Chris Parker (rugby league)

Christopher Parker

Christopher Parker (born in Winlaton, Gateshead, 5 December 1982) is a rugby league player for Gateshead Thunder. A prop forward, he is signed to the club till the end of the 2011 season.

He started his rugby career at Blaydon RUFC at 15 years old. Having stints at Newcastle Falcons Academy and representing his county. In 2000 he joined the British Army, Royal Signals Corps. During his six years service he represented the Royal Corps of Signals in both rugby union and league as well as representing the army rugby league at U-21 level and the combined services academy. Chris started his amateur rugby league career at Newcastle Knights ARLFC having two seasons under coach and Gateshead Thunder player Steven Rutherford. Chris then moved to the north east's highest amateur team Gateshead Storm RLFC playing with Storm greats such as Harry Gee and Andrew Pybus. He enjoyed 3 seasons with Gateshead Storm as well as stints with Union sides Blaydon and Winlaton before eventually being given a trial at Gateshead Thunder. RLFC by coach Dave Woods. Chris featured in a few games in the 2007 season most notably receiving man of the match against Celtic Crusaders in the final game of the season, Chris also was rewarded with a one year contract for the 2008 season. In 2008 Gateshead Thunder, transformed from a bottom of the league side to a National League 2 winning side attaining promotion to the newly named Championship. Chris was awarded the most improved player for 2008 and was given a new one year deal for 2009. Chris started the 2009 season well playing 18 consecutive games scoring his first ever Gateshead Thunder. try against Rochdale Hornets in the Northern Rail Cup and adding to his tally with a well taken try in front of the sky sports cameras against Sheffield Eagles. Chris spent the last part of the 2009 season as Gatesheads 18th man. Chris finished the 2009 with some positive news signing a 2 year contract extension and receiving a call up to the Malta national rugby league team for a friendly international against touring English side Bamber Bridge RLFC. Chris Made his début for the Malta national rugby league team on 3 October 2009 in the 36 - 28 win over Bamber Bridge RLFC and was named Vice-Captain by caretaker coach Anthony Micallef. Chris also scored his first try for the country and added the extras from the resulting kick. After the holding company of Gateshead Thunder decided to wind up all contract were cancelled, Chris resigned for the newly formed Gateshead Thunder side to play in Championship One in 2010. In 2010 chris made 24 appearances for Gateshead Thunder only missing one game for a Malta national rugby league teamfixture against Norway.

On 4 June 2010 Parker helped Malta come from 10-0 down mid way through the first half to defeat Norway, 30-20 to take the Rugby League European Federation Bowl at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Hamrun.^[1]

In 2011 Chris Parker has been named the 2009-2010 Ray Morris Medal Winner by the Malta Rugby League (MRL), commonly known as Maltese Player of the Year.^[2] He also took over the reigns of the Maltese National Team Captain from the retireing Daniel Grima, the first game under his captaincy saw the Maltese team put in a strong preformance in their first game of the European Shield against Germany on 24 July 2011 but unfortunately the German side were too strong for the 15 man Maltese Squad taking the game 36-12, Parker scoring one of the Maltese two tries.

2011 sees chris in his 5th year at Gateshead Thunder where he looks to build on his 99 appearances and hopefully pushing into the 100 appearances club with Gateshead Thunder greats such as Robin Peers, Neil Thorman and Steven Rutherford.

Club statistics Gateshead Thunder Career Appearances: 99 Tries:2

Gateshead Thunder 2011 Appearances: 25 Tries:0

Gateshead Thunder 2010 Appearances: 24 Tries:0

Gateshead Thunder 2009 Appearances: 17 Tries:2

Gateshead Thunder 2008 Appearances:24 Tries:0

Gateshead Thunder 2007 Appearances:9 Tries:0

Maltese International Stats

Malta Career Appearances: 4 Tries:2 Conversion: 1

Debut vs Bamber Bridge ARLFC, Won 36 - 28 Try:1 Conversion: 1

European Bowl vs Norway, Won 30-20 Try:0 Conversion:0

Malta vs Lancashire B.A.R.L.A, Lost 0-60 Try:0 Conversion:0

European Shield vs Germany, Lost 36-12 Try:1 Conversion:0

References

1. ^ "11-man Malta stage comeback to win European bowl". The Malta Independent (Malta: Standard Publications Ltd). 2010-06-06. http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=107267. Retrieved 2010-06-06. 
2. ^ http://thunderrugby.com/article.php?id=3713

External links

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Persondata
Name	Parker, Chris
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Date of birth	5 December 1982
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