Craig Kopczak

Craig Kopczak

Personal information
Nickname	Koppy
Born	20 December 1986 (1986-12-20) (age 24) Eccleshill, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
Height	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	108 kg (17 st 0 lb) [1]
Playing information
Position	Prop
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2006–	Bradford Bulls	106	9	0	0	36
2008	→ Halifax (loan)	34	0	0	0	0
	Total	140	9	0	0	36
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2007	Wales	3	0	0	0	0
As of 10 September 2011
Source: Rugby League Project

Craig Kopczak is a rugby league player who currently plays for Bradford Bulls and the Wales national rugby league team.

Craig made has made steady progress at the Grattan Stadium. A local Bradford product, he is from Eccleshill, Academy product Kopczak has been in the Bulls' first team squad for the last three years but failed to make the same rapid strides of the teen sensation.

Kopczak's emergence has been more gradual and there has been some false starts however, has always been one of the most talented players.

"Koppy's got a good work ethic and is one of the hardest trainers in the squad so it's no surprise he's now making a mark in Super League."

"He's justifying his inclusion and has confidence in himself now which – as a player – is all you need."

2009

In 2009's Superleague campaign Kopczak has played in all but 2 match's for the Bulls and has become a prominent and permanent fixture in the Bulls starting line up all season, quite an accomplishment for a man of just 22 years of age. With International matches for Wales at the end of the season, it has really been a year to celebrate for the talented youngster.

The Bulls coach Steve McNamara knows what he is going to get from Kopczak, a player he sees as one of Odsal’s unsung heroes. “I think Craig has been a real success story for us,” said McNamara. “So I was pleased for him to score that try for Wales against England.

“He’s come under the radar a bit playing for us. Sam Burgess got a lot of the headlines in the front row, and rightly so, but we appreciate what Craig gives us every week. “He played all but two games for the Bulls last season, which says a lot. He does a super job for us."

“Craig has had his ups and downs, which was spoken about at the time, but he has continued to progress. It’s great credit to himself that he came back so well from that and we know there’s a whole lot more potential in him. We’re looking for him to be right in the mix again next season with the other front-rowers.”

2008

A local Bradford product, he is from Eccleshill, Craig made tremendous progress last year after being at the club for the past five seasons. He spent the early part of last season on loan at Halifax and the experience he gained there certainly helped him when he returned to the Grattan Stadium. He went on to make 17 appearances for the club but despite having the ball down over the line in three consecutive games, they were all ruled out and he finally got his first try for the club against St.Helens at Knowesley Road! Like Dave Halley, Craig has been a member of the Welsh Squad; he qualifies through his Grandmother, for the past two years, although Dave Halley has now switched allegiance to England.^[2]

On 19 October in Bridgend Kopczak scored his first try for Wales during the Wales v England game only to come off the field after 30 minutes with an injury to his medial ligament.^[3]

http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/player/91/Craig%20Kopczak

Kopczak extends his time at Bradford Bulls for another 3 years after landing a new deal under Mick Potter meaning he will be at Odsal until 2013. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/bradford/8956285.stm

Wales

Craig played 2 game for Wales in 2007.

He was named in the Wales squad to face England at the Keepmoat Stadium prior to England's departure for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.^[4]

2010

The 23-year-old suffered an ankle injury in the 31st minute of the clash at Craven Park between Bradford Bulls and Hull KR which was a friendly designed to prepare both teams for the start of Superelague season 2010. It was headlined by the press association that Kopczak had actually broken his leg and was set for an extended spell on the sidelines only months after receiving a medial ligament injury. Confirmation from Bradford Bulls came the next day stating that after having an x ray Craig had in fact not broken his ankle afterall.^[5]

Wales international Kopczak, 23, has made 77 appearances for the Bulls since making his debut in 2006.

Statistics

Club career

Craig Kocpzak signs a new 3 year deal at Bradford Bulls and will therefore be at Odsal until 2013.

2011 Could 2011 be the year for Kopczak? 5 March will be a day he will remember for a long time. A hat- trick saw him become Man of the Match against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the 4th round of Superleague 2011.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/rugby_league/3449491/Bradford-40-Wakefield-18.html http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/sport-front-page/2011/03/07/bradford-40-18-wakefield-craig-kopczak-hat-trick-tames-wildcats-115875-22972276/ http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/233038/Bradford-40-Wakefield-18-Craig-Kopczak-is-top-of-the-Kops http://www.dailystar.co.uk/rugby/view/180073/Bradford-40-Wakefield-18-Three-n-easy-as-Craig-s-a-trier/

Kopczak fights through family tragedy. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/article-1372933/Bradford-24-Harlequins-22-Craig-Kopczak-helps-Bulls-victory.html http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/rugby_league/3506940/Bradford-24-Harlequins-22.html

Year	Club	Apps	Pts	T	G	FG
2006	Bradford Bulls	2	–	-	-	-
2007	Bradford Bulls	4	-	-	–	-
2008	Halifax	4	-	–	-	–
2008	Bradford Bulls	4	–	-	–	-

Representative career

Year	Team	Matches	Tries	Goals	Field Goals	Points
2007	Wales	2	0	0	0
2008	Wales	1	0	0	0
2009	Wales	1	1	0	0	4

References

1. ^ "The official Engage Super League web site". web page. Super League. http://www.superleague.co.uk/player-profile/2382. Retrieved 21 August 2011. 
2. ^ http://www.superleague.co.uk/profile.php?id=2382
3. ^ http://www.cymrurl.com/home.php
4. ^ "Crusaders dominate Wales' squad". BBC. 2008-10-03. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7642490.stm. Retrieved 2008-10-04. 
5. ^ "Bradford Bulls forward Craig Kopczak to miss start of engage Super League season after breaking a leg". Daily Mail (London). 2010-01-29. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/article-1246973/Bradford-Bulls-forward-Craig-Kopczak-miss-start-engage-Super-League-season-breaking-leg.html. 

External links

• Bradford Bulls profile

Persondata
Name	Kopczak, Craig
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	20 December 1986
Place of birth	Eccleshill, Bradford, West Yorkshire
Date of death
Place of death