Lee Briers

Last updated

Lee Briers
Lee Briers Warrington Wolves.jpg
Personal information
Full nameLee Paul Briers [1]
Born (1978-06-14) 14 June 1978 (age 46)
St Helens, England
Playing information
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in) [2]
Weight13 st 1 lb (83 kg)
Position Scrum-half, Stand-off
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1997 St Helens 6124052
1996–97(loan)→AS Carcassonne
1998–13 Warrington Wolves 425154948742586
2013(DR)→Swinton Lions 11004
Total432156972742642
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1998–11 Wales 239296100
2001 Great Britain 10106
2001–02 Lancashire 20000
Source: [3] [4]

Lee Paul Briers (born 14 June 1978) is a professional rugby league coach who is currently a development coach at St Helens in the English Super League and assistant coach of the England national team. [5]

Contents

A former Great Britain and Wales international, he played the majority of his career at Warrington Wolves in the Super League as a stand-off or scrum-half. He won three Challenge Cup finals during his time at the club. [3] [4]

Club Career

St Helens (1997)

Loan to Carcassonne (1996–97)

Briers' first experience of first team rugby was on loan at AS Carcassonne for the 1996–97 French Rugby League Championship season. While at home for Christmas leave, he played a friendly for St Helens in their Boxing Day Challenge Match against Wigan Warriors. [6]

Return to parent club

Briers made his competitive St. Helens on 8 February 1997 in the fourth round match of the 1997 Challenge Cup game against Wigan at the age of 18, standing in for suspended captain Bobbie Goulding after an emergency player recal from his loan at Carcassonne. [7] Saints won the game 28–12.

From his debut to April of the 1997 season, Briers made six appearances for St Helens, scoring one try and 24 goals. He was dropped from the starting line-up following the return of Goulding. [8]

Warrington (1997–2013)

Beiers taking a conversion for Warrington in 2012 Lee Briers Warrington.jpg
Beiers taking a conversion for Warrington in 2012

Briers signed for Warrington Wolves in April 1997 for a fee of £65,000, [9] declining a three-year deal from AS Carcassonne in the process. [6] He was named Young Player of the Year in his first season at Wilderspool Stadium.

Briers was named as captain in 2003 and became known for his excellent kicking skills and his ability to successfully convert drop goals. He currently holds the Super League record, and jointly Warrington all-time record (with Paul Bishop), for the most drop goals in a game (5 against Halifax at the Shay in 2002).[ citation needed ]

Briers' testimonial match at Warrington took place in 2007. He stepped down as captain at the end of the 2007 season.[ citation needed ]

Briers played in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Leeds Rhinos at Wembley Stadium. [10] [11]

The 2011 Super League season was Briers' 14th. During this season he broke a number of club records including top all-time points scorer, having overtaken club greats Brian Bevan, and Steve Hesford. He broke the record during a Challenge Cup home 112–0 demolition of Swinton. [12] This match also saw Briers break his own club record for points in a match (set 11 years earlier against York), with 44 points, from 16 goals and three tries.

He played in the 2012 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Leeds Rhinos at Wembley Stadium. [13] [14] [15] [16]

He played in the 2012 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford. [17] [14]

In 2013, during the second match of the season against Wigan Warriors, Lee suffered a neck injury which saw him sidelined for 13 games. He returned for Warrington's Challenge Cup fifth round tie against Salford City Reds in which he made scored one try and kicked his 1,000th career goal.[ citation needed ]

He played in the 2013 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Wigan Warriors at Old Trafford. [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]

In November 2013, although Briers had a year remaining on his contract, he announced his retirement due to a neck injury. He played 425 games for Warrington, scoring a club record 2,586 points. [23] Shortly before announcing his retirement, Briers released his autobiography, Off the Cuff.

International career

Having made his Wales début in 1998, Briers went on to make 23 appearances for his country and featured in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. Briers was capped by Great Britain against France in their 42–12 win on 26 October 2001.

