Clarkson was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Before joining the Leeds Rhinos, Clarkson was a pupil at Temple Moor High School. He played for his local amateur side East Leeds. Chris Clarkson was a new recruit for the Leeds Rhinos Academy in 2006. One year later he became a regular in the Academy side and he helped the Junior Academy side clinch the Championship. For that game he was named in the starting line-up for the victory over St. Helens in the Grand Final. He earned his place in the side after he had registered an impressive 9 tries in 21 appearances over the season.
Club career
Leeds Rhinos
Clarkson made his Super League début for the Leeds Rhinos on 19 March 2010 in a 10-17 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers, deputising for Ryan Hall. He showed his versatility by playing on the, before following this up at in the following game against the Wigan Warriors. He played in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Warrington Wolves at Wembley Stadium. Clarkson played from the interchange bench for the Leeds Rhinos in the 2011 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Wigan Warriors at Wembley Stadium. He played in the 2011 Super League Grand Final victory over St. Helens at Old Trafford. Clarkson was part of the successful Leeds Rhinos team that won the 2012 Super League Grand Final. He also played a winning role in the Leeds Rhinos' 2014 Challenge Cup Final triumph over the Castleford Tigers. Throughout his time with the club, Clarkson made 118 appearances for the Leeds Rhinos and registering 11 tries in total.
Widnes Vikings (loan)
In 2015, Clarkson was sent out on loan to the Widnes Vikings, where he played 25 games and scored 4 tries in their Super League and Qualifiers campaign.
Hull Kingston Rovers
On 2 October 2015, Chris Clarkson signed a three-year deal to play for Hull Kingston Rovers starting in the 2016 season. Clarkson suffered relegation from the Super League with Hull Kingston Rovers in the 2016 season, due to losing the Million Pound Game by the Salford Red Devils. 12-months later however, Clarkson was part of the Hull Kingston Rovers' side that won promotion back to the Super League at the first time of asking following relegation the season prior. It was revealed on 10 October 2018 that Clarkson would be departing Hull Kingston Rovers following a restructure of the club's on-field personnel.
Castleford Tigers
It was revealed on 7 January 2019, that Clarkson had been offered a trial at the Castleford Tigers, in hope of earning a permanent deal at the club. It was revealed on 15 February 2019 that, after a successful trial period, Clarkson had signed a one-year contract at the Castleford Tigers. He was assigned shirt number 33. Clarkson made his Castleford Tigers' début on 23 February 2019, in a 6-40 victory over the London Broncos. Clarkson scored his first try for the Castleford Tigers on 1 March 2019, in a 32-16 triumph over his former club Hull Kingston Rovers at the Jungle. This was later named Castleford's Try of the Year at the club's end-of-season awards night.
Representative career
Clarkson has won representative honours with Yorkshire and England at under-17's level. He has also featured for the England Knights in 2012.
