Chris Melling
Encyclopedia
Chris Melling is an English
rugby league
player for Harlequins Rugby League in the European Super League. His position of choice is as a . He can also operate on the or at and has on occasion played in the s]], at /, {/{rlp|LK}} and in the . He is a Great Britain
international.
, touring Australia and New Zealand with England Under 16’s in 2001 and also representing England's U’18 Academy.
captain who made several appearance for the Wigan first team.
In Super League 2004
it had seemed that Melling's career was in doubt following a serious knee injury suffered playing for Wigan
against Leeds
at Headingley
. Melling had been seen as a future star before having his season ended by a cruciate ligament injury
.
Upon his return to first team action in 2005
Chris made a further 10 first grade appearances for the JJB club
before picking up another knee injury requiring further surgery
.
Melling returned to full fitness in 2006, but found first team opportunities limited, due to the emergence of Chris Ashton
at the club. Chris Melling moved into the hooking role in Wigan's academy
, impressing enough to be voted as the U'21 Academy 'Player of the Year' for 2006.
He left Wigan to pursue regular first team football
.
, however the Great Britain
international has made full back position his own. He has been compared to Wade McKinnon
with the youngster being defensively solid and dependable, with an eye for a gap bringing the ball out in attack. His move to Harlequins RL was to have seen the youngster undergo a positional change with a move to hooker. He had been previously employed throughout the backline, with most of his first team appearances coming as an outside back.
Melling has impressed in 2007, starting games at full-back and throughout the backline and scoring four tries. In May 2007 Chris Melling agreed to a new two-year deal with Harlequins Rugby League, midway through his first season at the Twickenham Stoop. This will keep Melling in the capital
until 2009. He is seen as the emerging star at the London club, with Harlequins RL investing in young British talent.
squad and wore the number 1 shirt in the Test match
against France
. He was joined in the Great Britain Test side by Quins teammate Paul Sykes
. Melling made his Great Britain debut in the 42-14 victory over the French
on June 22, 2007, despite carrying an injury.
in Preston, graduating in June 2006. Melling hopes to set up his own physiotherapy practise in the future.
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...
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 for Harlequins Rugby League in the European Super League. His position of choice is as a . He can also operate on the or at and has on occasion played in the s]], at /, {/{rlp|LK}} and in the . He is a 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"....
international.
Early career
Chris Melling played junior rugby league for the Ashton and Hindley junior clubs. Melling is a youth level international for EnglandEngland 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...
, touring Australia and New Zealand with England Under 16’s in 2001 and also representing England's U’18 Academy.
Wigan Warriors
Melling is a former Wigan Senior AcademyWigan Warriors Youth Development
Wigan Warriors Youth Development is the youth system of the Rugby League Football club Wigan Warriors. It is one of the most famous and successful youth system for rugby league and has produced some of the best players in both rugby league and rugby union. The Wigan Warriors Youth Development...
captain who made several appearance for the Wigan first team.
In Super League 2004
Super League IX
-Television:Live Super League IX matches were broadcast in the United Kingdom by Sky Sports in the first year of a new five-year television deal. The contract was signed less than three weeks before the start of the season. The deal, worth £53 million, represented a 15 percent, or £7 million,...
it had seemed that Melling's career was in doubt following a serious knee injury suffered playing for 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....
against Leeds
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...
at Headingley
Headingley Stadium
Headingley Stadium is a sporting complex in the Leeds suburb of Headingley in West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, rugby league team Leeds Rhinos and rugby union team Leeds Carnegie ....
. Melling had been seen as a future star before having his season ended by a cruciate ligament injury
Anterior cruciate ligament injury
An injury to the anterior cruciate ligament can be a debilitating musculoskeletal injury to the knee, seen most often in athletes. Non-contact tears and ruptures are the most common causes of ACL injury....
.
Upon his return to first team action in 2005
Super League X
engage Super League X is the official name of 2005's Super League season. It was the 10th season of Super League and saw twelve teams from across England compete for the premiership. The season kicked off in early February, culminating in a six team play-off seriesThe Grand Final, held at Old...
Chris made a further 10 first grade appearances for the JJB club
JJB Stadium
The DW Stadium is a sports stadium in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, that is home to Wigan Athletic football club and Wigan Warriors rugby league club....
before picking up another knee injury requiring further surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
.
Melling returned to full fitness in 2006, but found first team opportunities limited, due to the emergence of Chris Ashton
Chris Ashton
Chris Ashton is an English rugby union player who has represented England in both Rugby League and Rugby Union...
at the club. Chris Melling moved into the hooking role in Wigan's academy
Wigan Warriors Youth Development
Wigan Warriors Youth Development is the youth system of the Rugby League Football club Wigan Warriors. It is one of the most famous and successful youth system for rugby league and has produced some of the best players in both rugby league and rugby union. The Wigan Warriors Youth Development...
, impressing enough to be voted as the U'21 Academy 'Player of the Year' for 2006.
He left Wigan to pursue regular first team football
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...
.
Harlequins RL
Melling was initially signed as a back-up hooker to Chad RandallChad Randall
Chad Randall, is an Australian professional rugby league footballer with the Harlequins RL club of Europe's Super League. Randall's usual position is hooker...
, however the 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"....
international has made full back position his own. He has been compared to Wade McKinnon
Wade McKinnon
Wade McKinnon is an Australian rugby league player who currently plays for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League. His position of preference is at fullback.-Early years:...
with the youngster being defensively solid and dependable, with an eye for a gap bringing the ball out in attack. His move to Harlequins RL was to have seen the youngster undergo a positional change with a move to hooker. He had been previously employed throughout the backline, with most of his first team appearances coming as an outside back.
Melling has impressed in 2007, starting games at full-back and throughout the backline and scoring four tries. In May 2007 Chris Melling agreed to a new two-year deal with Harlequins Rugby League, midway through his first season at the Twickenham Stoop. This will keep Melling in the capital
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
until 2009. He is seen as the emerging star at the London club, with Harlequins RL investing in young British talent.
Representative football
In June 2007 Melling was called up to the Great BritainGreat 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"....
squad and wore the number 1 shirt in the Test match
Test match (rugby league)
A Test match in rugby league football is a representative match between teams representing members of the Rugby League International Federation.The definition of a Test match differs from that of an international match...
against France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
. He was joined in the Great Britain Test side by Quins teammate Paul Sykes
Paul Sykes (rugby league footballer)
Paul Sykes is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Bradford Bulls of Europe's Super League competition.Sykes' position of choice is at Right-. He has for most of his career operated at...
. Melling made his Great Britain debut in the 42-14 victory over the French
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
on June 22, 2007, despite carrying an injury.
Away from football
Melling is a qualified Physiotherapist after studying at the University of Central LancashireUniversity of Central Lancashire
The University of Central Lancashire is a university based in Preston, Lancashire, England.The university has its roots in The Institution For The Diffusion Of Useful Knowledge which was founded in 1828. In 1992 it was granted University status by the Privy Council...
in Preston, graduating in June 2006. Melling hopes to set up his own physiotherapy practise in the future.