Following the Wales team's failure to qualify for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, Briers announced his international retirement.[ citation needed ]

Briers came out of international retirement to represent Wales in the 2010 European Cup, and captained the side to victory in the tournament. He went on to captain Wales in the 2011 Four Nations, before once again retiring from international rugby league at the tournament's end. [24]

Coaching career

Following his retirement as a player, Briers became a youth coach at Warrington Wolves before being promoted to Assistant First Team Head Coach in 2018. [25] In 2021 he was signed by Wigan Warriors as an Assistant Coach following the sacking of Adrian Lam. Briers stayed for one season in which Wigan won the 2022 Challenge Cup. [26] He was signed by Brisbane Broncos as a Development Coach ahead of the 2023 season. [27] Following the 2023 NRL Grand Final, in which Brisbane finished runners-up, Briers was appointed Assistant Coach of the England national team ahead of the 2023 Tonga tour of England in addition to his role at Brisbane. [28] Briers was not released by Brisbane for England's 2024 mid-season friendly against France. [29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iestyn Harris</span> Professional RL coach & former GB & Wales international dual-code rugby footballer

Iestyn Rhys Harris is a former dual-code international professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s, and coach in rugby league in the 2000s and 2010s. He played representative rugby league for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for the Warrington Wolves, the Leeds Rhinos (captain) where he won the 1998 Man of Steel Award, the Bradford Bulls (captain), and Featherstone Rovers, and representative rugby union for Wales, and at club level for Cardiff RFC and Cardiff Blues, and has coached representative rugby league for Wales, and at club level for Featherstone Rovers, the Crusaders Rugby League, the Wigan Warriors, and Salford Red Devils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Buderus</span> Former Australia international rugby league footballer

Danny Buderus is an Australian rugby league commentator, coach and former professional footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative hooker, he played in the National Rugby League for Australian club, the Newcastle Knights, with whom he won a Dally M Medal, and the 2001 NRL Premiership before setting a new record for most games with the club. Buderus also played in the Super League for English club, the Leeds Rhinos, with whom he won 2011's Super League XVI. He set the record for most appearances as captain of the New South Wales State of Origin team at 15 and for most consecutive appearances for the side at 21. Buderus also played representative football for the Exiles and New South Wales Country. In 2015, he took up an interim coaching role with the Knights and continued as an assistant coach in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny McGuire</span> Great Britain and England international rugby league footballer (born 1982)

Daniel Phillip McGuire is an English rugby league coach and former professional rugby league footballer who is the head coach of the Castleford Tigers in the Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kylie Leuluai</span> Former Samoa international rugby league footballer

Kylie Leuluai is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer. A New Zealand Māori and Samoa international representative prop, he most notably played at club level for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. He also played club football in Australia for National Rugby League clubs; the Balmain Tigers, Wests Tigers, Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels, and the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean O'Loughlin</span> Great Britain and England international rugby league player

Sean O'Loughlin is an English rugby league coach and former professional rugby league footballer. He is an assistant coach of Wigan Warriors where he spent his entire playing career, playing as a loose forward for the Super League club, which he captained. Has also played for Great Britain and England at the international level, the latter of which he has also captained.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Leuluai</span> New Zealand international rugby league footballer

Thomas James Leuluai is a New Zealand professional rugby league coach who is the assistant coach of the Wigan Warriors in the Super League and a former professional rugby league footballer who played for New Zealand at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel Tomkins</span> England dual-code international rugby footballer

Joel Andrew Tomkins is an English professional rugby league coach who is currently an assistant coach for Catalans Dragons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mickey Higham</span> Former Great Britain and England international rugby league footballer

Mickey Higham is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a hooker in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Radford</span> English rugby league coach and former England international rugby league footballer

Lee Radford is an English professional rugby league and rugby union coach. He previously worked in rugby league as the head coach of Hull FC, in the Super League, from 2013–2020 and as head coach of Castleford Tigers from 2022 to 2023. He is also a former professional rugby league footballer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Monaghan</span> Australian rugby league coach and former rugby league footballer

Michael Monaghan is the current pathways and specialist coach for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League and an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Canberra Raiders and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League, and for the Warrington Wolves in the Super League.

Tony Smith is a professional rugby league coach and former player

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel Monaghan</span> Australia international rugby league footballer

Joel Monaghan is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative centre or winger, he previously played in the NRL for the Canberra Raiders and the Sydney Roosters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Peacock</span> Great Britain and England international rugby league player

James Darryl Peacock MBE, is an English motivational speaker, leadership mentor and former professional rugby league footballer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian McDermott (rugby league)</span> English rugby league footballer, and singer

Brian G. McDermott is an English professional rugby league coach, currently assistant coach at Newcastle Knights in the NRL. A former professional rugby league player, he won three Super League Grand Finals as a Bradford Bulls player and has won four Grand Finals as head coach of Leeds Rhinos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Delaney</span> Former Australian rugby league footballer

Brett Delaney is an Australian rugby league coach and former professional rugby league footballer who is assistant coach for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League. He played as a centre and second-row forward in the 2000s and 2010s.

