David Hodgson (rugby league)


David Hodgson, also known by the nicknames of "Dodgey" and "Hodgey", is an English rugby league coach, and former rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Halifax, the Wigan Warriors, the Salford City Reds, the Huddersfield Giants and the Hull Kingston Rovers , as an occasional goal-kicking, or, and has coached at club level for the Hull Kingston Rovers.

Background

David Hodgson was born in Kingston upon Hull, Humberside, England.

Halifax

Hodgson began his career at Halifax in 1999, before moving to the Wigan Warriors in 2000, a tribunal fixing a £45,000 fee.

Wigan Warriors

Hodgson played as a and scored a try in the Wigan Warriors' 16-29 defeat by St. Helens in the 2000 Super League Grand Final during 2000's Super League V at Old Trafford, Manchester on Saturday 14 October 2000, in front of a crowd of 58,132.
In 2003 he was the Wigan Warriors's top try scorer with 20. he played for the Wigan Warriors at in the 2003 Super League Grand Final which was lost to the Bradford Bulls.
He signed for the Salford City Reds from the Wigan Warriors and when his contract expired at the end of 2004, following bad injury. Prior to joining Salford City Reds he had made 122 Super League appearances in which time he scored 48 tries.

Salford City Reds

Hodgson regained full fitness at the Salford City Reds, and had a fantastic 2006 – which saw him named in the Great Britain standby squad for the Tri-Nations, the engage Super League Dream Team and also being named Supporter's Player of the Year and Player's Player of the Year at the Salford City Reds' annual awards ceremony. The club finished fifth in 2006's Super League XI, their highest ever poition, and went on to the end of season play-offs for the first time.
On 11 March 2006, he scored a club Super League record 8-goal kicks – despite having never kicked a goal before the start of 2006's Super League XI.

Huddersfield Giants

In September 2007 Hodgson signed for the Huddersfield Giants, following the Salford City Reds' relegation from Super League

Hull Kingston Rovers

On 18 July 2011, Hodgson signed a three-year deal with his hometown club the Hull Kingston Rovers.

Representative

On 10 November Hodgson made his first appearance of Great Britain's test series against New Zealand and scored.
In June 2007 he was called up to the Great Britain squad for the Test match against France
He was named in the England training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
He was named in the England team to face Wales at the Keepmoat Stadium prior to England's departure for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

Post playing career

On 3 October 2014, Hodgson announced his retirement and he signed a two-year contract to stay at his hometown club Hull Kingston Rovers as an assistant coach, along with Willie Poching.