Darren Fleary

Darren Fleary

Personal information
Full name	Darren Peter Fleary[1]
Born	(1972-12-02) 2 December 1972 (age 52) Huddersfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Playing information
Position	Prop, Second-row
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1991–94 Dewsbury 1994–97 Keighley Cougars 97 10 0 0 40 1997–02 Leeds Rhinos 127 5 0 0 20 2003–04 Huddersfield Giants 55 4 0 0 16 2005 Leigh Centurions 27 2 0 0 8 Total 306 21 0 0 84 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1998 Great Britain 2 0 0 0 0 2000 England 3 0 0 0 0 2001 Yorkshire 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [2][3]

Darren Fleary (born 2 December 1972) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s, and coach. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Dewsbury, Keighley Cougars, Leeds Rhinos, Huddersfield Giants and the Leigh Centurions, as a prop or second-row.^[2]

Background

Darren Fleary's birth was registered in Huddersfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

After finishing his playing career, Fleary worked as a prison officer at Armley Jail in Leeds,^[4] and also coached junior teams at Newsome Panthers.^[5]

Playing career

Early career

Fleary started his professional career with Dewsbury, signing from amateur club Moldgreen in September 1991.^[6] He moved to Keighley Cougars in 1994.

Leeds Rhinos

In July 1997, Fleary was one of nine Keighley players who signed for Leeds Rhinos for a combined fee of £25,000.^[7]

Fleary played prop in Leeds Rhinos' 4–10 defeat by Wigan Warriors in the 1998 Super League Grand Final during Super League III at Old Trafford, Manchester on Saturday 24 October 1998.

Fleary played in Leeds Rhinos' 52–16 victory over London Broncos in the 1999 Challenge Cup Final during Super League IV at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 1 May 1999, and played left-prop in the 18–24 defeat by Bradford Bulls in the 2000 Challenge Cup Final during Super League V at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh on Saturday 29 April 2000.

Later career

Fleary joined his hometown club Huddersfield Giants in 2003. He was chosen as the club's captain for the 2004 season, following the departure of Steve McNamara.^[8] He spent his final season with Leigh Centurions in 2005, where he was also appointed captain.^[9]

International honours

Fleary played twice Great Britain while at Leeds Rhinos in 1998 against New Zealand during the 1998 Kiwis tour. He also won caps for England while at Leeds Rhinos in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup against Australia (sub), Russia, and New Zealand (sub).

References

1. "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
3. "Player Summary: Darren Fleary". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
4. "Tackling new challenges". Examiner Live. 6 February 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
5. "Former Great Britain prop Darren Fleary at heart of Newsome Panthers' Under 13s recruitment". Examiner Live. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
6. Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1992). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1992-93. London: Headline Publishing Group. p. 52. ISBN 978-0-7472-7906-8.
7. "Leeds Rhinos nostalgia: Why Darren Fleary proved to be an unlikely hero". Yorkshire Evening Post. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
8. "Fleary ready to seize both honour and responsibility". Examiner Live. 28 January 2004. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
9. "New skipper misses opener". Lancashire Telegraph. 10 February 2005. Retrieved 30 April 2023.

External links

• ^{[permanent dead link‍]} ĎŔƑ BBC England squad list Archived 19 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
• Fleary faces disciplinary rap
• (archived by web.archive.org) Statistics at rugbyleague.co.nz
• Challenge Cup teams and profiles
• Darren Fleary interview for Thirteen