Karl Harrison
Encyclopedia
Karl Harrison, is an English
former rugby league
player and coach. He was a player for Hull and Halifax
, and also represented Great Britain at prop forward. He won the last of his 14 International caps in 1994. He was the head coach of Salford City Reds
rugby league team for five years, before being sacked on 22 May 2007. He is now head coach of Batley Bulldogs where he has become a fan favourite, turning the playing squad around drastically after Gary Thornton
's departure.
As a player he was a rock-solid prop of the old school. He joined Hull from Featherstone and helped them win the Premiership in 1991. He reluctantly joined Halifax a year later in a £100,000 deal. He was selected to go on the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand.
He played for the Pt Chev Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League
competition in the off season.
He was appointed as Head Coach at Salford in June 2002, replacing Steve McCormack
. He previously worked for two years as an assistant coach at the Bradford Bulls
under Brian Noble
. He had also been a coach at Halifax Blue Sox
and then head coach at Keighley Cougars
before moving to Bradford Bulls. Although he was unable to prevent Salford being relegated from Super League
in 2002, Harrison remained with the team and led them to promotion back to the top tier of the sport at the first attempt, winning the Arriva Trains Cup
on the way.
Harrison was also coach of the England
team, replacing John Kear
, from 2004 until 4 August 2006, when he announced that he would be stepping down from the position. In mid-February 2007, there were some strong suggestions that Harrison could return to a role with the International team, but the Salford Chairman, John Wilkinson
denied the rumours.
Following a long period out of the game, following his sacking as Salford coach, Harrison returned to Rugby League as Senior Scholarship coach at the Huddersfield Giants
late in 2008.
Harrison claims that he was approached to take part in reality television
show, I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2004, but turned the opportunity down, citing training commitments at Salford.
in the 1990-91 Rugby League Premiership
final at Old Trafford
, Manchester
on the 12 May 1991.
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 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 and coach. He was a player for Hull and Halifax
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 also represented Great Britain at prop forward. He won the last of his 14 International caps in 1994. He was the head coach of 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...
rugby league team for five years, before being sacked on 22 May 2007. He is now head coach of Batley Bulldogs where he has become a fan favourite, turning the playing squad around drastically after Gary Thornton
Gary Thornton
Gary Thornton is a rugby league coach who from the end of the 2009 season will be coaching the under 20's team at Castleford Tigers.Gary was a head coach at Batley Bulldogs and a former youth coach at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.-External links:******...
's departure.
As a player he was a rock-solid prop of the old school. He joined Hull from Featherstone and helped them win the Premiership in 1991. He reluctantly joined Halifax a year later in a £100,000 deal. He was selected to go on the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand.
He played for the Pt Chev Pirates 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 the off season.
He was appointed as Head Coach at Salford in June 2002, replacing Steve McCormack
Steve McCormack
Steve McCormack is the former head coach of National League One club Widnes. He is currently head coach of Scotland RL and SwintonHis first coaching appointment had been at Salford, who made him the youngest coach in Super League at the age of just 28 in 2001 but was sacked just 10 months later.He...
. He previously worked for two years as an assistant coach at 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....
under Brian Noble
Brian Noble (rugby league)
Brian 'Nobby' D. Noble is an English former rugby league footballer. Noble is also the former coach of the Great Britain National Rugby League team. He was also the captain of the 1984 Great Britain touring team to Australia...
. He had also been a coach at Halifax Blue Sox
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 then head coach at Keighley Cougars
Keighley Cougars
Keighley Cougars are a professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2012 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 32-12 against Workington...
before moving to Bradford Bulls. Although he was unable to prevent Salford being relegated from 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...
in 2002, Harrison remained with the team and led them to promotion back to the top tier of the sport at the first attempt, winning the Arriva Trains Cup
National League Cup
The Championship Cup, known as the Northern Rail Cup due to sponsorship by Northern Rail, is a rugby league football competition for clubs in the United Kingdom's Championship and Championship 1 leagues, formerly known as the Rugby League National Leagues...
on the way.
Harrison was also coach of the England
England 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...
team, replacing John Kear
John Kear
John Kear is an English rugby league coach and former rugby league player. Kear is currently the coach of Batley Bulldogs...
, from 2004 until 4 August 2006, when he announced that he would be stepping down from the position. In mid-February 2007, there were some strong suggestions that Harrison could return to a role with the International team, but the Salford Chairman, John Wilkinson
John Wilkinson (entrepreneur)
John Wilkinson OBE has been chairman of Salford City Reds rugby league club since 1982. He was born in Walkden . He also owns the Cebora steel company, who were the main shirt sponsors of the Salford City Reds until 2006, when they were replaced by The Trafford Centre He was given an OBE in 2005...
denied the rumours.
Following a long period out of the game, following his sacking as Salford coach, Harrison returned to Rugby League as Senior Scholarship coach at the 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....
late in 2008.
Harrison claims that he was approached to take part in reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show, I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2004, but turned the opportunity down, citing training commitments at Salford.
Rugby League Premiership final appearances
Karl Harrison played , in Hull's 14-4 victory over WidnesWidnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
in the 1990-91 Rugby League Premiership
Rugby League Premiership
The Rugby League Premiership was a competition for British rugby league clubs that operated between 1973 and 1995. As the Super League Premiership the competition continued to operate until 1997....
final at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
on the 12 May 1991.