Ian Smales

Ian Smales (born 26 September 1968) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain (non-Test matches), and Yorkshire, and at club level for Featherstone Rovers, Castleford Tigers and Hunslet Hawks, as a wing, centre, stand-off, second-row, or loose forward, consequently he was known as a Utility player.[2]

Ian Smales
Personal information
Full nameIan Smales
Born (1968-09-26) 26 September 1968
Playing information
PositionWing, Centre, Stand-off, Second-row, Loose forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1987–93 Featherstone Rovers 162 70 23 0 326
1993–97 Castleford Tigers 95 17 0 0 68
1997 Featherstone Rovers 4 0 0 0 0
1998 Hunslet Hawks 26 6 1 0 26
Total 287 93 24 0 420
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1991 Yorkshire 1 1 0 0 4
Source: [1][2]

Playing career

Featherstone Rovers

A former English Schools international at loose forward, Smales signed for Featherstone Rovers from Lock Lane amateurs in April 1987.[3]

Smales played at stand-off in Featherstone Rovers' 14-20 defeat by Bradford Northern in the 1989 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1989–90 season at Headingley, Leeds on Sunday 5 November 1989.

Smales played at second-row in Featherstone Rovers' 20-16 victory over Workington Town in the 1992–93 Divisional Premiership Final during the 1992–93 season at Old Trafford, Manchester on Wednesday 19 May 1993.[4]

Castleford

In 1993, Smales was signed by Castleford for a fee of £115,000.[5][6]

Smales played right-second-row in Castleford's 33-2 victory over Wigan in the 1993–94 Regal Trophy Final during the 1993–94 at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1994.[7] He made 95 appearances for the club.[8]

He briefly returned to Featherstone in 1997, making four further appearances.[9]

Representative honours

Smales was selected for Great Britain while at Featherstone Rovers for the 1990 Great Britain Lions tour. He played in seven games during the tour, but was uncapped as he did not appear in any Test matches.

Smales won a cap for Yorkshire while at Featherstone Rovers; during the 1991–92 season against Lancashire.

Outside of rugby league

Ian Smales still attends Featherstone Rovers games, and now works as a Sport & Active Lifestyles’ Health & Fitness Officer, for Wakefield District Council. He is married to Keely Smales, and has a daughter; Alice Smales, and a son; Eli Smales.

Personal life

Ian Smales is the son of the rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s, and coached in the 1970s and 1980s; Tommy Smales.[10]

References
  1. "Player Summary: Ian Smales". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. Merlin (1 August 1991). The Official Rugby league Collection (Card 36 of 160). Merlin. ISBN n/a
  4. "Rovers Dig Deep To Lift The 1993 RL Premiership". Great Players - Great Games. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1994). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1994-95. London: Headline Publishing Group. p. 416. ISBN 978-0-7472-7851-1.
  6. "Rugby League: Team-by-team guide to the Stones Bitter Championship". The Independent. 28 August 1993. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  7. "Wigan 2 - 33 Castleford". thecastlefordtigers.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  8. "Ian Smales". Castigers.net. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  9. "Smales, Ian". fevarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  10. "Tommy Smales and Ian Smales". Retrieved 13 August 2023.
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