Paul Wood is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop and second-row forward in the 2000s and 2010s. He played for the Warrington Wolves in the Super League, and Featherstone Rovers and the Swinton Lions in the Championship. At international level, he made a non-Test appearance for Great Britain in 2003, and was capped twice by England in 2005. He is the current head-coach of Swinton Lions in the RFL League 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garreth Carvell</span> Great Britain, Wales, and England international rugby league footballer

Garreth Carvell is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Wales. Then, he played his entire professional club career in England, for Stanningley ARLFC, in the Super League for the Warrington Wolves, the Leeds Rhinos, Gateshead Thunder (loan), Hull FC, and the Castleford Tigers, and in the Championship for Featherstone Rovers, as a prop or second-row.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Westwood</span> Former England international rugby league footballer

Ben Westwood is an English former rugby league footballer, who played as a second-row or loose forward in the Super League. He played for England at international level, and also represented England Knights and Yorkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stefan Ratchford</span> England international rugby league footballer

Stefan Guy Ratchford is an English rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback for the Warrington Wolves in the Super League and the England Knights and England international at international level.

The 2013 Super League Grand Final was the 16th official Grand Final and conclusive and championship-deciding match of Super League XVIII. The game was held on Saturday 5 October 2013, at Old Trafford, Manchester, and was contested by Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves. The two teams reached the final after progressing through the Super League XVIII play-offs. It was Warrington's second successive Grand Final and second successive defeat as Wigan won 30-16 with 28 unanswered points after going 16-2 down in the first half to claim a Super League/Challenge Cup double, having won the 2013 Challenge Cup against Hull F.C. at Wembley Stadium in August.

References

  1. ↑ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  2. ↑ "Lee Briers". warringtonwolves.org. Warrington Wolves. Archived from the original on 6 July 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "Lee Briers finally confirmed as Saints' new assistant coach". St Helens Star. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Lee Briers: My time in Carcassonne was the making of me". Love Rugby League. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  7. ↑ "Saints Heritage Society".
  8. ↑ de la Rivière, Richard (28 December 2010). "Lee Briers". WordPress. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  9. ↑ Hadfield, Dave. "Briers signs for Warrington". The Independent. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  10. ↑ Scott, Ged (28 August 2010). "Leeds 6–30 Warrington". BBC. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  11. ↑ Wilson, Andy (28 August 2010). "Chris Hicks hat-trick leads Warrington to Challenge Cup triumph over Leeds". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  12. ↑ "Warrington 112–0 Swinton". Guardian. 21 May 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  13. ↑ "Warrington's battered Brett Hodgson recovers to see off Leeds in final". Guardian UK. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  14. 1 2 "Leeds' Kevin Sinfield stars in Grand Final triumph against Warrington". Guardian. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  15. ↑ "Leeds Rhinos 18–35 Warrington Wolves". BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  16. ↑ "Warrington Wolves Are Challenge Cup Winners 2012!". Warrington Wolves Official Site. 25 August 2012. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  17. ↑ "Grand Final: Warrington 18-26 Leeds". BBC Sport. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  18. ↑ "Super League Grand Final". Super League. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  19. ↑ Newsum, Matt (5 October 2013). "Super League Grand Final: Wigan Warriors beat Warrington". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  20. ↑ "Super League Grand Final: Warrington v Wigan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  21. ↑ "Warrington Wolves 16 Wigan Warriors 30". Daily Telegraph. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  22. ↑ "Wigan see off Warrington in X-rated Grand Final to complete double". Guardian. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  23. ↑ "Lee Briers: Warrington Wolves half-back announces retirement". BBC Sport. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  24. ↑ "Briers announces international retirement". bbc.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  25. ↑ "Lee Briers: Warrington Wolves assistant coach to leave at end of season". 21 April 2021.
  26. ↑ "Lee Briers to leave Wigan". 9 August 2022.
  27. ↑ "Briers Appointed Development Coach for 2023". 9 August 2022.
  28. ↑ "Lee Briers named as England Men's Assistant Coach".
  29. ↑ "Key takeaways from Shaun Wane England call including NRL availability". 17 June 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.