Leon Pryce

Leon Pryce
Pryce while playing for St Helens in 2008
Personal information
Born (1981-10-09) 9 October 1981
Bradford, Yorkshire, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)[1]
Weight 15 st 13 lb (101 kg)[1]
Playing information
Position Stand-off, Centre, Wing, Fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1998–06 Bradford Bulls 204 91 0 0 364
2006–11 St. Helens 159 73 0 0 292
2012–14 Catalans Dragons 80 20 0 0 80
2015–16 Hull F.C. 38 8 0 0 32
2017– Bradford Bulls 0 0 0 0 0
Total 481 192 0 0 768
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1999–08 England 7 3 0 0 12
2001–07 Great Britain 17 5 0 0 20
2001–03 Yorkshire
As of 4 December 2016
Source: RLP

Leon Pryce (born 9 October 1981 in Bradford) is an English professional rugby league footballer of Jamaican descent.[2] A Great Britain and England international representative backline player, he previously played for St Helens with whom he had Challenge Cup and Super League Championship success.

Pryce comes from a family of rugby league players; he is the older brother of Bradford player Karl Pryce, his father and uncle both played the sport at a high level. His cousin Steve Pryce has coached in Jamaica[3][4] and he is also the cousin of Featherstone Rovers player Waine Pryce.

Bradford

At age 16, Pryce captained the England schools side. Pryce came through the academy ranks at Bradford, after the club signed him from amateur side Queensbury in Bradford. Pryce played for Bradford on the wing in the 1999 Super League Grand Final which was lost to St Helens. He made his full debut for England against France in 1999, and has also represented his home county of Yorkshire.

Pryce played for Bradford on the wing in their 2001 Super League Grand Final victory against the Wigan. As Super League VI champions, Bradford played against 2001 NRL Premiers, the Newcastle Knights in the 2002 World Club Challenge. Pryce was selected for the substitutes bench in Bradford's victory. Later that year Pryce played for Bradford from the substitutes bench in their 2002 Super League Grand Final loss against St Helens.

In 2003 Pryce escaped a custodial sentence for unlawful wounding, after assaulting Brian Carney. He received 120 hours community service. He played for Bradford from the substitutes bench in their 2003 Super League Grand Final victory against the Wigan. Having won Super League VIII, Bradford played against 2003 NRL Premiers, Penrith Panthers in the 2004 World Club Challenge. Pryce played at stand-off half back and scored a try in Bradford's 22–4 victory. He played for Bradford on the wing and scored a try in their 2005 Super League Grand Final victory against Leeds, winning the Harry Sunderland Award for a Man of the Match performance.

St Helens

After Bradford did not renew his contract in 2005, in 2006 Pryce joined St. Helens. One of the key issues in the decision was that he would start at stand off, a position Pryce has long coveted.

Pryce won his first trophy with St Helens in August 2006, defeating Huddersfield in the Challenge Cup Final at Twickenham. St Helens reached the 2006 Super League Grand final to be contested against Hull and Pryce played at stand-off half back, scoring a try in Saints' 26–4 victory. As 2006 Super League champions, St Helens faced 2006 NRL Premiers Brisbane Broncos in the 2007 World Club Challenge. Pryce played at stand-off half back in the Saints' 18–14 victory. He went on to win the Challenge Cup again in 2007 when Saints beat Catalans Dragons 30–8 at Wembley Stadium. He was a joint winner of the Lance Todd Trophy along with Paul Wellens.

In July 2007, Pryce was accused of squeezing Sam Burgess's testicles.[5] He was later found guilty of the incident and banned for three matches.[6] That year he was voted rugby league's dirtiest player by RL Weekly readers. He was again found guilty of a similar misconduct, against Bradford forward Andy Lynch on 22 February 2008. However, he escaped a possible eight-match ban as the disciplinary panel ruled the contact "minimal".[7]

His success at the club continued as he helped Saints to a 26–18 win over Hull in the 2008 Challenge Cup Final. He was named in the England squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.[8] He was named in the Super League Dream Team for the 2008's Super League XIII season.[9] He played in 2008's Super League XIII Grand Final defeat by Leeds.[10] Pryce went with the England squad to compete in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup tournament in Australia. In Group A's first match against Papua New Guinea he played at stand-off half back in England's victory.

In 2008 Pryce was charged along with Stuart Reardon and appeared in court on charges of assault and violence following an alleged incident at Reardon's estranged wife's house in Queensbury, Bradford. They were charged with using violence to gain entry and common assault. The charge of using violence to gain entry against both defendants was dropped after the prosecution offered no evidence.[11] In March 2009, having been found guilty of common assault, the pair were given a 12-week suspended sentence.

He also played in the 2009 Super League Grand Final defeat by Leeds.

Catalans Dragons

Pryce played for the Perpignan based Catalans Dragons in the 2012–14 seasons. After a disappointing season, he was dropped leading up to Catalans' play-off game against Leeds. This was due to him signing for Hull towards the end of the season. A move which paid of off for Catalans which beat both Leeds and Huddersfield before losing to eventual Super league champions, St Helens 30–12. (For 2014 Super League season highlights, stats and results click on 2014 Super League season results)

References

  1. 1 2 "Hull 1st Team Leon Pryce". Hull FC. Hull FC. 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.sportsjamaica.com/read_article.php?id=3696
  3. ↑ http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/4043471.Pryce_lands_Jamaica_coaching_role/
  4. ↑ http://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/7773.php
  5. ↑ Pryce accuse of squeezing tactics pS12 Daily Telegraph No.47,324 31 July 2007
  6. ↑ "Pryce hit by three-match penalty". BBC News. 1 August 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  7. ↑ Wilson, Andy (26 February 2008). "Repeat offender Pryce relieved not to bag a lengthy ban". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "Purdham earns World Cup call-up". BBC. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "2008 engage Super League Dream Team". Super League. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  10. ↑ "2008 Grand Final". BBC. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  11. ↑ http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Great-Britain-Rugby-Stars-Stuart-Reardon-And-Leon-Pryce-Sentenced-For-Terrifying-Assault/Article/200904415267501
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