Chris Chester (rugby league)

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Chris Chester
Chris Chester.JPG
Personal information
Full nameChristopher Chester
Born (1978-10-08) 8 October 1978 (age 46)
Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight13 st 6 lb (85 kg)
Playing information
Position Loose forward, Second-row, Stand-off
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1996–99 Halifax RLFC 731615195
1999–01 Wigan Warriors 4350020
2002–06 Hull FC 103140056
2007–08 Hull Kingston Rovers 3650020
Total25540151191
Coaching information
Club
YearsTeamGmsWDLW%
2014–16 Hull Kingston Rovers 311601552
2016–21 Wakefield Trinity 1616419640
2025 Castleford Tigers (interim)1020820
Total20282111941
Representative
YearsTeamGmsWDLW%
2018 Scotland 40040
Source: [1] [2]
As of 21 September 2025

Chris Chester (born 8 October 1978) is an English rugby league coach and former professional rugby league footballer who is the director of rugby for Castleford Tigers in the Super League.

Contents

As a player, Chester played as a forward for Halifax, Wigan Warriors, Hull FC (with whom he won the 2005 Challenge Cup) and Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League.

He was the head coach of Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League from 2014, however his resignation was announced in February/March 2016. He was appointed head coach of Wakefield Trinity in the Super League and Scotland at international level. On 10 August 2021, A statement from Wakefield said that they had parted ways with head coach Chris Chester, with Willie Poching talking over as interim coach. He was director of rugby at Leigh Leopards for four years.

Background

Chester was born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. He attended Kettlethorpe High School whose P.E. teacher at the time was the former Leeds Rugby Union winger and ex-England Head Coach, Stuart Lancaster.

Playing career

The former Stanley Rangers junior was captain of England Schools before he signed as a professional with Halifax. He made an impression in 1998's Super League III, where he was the runner-up for the Young Player of the Year award.

He moved to the Wigan Warriors in 1999 and played from the interchange bench in their 2000 Super League Grand Final defeat by St. Helens. He also played for the Wigan Warriors from the interchange bench in their 2001 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Bradford Bulls.

Chester then moved to Hull FC, and played in the 2005 Challenge Cup Final from the interchange bench in the victory over the Leeds Rhinos. [3] After spending seven years at Hull FC, Chester joined Hull Kingston Rovers for their inaugural season in Super League and played for the club for two seasons. [4]

Coaching career

Hull Kingston Rovers

Chester retired from playing following a serious neck injury and took up a role as first team coach of Hull KR. [5] He had previously been on the coaching staff at Castleford Tigers. [6] In 2014, Chester was promoted to head coach following the departure of Craig Sandercock. In his first full season as head coach, Chester guided Hull KR to the 2015 Challenge Cup final, but his team were soundly beaten. On 24 February 2016, Hull Kingston Rovers dismissed Chester as head coach following the home defeat by Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on 21 February 2016; they had gained one point from their opening three matches in the 2016 Super League season. [7]

Wakefield Trinity

On 16 March 2016, Chester was appointed Head Coach at Wakefield Trinity with immediate effect following the departure of Brian Smith.

Chester guided Wakefield to 8th position in the table in 2016 and 5th the following season. In 2016, Chester also led Wakefield to a Challenge Cup semi-final.

On 10 August 2021, Chester was terminated as head coach of Wakefield after recording only four wins in the 2021 Super League season and with the club sitting second last on the table. [8] [9]

Castleford Tigers

On 7 July 2025, he took over as interim head-coach at Castleford Tigers, following the departure of Danny McGuire. [10] [11]

References

  1. ↑ Rugby League Project
  2. ↑ Rugby League Project Coaching
  3. ↑ "Hull stun Leeds in Challenge Cup". BBC News . 27 August 2005. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "Hull's Chester switches to Rovers". BBC. 11 December 2006. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  5. ↑ "Hull KR hand Chester coaching job". BBC. 20 January 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
  6. ↑ "Tigers sign new academy coaches". BBC. 22 October 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  7. ↑ "Chris Chester sacked as Hull KR head coach". bbc.co.uk. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  8. ↑ "Wakefield Trinity part company with head coach". www.skysports.com.
  9. ↑ "Wakefield part ways with Chris Chester". BBC Sport. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  10. ↑ "Struggling Castleford sack head coach McGuire". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  11. ↑ Louis Chapman Coombe (7 July 2025). "Danny McGuire exits Castleford Tigers following Huddersfield Giants defeat". Love Rugby League.
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