Jonny Hepworth

Jonny Hepworth (born 25 December 1982 in Castleford, West Yorkshire) is a rugby union player. His usual position is at fly-half or centre.

Hepworth currently plays for Leeds Tykes and he made his debut for them at Headingley Carnegie Stadium against London Welsh on 3 September 2006 at the start of the National League One 2006/7 season.

Leeds Rhinos

Hepworth started playing junior rugby league for the Castleford Panthers before joining Super League outfit Leeds Rhinos.

He made only one appearance for the Rhinos, under coach Daryl Powell, before briefly joining the London Broncos on loan in 2002 and his hometown club Castleford Tigers, also on loan, in 2003. Broncos coach Tony Rea said on the arrival of Hepworth in May 2002: "He's an exciting young player and will give us some nice back-up."

Castleford Tigers

His move to Castleford Tigers was made permanent but when they were relegated from Super League in 2004 he switched codes and signed for Celtic League side Leinster, making 6 appearances and scoring 1 try.

During his brief stint at Castleford Tigers he was compared to Sean Long of St Helens with his then coach Graham Steadman saying in April 2004: "I would compare Jonny Hepworth with the likes of Sean Long. He's got similar attributes, he's pacy, he has a quality kicking game and he supports well. What he lacks at the moment is that self-confidence and belief to take a game by the scruff of the neck.

"He is in on merit because he is good enough and he's got to believe that. Obviously he's got to get game time and, on the back of that, the experience and confidence will come. He's got a great attitude and is certainly making good progress."

Hepworth also captained the Leeds Rhinos academy team when they beat local rivals the Bradford Bulls U-19 side in the Senior Academy Championship title with a 12-7 victory in a brilliant Grand Final at Headingley in October 2002.

He commented after the game: "We've worked hard all season and it's just what we wanted.

"They gave us everything in the first half and then we piled on the pressure and eventually got there. It was probably the biggest game of my life and it was great."

Leinster

Before making his full debut for Leinster against Edinburgh in Dublin on 6 November 2005 he said: "Apart from playing for a local team in Wakefield when I was 15, coming on against Bath was my first competitive game. But I think I've adapted well and fitted in well here."

"I'm picking up bits as we go along and settling in well, hopefully I can make a full debut today and show what I can do."

"If I was switching to be a union forward it'd be difficult, but as a utility back in league you can fit in more quickly. In league there's not much kicking, it's mainly just torpedo kicks when you're punting."

"But here everyone can kick and our coach David Knox has been helping me out with that."

He also featured for Clontarf in north Dublin. He then signed for the Leeds Tykes, joining up again with Powell, the Tykes' first team coach.

References

*http://www.leedscarnegie.com/ - Profile on Leeds Tykes website
*http://msnsport.skysports.com/rugbyunion/player/0,20330,12548_250494,00.html - Profile on Sky Sports
*http://www.scrum.com/35671.php - Leinster unveil new players and new European home, 21 September 2005