 in England...
against Australia. His speed was shown in the third test when he ran down Aussie speedster Andrew Ettingshausen
Andrew Ettingshausen
Andrew Ettingshausen is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He played his first grade Australian club football for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, retiring with the record of most games at a single club, with 328...
over a 70m run after giving him a 10m start.
Hunte later moved to Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
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...
.
Hunte also switched codes to Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, joining Pontypridd RFC
Pontypridd RFC
Pontypridd Rugby Football Club, known as Ponty, are a rugby union team from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, currently playing in the British and Irish Cup, Principality Premiership, and are the current SWALEC Cup champions....
in 2000 in a blaze of publicity. Hunte's career at Pontypridd was short lived, however, as he struggled to come to grips with the vagaries of the Union code.
He is currently working within the coaching setup at 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...
as Head of Youth Development.