Gareth Ellis

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Gareth Ellis
fullname = Gareth Ellis


image_size = 200px
caption =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|5|3
placeofbirth = Castleford, Yorkshire
countryofbirth = England
height = 6 ft 2 in (1.89 m)
weight = 16 st 1 lb (102 kg)
position = Second row / Loose forward / Centre
currentclub = leagueicon|Leeds Rhinos|size=16 Leeds Rhinos
clubnumber = 12
club1 = leagueicon|Wakefield|size=16 Wakefield Trinity
year1start = 2000
year1end = 2005
appearances1 = 112
tries1 =
goals1 =
fieldgoals1 =
points1 = 100
club2 = leagueicon|Leeds Rhinos|size=16 Leeds Rhinos
year2start = 2005
year2end = present
appearances2 = 93
tries2 =
goals2 =
fieldgoals2 =
points2 = 92
teamA = Flagicon|England England A
yearAstart = 2000
yearAend =
appearancesA = 4
triesA =
goalsA =
fieldgoalsA =
pointsA = 4
teamB = Flagicon|Yorkshire Yorkshire
yearBstart = 2003
yearBend =
appearancesB = 1
triesB =
goalsB =
fieldgoalsB =
pointsB = 4
teamC = Flagicon|Great Britain Great Britain
yearCstart = 2003
yearCend =
appearancesC = 19
triesC =
goalsC =
fieldgoalsC =
pointsC = 12
teamD = Flagicon|England England
yearDstart = 2008
yearDend =
appearancesD = 1
triesD =
goalsD =
fieldgoalsD =
pointsD = 0
updated =
source =
new = yes

Gareth Ellis (born 3 May, 1981 Castleford, West Yorkshire) is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Leeds Rhinos of the European Super League.

He will join the Wests Tigers in the NRL from the 2009 season.cite web|url=http://www.nrllive.com.au/2009-nrl-player-movements/|title=2009 NRL Player Movements|publisher=NRL Live|date=2008-10-04|accessdate=2008-10-04]

Wakefield Trinity

Ellis came through the junior ranks at Wakefield before breaking in the Wildcats team in 2000. He made over 100 appearances for Wakefield and became the club's first player to represent Great Britain for 12 years in 2003, the last player being Michael Jackson.

Leeds Rhinos

The second row joined the Rhinos from Wakefield in 2005, making his debut in the World Club Challenge win over Canterbury Bulldogs. cite web|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/08/02/08/RUGBYL_Leeds_Ellis.html|title=Ellis agrees Tigers deal|publisher=Sportinglife|date=2008-02-08|accessdate=2008-02-08] In the same year, Ellis also received Challenge Cup and Super League grand final runners up medals. He has been a regular in Lions squads since and toured Australia for the Tri-Nations Series in 2006.

He has been named in the Super League Dream Team for the 2008 season.cite web|url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=11755|title=2008 engage Super League Dream Team|publisher=Super League|date=2008-09-15|accessdate=2008-09-26]

He played in the 2008 Super League Grand Final victory over St Helens.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7642170.stm|title=2008 Grand Final|publisher=BBC|date=2008-10-04|accessdate=2008-10-05]

Representative Football

He has been capped 17 times for Great Britain and was last year named in the International Team of the Year having started the last 11 Tests for the Lions. cite web|url=http://leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk/leedsrhinos/news/news-story.asp?Index=6822|title=Rhinos confirm Ellis move for 2009|publisher=Leeds Rhinos|date=2008-02-08|accessdate=2008-02-08]

He has been named in the England squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7656553.stm|title=Purdham earns World Cup call-up|publisher=BBC|date=2008-10-07|accessdate=2008-10-07]

Wests Tigers

In February 2008, Ellis agreed terms with Australian National Rugby League club, Wests Tigers, for a three-year deal commencing in 2009. [cite news|publisher="Fox Sports News (Australia)"|title=Marshall extends his contract |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23179902-23214,00.html |accessdate=2008-02-08|date=2008-02-08]

Great Britain forward Gareth Ellis cited a lifestyle change and the desire to test himself on the biggest stage for his reasons to quit Super League champions Leeds Rhinos at the end of the new season. cite web|url=http://leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk/leedsrhinos/news/news-story.asp?Index=6822|title=Rhinos confirm Ellis move for 2009|publisher=Leeds Rhinos|date=2008-02-08|accessdate=2008-02-08] cite web|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/08/02/08/RUGBYL_Leeds_Ellis.html|title=Ellis pledges to focus on Rhinos|publisher=Sportinglife|date=2008-02-08|accessdate=2008-02-08] cite web|url=http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/tigers-keep-marshall-sign-ellis/2008/02/08/1202234133533.html|title=Tigers confirm Marshall retention, Ellis signing|publisher=Leaguehq|date=2008-02-08|accessdate=2008-02-08] Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has praised new signing Gareth Ellis on making a decision based purely on a challenge rather than money. cite web|url=http://www.weststigers.com.au/NewsArticle.aspx?NewsId=1172|title=Challenge is the key for Ellis says Sheens|publisher=Wests Tigers|date=2008-02-08|accessdate=2008-02-08]

Ellis was linked with a move to another Sydney club Manly Sea Eagles last year. cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_3118226,00.html|title=Ellis to become a Tiger|publisher=Sky Sports|date=2008-02-08|accessdate=2008-02-08]

He will join the list of British players who have played for the Wests Tigers joint venture through the likes of Andy Currier,Ellery Hanley, Lee Crooks, Gary Schofield and Harvey Howard. cite web|url=http://www.weststigers.com.au/NewsArticle.aspx?NewsId=1170|title=Wests Tigers sign world's best second rower|publisher=Wests Tigers|date=2008-02-08|accessdate=2008-02-08]

Gareth Ellis will become the first Great Britain forward to switch to the NRL, generally regarded as the toughest league in the world, since former Sydney Roosters hitman Adrian Morley spent six successful seasons down under. cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/7814/Default.aspx|title=GB's Ellis reportedly signs with Tigers|publisher=NRL.com|date=2008-02-08|accessdate=2008-02-08] cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/leeds/7233361.stm|title=Ellis agrees switch to Australia|publisher=BBC|date=2008-02-08|accessdate=2008-02-08]

Ellis, who has made 82 Super League appearances for Leeds, will be the only Englishman to ply his trade in the NRL - but he has been tipped to be a big success. cite web|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/08/02/07/RUGBYL_Ellis.html|title=Ellis to leave Leeds|publisher=Sportinglife|date=2008-02-08|accessdate=2008-02-08]

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.lasttackle.com/fullnews.php?misc=search&subaction=showfull&id=1202494379&archive=&cnshow=news&ucat=23,34&start_from=& Ellis to move Down Under for 2009 ]
* [http://www.gareth-ellis.co.uk Official website, gareth-ellis.co.uk Official website]
* [http://leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk/leedsrhinos/Squad/squad-page.asp?ID=147 Leeds profile]
* [http://www.weststigers.com.au/# Wests Tigers]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/2935308.stm In the hot-seat: Gareth Ellis]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/4195477.stm Ellis out to make his mark]