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Paul Sykes (rugby league footballer)
Encyclopedia
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 . He has also played some games in the / role.
academy, making his breakthrough in 1999
in Super League IV
. However opportunities at Grattan Stadium
were limited and so Sykes went on loan spells at London in both the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
In his first spell at Bradford Bulls, he was loaned out to Wakefield RFC
for which he played one game of Rugby Union.
Sykes soon settled back to life in the Capital and representative honours were gained with an appearance for England "A" against New Zealand in October, followed by a place on the successful "A" team tour to Fiji and Tonga.
Sykes has further earned England caps against Russia and Wales in 2003 and France and New Zealand in 2005.
Sykes originally came to the club as full-back, but the arrival of club captain Mark McLinden
has seen Sykes operate largely in the centres in Super League X and XI.
Paul successfully converted during 2005 to the centre position where his powerful running and strong tackling are seen to their best advantage.
Super League XI saw Paul Sykes ruled out for much of the season after damaging his kidneys in February. However he made a comeback towards the end of the season after initially being ruled out for the entire campaign
2005 was a record breaking year for Sykes. On 27 February against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
, Sykes kicked 12 goals from 12 attempts to break a 17 year old London club record.
Further records for most goals and most points followed at the seasons end and in recognition of these achievements Paul was voted Supporters Player of the Year for 2005.
Harlequins centre Paul Sykes has confirmed his expected move to Bradford for next season on a two-year contract.
Paul Sykes, who made his Great Britain début earlier this season, left the Bulls on loan in 2002 to find first-team rugby.
Quins coach Brian McDermott
also paid tribute to Sykes's contribution at The Stoop
.
.
On rejoining the Bulls he said: "A lot's changed at Bradford since the first time around and I think there's only Paul Deacon
and Jamie Langley
still there. "But I'm ready for a fresh challenge and I'm hoping to move back north to win some silverware. Bulls are always challenging and I'm glad I'm going to be a part of that. "Also, my girlfriend has just given birth to our first child as well and we want to be closer to our family." Boss Steve McNamara
reckons he has picked up a rare talent. And added "I'm absolutely delighted to have secured an outstanding English centre and thank the board for making the deal possible,".
squad and will play in the centres in the Test match
against France
.
Sykes is joined in the Great Britain Test side by Quins teammate Chris Melling.
Paul Sykes made his Great Britain début in the 42-14 victory over the French
on 22 June 2007, scoring one try.
, and in October 2008 he was named in the final 24-man England squad.
He has been named in the England
team to face Wales
at the Keepmoat Stadium prior to England's departure for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
.
Sykes has also represented the England
in their warm up match against Wales
before the 2009 Four Nations.
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 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....
of Europe's 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...
competition.
Sykes' position of choice is at Right-. He has for most of his career operated at . He has also played some games in the / role.
Bradford
Paul Sykes is a product of Bradford BullsBradford 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....
academy, making his breakthrough in 1999
Bradford Bulls 1999
-So Close - 1999: In 1999 Bradford signed New Zealand international Henry Paul from Wigan Warriors who linked up with brother Robbie Paul for the first time at professional club level. The club achieved record season ticket sales, and set a new scoring record as the Bulls thrashed Workington Town...
in Super League IV
Super League IV
-End of season mergers:Huddersfield managed to avoid relegation again despite finishing bottom due to the merger with Sheffield Eagles to form Huddersfield-Sheffield Giants. Also at the end of this season Gateshead Thunder and Hull Sharks were merged to form Hull F.C...
. However opportunities at Grattan Stadium
Odsal Stadium
Odsal Stadium is a stadium situated in Odsal, Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. The venue is used for rugby league and has been the home ground of Bradford Bulls/Bradford Northern since 1934...
were limited and so Sykes went on loan spells at London in both the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
In his first spell at Bradford Bulls, he was loaned out to Wakefield RFC
Wakefield RFC
Wakefield RFC was an English rugby union club, founded in 1901, and which dropped out of the English leagues in 2004 as a result of the effects of professionalism...
for which he played one game of Rugby Union.
