Keiron Cunningham
Encyclopedia
Keiron Cunningham is a former British professional rugby league
footballer. A Great Britain and Wales international representative hooker, he played his entire club rugby career at St. Helens, with whom he won numerous trophies.
, had won a Rugby League Challenge Cup
winner's medal for St Helens against Widnes
. Another of Keiron Cunningham's brothers, Thomas "Tommy" Cunningham
, also played for St Helens.
Cunningham made his debut in the 1993/1994 season and soon established himself as a world class hooker, renowned for his dynamic running from dummy-half and ability to poach tries from short distances. He represented both Great Britain
and Wales
in international matches, qualifying for Wales because of a Welsh grandfather. In 1999 he was the only British player voted into the World XIII.
Over the course of his career, Cunningham rejected offers from the Welsh Rugby Union
, England Rugby Union
and from various Australia
n rugby league clubs, instead choosing to remain with his hometown team. In 2006 Cunningham was named as captain of St Helens following the persistent injuries and subsequent retirement of Paul Sculthorpe
.
In 2010, having made over 400 appearances for St Helens, Cunningham announced that he would be retiring from rugby league following the culmination of Super League XV
. 2010 also marked the final year at St Helens Knowsley Road
before moving to a new stadium it was, in fact, Kieron Cunningham who scored the final try ever at the prestigious ground in his penultimate match. However, despite a memorable 2010 play offs for Cunningham, there was to be no fairytale ending as his last ever game ended in defeat against arch rivals Wigan Warriors
in the 2010 Super League
Grand Final. Following his retirement, Cunningham took up an assistant coaching role in the strength and conditioning department at St Helens.
During his career he won 5 Super League Championships, 7 Challenge Cup Winners Medals and 2 World Club Challenge Winners Medals, was named in the Super League Dream Team
on 6 occasions, and in July 2007 Rugby League World
magazine ranked him as the greatest player of the Super League
era. Following a supporters' poll featuring the likes of Tom van Vollenhoven
and Alex Murphy
, Cunningham was chosen to be cast as a statue outside the new St Helens stadium when it is built.
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. A Great Britain and Wales international representative hooker, he played his entire club rugby career at St. Helens, with whom he won numerous trophies.
Biography
The youngest of ten siblings, Keiron Cunningham was born five months after his brother, Edward "Eddie" CunninghamEddie Cunningham
Edward "Eddie" Cunningham is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s who at representative level played for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Wigan, St. Helens, Leeds, and Widnes, playing at , or /, i.e. number 3 or 4, 11 or 12, or 13, during the era of...
, had won a Rugby League 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....
winner's medal for St Helens against Widnes
Widnes 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...
. Another of Keiron Cunningham's brothers, Thomas "Tommy" Cunningham
Thomas Cunningham (rugby league)
Thomas "Tommy" Cunningham is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s who at representative level has played for Wales, and at club level for St. Helens, and Warrington, playing at , i.e...
, also played for St Helens.
Cunningham made his debut in the 1993/1994 season and soon established himself as a world class hooker, renowned for his dynamic running from dummy-half and ability to poach tries from short distances. He represented both 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"....
and Wales
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
in international matches, qualifying for Wales because of a Welsh grandfather. In 1999 he was the only British player voted into the World XIII.
Over the course of his career, Cunningham rejected offers from the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
, England Rugby Union
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
and from various Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n rugby league clubs, instead choosing to remain with his hometown team. In 2006 Cunningham was named as captain of St Helens following the persistent injuries and subsequent retirement of Paul Sculthorpe
Paul Sculthorpe
Paul Sculthorpe , is an English retired rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A Great Britain international representative /, and /, he played club football for St. Helens, with whom he won a total of four Grand Finals, three Challenge Cups and two World Club Challenges...
.
In 2010, having made over 400 appearances for St Helens, Cunningham announced that he would be retiring from rugby league following the culmination 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...
. 2010 also marked the final year at St Helens Knowsley Road
Knowsley Road
Knowsley Road was a stadium located in Eccleston, St Helens, Merseyside. It was the home of St Helens RLFC from 1890 until its closure in 2010. St Helens Town FC played their home fixtures at Knowsley Road from 2002 until 2010. For a period, the venue also hosted Liverpool FC Reserves...
before moving to a new stadium it was, in fact, Kieron Cunningham who scored the final try ever at the prestigious ground in his penultimate match. However, despite a memorable 2010 play offs for Cunningham, there was to be no fairytale ending as his last ever game ended in defeat against arch rivals 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....
in the 2010 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...
Grand Final. Following his retirement, Cunningham took up an assistant coaching role in the strength and conditioning department at St Helens.
During his career he won 5 Super League Championships, 7 Challenge Cup Winners Medals and 2 World Club Challenge Winners Medals, was named in the Super League Dream Team
Super League Dream Team
The Super League Dream Team is an award given each season to the players deemed to have been the best in their position in the Super League by a panel of journalists and broadcasters....
on 6 occasions, and in July 2007 Rugby League World
Rugby League World
Rugby League World is a dedicated rugby league magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom. Other rugby league titles published by League Publications Ltd include the weekly newspaper Rugby Leaguer & League Express and the annual Gillette Rugby League Yearbook.-History:Rugby League World began...
magazine ranked him as the greatest player of 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...
era. Following a supporters' poll featuring the likes of Tom van Vollenhoven
Tom van Vollenhoven
Tom van Vollenhoven is a South African former rugby union and rugby league footballer of the 1950s and 60s....
and Alex Murphy
Alex Murphy (rugby league)
Alex J. Murphy OBE is an English former professional rugby league footballer and coach of the mid to late 20th century...
, Cunningham was chosen to be cast as a statue outside the new St Helens stadium when it is built.