Gareth Raynor
Encyclopedia
Gareth Raynor is a rugby league
player and former Great Britain
international who previously played for the Crusaders and Hull in the Super League
. and from his release from prison on 31 December 2010 he will be playing for the Bradford Bulls
having signed a 1 year contract.
as a centre. He started out at Pontefract RU and later moved onto Castleford Panthers before Leeds Tykes stumbled upon his performances and took a keen interest. It was not long after that he moved to the Tykes in 2000. He made 8 appearances (4 as substitute) for the Tykes in their Division One season.
Raynor left the Tykes in the summer and switched codes to play rugby league
for sister club, Leeds Rhinos
.
Gareth transferred to Leeds in the summer of 2000 and made three off the bench performances for the Rhinos. With little game time Gareth moved to Hull F.C. on a two year contract. Injury to established winger Chris Smith led to more starts that expected for Raynor and he soon became a fans' favourite. After the 2002 Super League season, he returned to rugby union and played for Leicester Tigers
. He made four appearances in the 2002–03 season for Leicester with two from the substitute bench before leaving to return to league and Hull midway through the 2003 season.
Raynor was a regular at Hull after a successful season on the wing with 18 tries in all competitions at the end of 2005. He has become a Great Britain
international, starring in the Tri Nations
last season.
He was forced to rule himself out contention for the England training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
through injury.
For Super League XV
, Raynor signed for Crusaders on a short-term deal, pending the results of his upcoming court case. During the opening match of Super League XV
against Leeds Rhinos
, Raynor scored Crusaders first try of the season and only try of the match, going on to lose 34–6.
2011 - 2011 Season
Raynor featured in three of the four pre-season games. He played against Halifax RLFC
, Dewsbury Rams
and Wakefield Wildcats. He scored a try against Halifax.
Gareth featured from Round 1 (Leeds Rhinos
) to Round 5 (Huddersfield Giants
). He picked up an injury then returned in Round 10 (Salford City Reds
) through to Round 12 (Catalan Dragons). Raynor's next game would be Round 14 (Hull KR), he was suspended for the next two games. He then played in Round 17 (St Helens RLFC). Gareth then played in seven consecutive games from Round 19 (Leeds Rhinos
) until Round 25 (Wigan Warriors
). Raynor then featured in Round 27 (Wakefield Wildcats). He also appeared in the Challenge Cup
game's against Halifax RLFC
and Wigan Warriors
during this match he was sent off for punching Sam Tomkins
. He scored tries against Huddersfield Giants
(1 try), Hull KR (1 try), Catalan Dragons (1 try), Castleford Tigers
(1 try) and Halifax RLFC
(2 tries). He signed a 1 year extension with the Bulls.
He was sacked by the Bulls in the off season for undisclosed reasons.
He imported fake ink and Nintendo games cartridges from the Far East and re-packed it. He was caught after a complaint from EPSON ink manufacturers which made test buys from his eBay site.
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 and former Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
international who previously played for the Crusaders and Hull in the 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...
. and from his release from prison on 31 December 2010 he will be playing for the Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
having signed a 1 year contract.
Early career
Raynor started his career in rugby unionRugby 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...
as a centre. He started out at Pontefract RU and later moved onto Castleford Panthers before Leeds Tykes stumbled upon his performances and took a keen interest. It was not long after that he moved to the Tykes in 2000. He made 8 appearances (4 as substitute) for the Tykes in their Division One season.
Raynor left the Tykes in the summer and switched codes to play 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...
for sister club, 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...
.
League career
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
. He made four appearances in the 2002–03 season for Leicester with two from the substitute bench before leaving to return to league and Hull midway through the 2003 season.
Raynor was a regular at Hull after a successful season on the wing with 18 tries in all competitions at the end of 2005. He has become a Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
international, starring in the Tri Nations
Rugby League Tri-Nations
The Rugby League Tri-Nations was a rugby league tournament involving the top three nations in the sport: Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand...
last season.
He was forced to rule himself out contention for the England training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
through injury.
For Super League XV
Super League XV
The 2010 Super League season was the fifteenth season of rugby league football since the Super League format was introduced in 1996. Fourteen teams competed for the League Leader's Shield over 27 rounds . All clubs also participated in the 2010 Challenge Cup tournament...
, Raynor signed for Crusaders on a short-term deal, pending the results of his upcoming court case. During the opening match of Super League XV
Super League XV
The 2010 Super League season was the fifteenth season of rugby league football since the Super League format was introduced in 1996. Fourteen teams competed for the League Leader's Shield over 27 rounds . All clubs also participated in the 2010 Challenge Cup tournament...
against 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...
, Raynor scored Crusaders first try of the season and only try of the match, going on to lose 34–6.
Bradford Bulls
On 16 September 2010 it was confirmed that he had signed a 1 year deal with the Bradford Bulls.2011 - 2011 Season
2011 Bradford Bulls season
This article details the Bradford Bulls rugby league football club's 2011 season. This is the sixteenth season of the Super League era.-Season review:August 2010...
Raynor featured in three of the four pre-season games. He played against 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...
, Dewsbury Rams
Dewsbury Rams
Dewsbury Rams RLFC is a professional rugby league club based in the West Yorkshire town of Dewsbury. They are arguably most famous for becoming Champions in 1972-73 after finishing the regular season in 8th place. In the playoffs they beat Featherstone away, Warrington away, and then Leeds in the...
and Wakefield Wildcats. He scored a try against Halifax.
Gareth featured from Round 1 (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...
) to Round 5 (Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
). He picked up an injury then returned in Round 10 (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...
) through to Round 12 (Catalan Dragons). Raynor's next game would be Round 14 (Hull KR), he was suspended for the next two games. He then played in Round 17 (St Helens RLFC). Gareth then played in seven consecutive games from Round 19 (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...
) until Round 25 (Wigan Warriors
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....
). Raynor then featured in Round 27 (Wakefield Wildcats). He also appeared in the 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....
game's against 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...
and Wigan Warriors
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....
during this match he was sent off for punching Sam Tomkins
Sam Tomkins
A pre-season unofficial friendly match provided Tomkins his first experience against top-flight opposition as he came off the bench during Lee Briers' testimonial match in a 30–22 loss to Warrington Wolves. Noble followed this up by providing Tomkins, aged 19, with his first team debut on 12 May...
. He scored tries against Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
(1 try), Hull KR (1 try), Catalan Dragons (1 try), Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
(1 try) and 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...
(2 tries). He signed a 1 year extension with the Bulls.
He was sacked by the Bulls in the off season for undisclosed reasons.
Fraud case
Raynor was jailed for 15 months on 17 May 2010 for his part in an eBay ink cartridges and computer games scam and breaching a suspended sentence for assault. Despite a lucrative rugby career Raynors scam netted over £36k.He imported fake ink and Nintendo games cartridges from the Far East and re-packed it. He was caught after a complaint from EPSON ink manufacturers which made test buys from his eBay site.