Move to London
With the promise of more regular first XIII rugby Sykes moved south to join the London Broncos in a permanent deal in August 2002.Sykes soon settled back to life in the Capital and representative honours were gained with an appearance for England "A" against New Zealand in October, followed by a place on the successful "A" team tour to Fiji and Tonga.
Sykes has further earned England caps against Russia and Wales in 2003 and France and New Zealand in 2005.
Sykes originally came to the club as full-back, but the arrival of club captain Mark McLinden
Mark McLinden
Mark McLinden is an Australian professional rugby union and rugby league player.Mark McLinden plays for the Queensland Reds, in the Super 14. He previously played Rugby League for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League and Harlequins Rugby League in the European Super League.McLinden's...
has seen Sykes operate largely in the centres in Super League X and XI.
Paul successfully converted during 2005 to the centre position where his powerful running and strong tackling are seen to their best advantage.
Super League XI saw Paul Sykes ruled out for much of the season after damaging his kidneys in February. However he made a comeback towards the end of the season after initially being ruled out for the entire campaign
2005 was a record breaking year for Sykes. On 27 February against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
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...
, Sykes kicked 12 goals from 12 attempts to break a 17 year old London club record.
Further records for most goals and most points followed at the seasons end and in recognition of these achievements Paul was voted Supporters Player of the Year for 2005.
Harlequins centre Paul Sykes has confirmed his expected move to Bradford for next season on a two-year contract.
Paul Sykes, who made his Great Britain début earlier this season, left the Bulls on loan in 2002 to find first-team rugby.
Quins coach Brian McDermott
Brian McDermott
Brian G. McDermott is an English professional rugby league football coach and former player. He started as Head Coach of Harlequins RL of Super League on 8 July 2006 and departs on 4 September 2010.-Biography:...
also paid tribute to Sykes's contribution at The Stoop
The Stoop
Twickenham Stoop is a sports stadium located in the western suburbs of London, England. The stadium is home to Harlequins rugby union team, who play in the Aviva Premiership, and tenants London Broncos, who play in the Super League...
.
Bradford Bulls
Paul Sykes signed for Bradford Bulls in September 2007 as a replacement for the departing Ben HarrisBen Harris
Ben Harris is an Australian former rugby league player. He is the first player in the history of the sport to have won grand finals in each hemisphere over consecutive seasons. He played in the National Rugby League for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, with whom he won the 2004 premiership, and...
.
On rejoining the Bulls he said: "A lot's changed at Bradford since the first time around and I think there's only Paul Deacon
Paul Deacon
Paul Deacon is a retired rugby league footballer. He previously played for Bradford Bulls from 1998 until joining his hometown club Wigan Warriors in 2010...
and Jamie Langley
Jamie Langley
Jamie Langley is an English professional rugby league footballer with the Bradford Bulls of Super League...
still there. "But I'm ready for a fresh challenge and I'm hoping to move back north to win some silverware. Bulls are always challenging and I'm glad I'm going to be a part of that. "Also, my girlfriend has just given birth to our first child as well and we want to be closer to our family." Boss Steve McNamara
Steve McNamara
Steve McNamara is an English professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is currently coach of the England national team.-International honours:...
reckons he has picked up a rare talent. And added "I'm absolutely delighted to have secured an outstanding English centre and thank the board for making the deal possible,".
Great Britain
In June 2007 Sykes 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 will play in the centres 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"...
.
Sykes is joined in the Great Britain Test side by Quins teammate Chris Melling.
Paul Sykes made his Great Britain début 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 22 June 2007, scoring one try.
England
In September 2008 he was named in the England training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup2008 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...
, and in October 2008 he was named in the final 24-man England squad.
He has been named in 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 to face 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...
at the Keepmoat Stadium prior to England's departure 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...
.
Sykes has also represented 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...
in their warm up match against 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...
before the 2009 Four Nations.