Garreth Carvell (born 21 April 1980) 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. He played in the Super League for Warrington Wolves, Leeds Rhinos, Gateshead Thunder (loan), Hull FC, and Castleford Tigers, and in the Championship for Featherstone Rovers, as a prop or second-row.[2][3][5]
Background
Carvell was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.
Playing career
Club career
Carvell joined Leeds from junior club Stanningley in 1996.[6] He made his Super League début as a 17-year-old against the Sheffield Eagles on Friday 22 August 1997.
After a successful loan spell at the newly formed Gateshead Thunder in 1999, he signed for Hull F.C. in 2000 where he developed into one of the top props in the country, helping Hull F.C. to win the 2005 Challenge Cup Final.
Hull F.C. reached the 2006 Super League Grand final to be contested against St Helens, and Carvell played as a prop in his side's 4-26 loss.[7] He also helped Hull F.C. reach the 2008 Challenge Cup Final.
After signing a deal that would keep Carvell at Hull F.C. for the next three years he made a controversial U-turn and made the move to Warrington after a fee was paid.[8][9] Carvell played for Warrington in the 2009 Challenge Cup final victory over Huddersfield, 2010 Challenge Cup Final victory over Leeds.[10] and the 2012 challenge cup final victory again over Leeds. He also featured in the 2012 and 2013 Grand final defeats.
Carvell played in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final victory over Leeds at Wembley Stadium.[10][11]
Carvell played in the 2012 Challenge Cup Final victory over Leeds at Wembley Stadium.[12][13]
Carvell played in the 2013 Super League Grand Final defeat by Wigan at Old Trafford.[14][15]
Midway through the 2013 season Bradford announced that they had signed Carvell for the 2014 and 2015 seasons by signing him on a two-year deal. Carvell featured in the pre-season game against Hull FC. However, in the week leading up to the first Super League game the Bradford club went into administration and Carvell made the switch to former club Hull F.C. on a one-year deal.
He then moved to the Castleford Tigers before finishing his career with a brief spell at Featherstone Rovers in the Championship making his début for Featherstone Rovers on Sunday 26 April 2015.[16]
International honours
In 2000, Carvell made his international début when he represented Wales in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. Garreth represented Great Britain in 2006 in the 2006 Tri-Nations competition held in Australia. [17]
Carvell was named in the England training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.[18]
Carvell was also named in England's 24-man 2011 Four Nations squad. He appeared off the bench against New Zealand at the KC Stadium, Hull, and in the final against Australia at Elland Road, Leeds.
In September 2014, Carvell was again called up to play for Wales in the 2014 European Cup. This was the first time that Carvell played for Wales in 14 years.[19] But, unfortunately, he had to withdraw before the tournament due to an injury.[20]
Post-playing
After retiring as a player, Carvell joined Salford Red Devils, working as the under-19's head coach and player welfare manager.[21] In 2021, he was appointed as head of rugby at Leigh Centurions.[22]
Carvell was also involved in re-forming a rugby league players' union, the Rugby League Players' Association, and acts as the union's lead representative.[23][24]
References
- ^ "Our England Our Team England Rugby League - The Official Website". web page. The Rugby Football League Limited. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Profile at leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk". leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 17 November 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Player Summary: Garreth Carvell". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
- ^ "Biography at therhinos.co.uk". therhinos.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1997). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1997. London: Headline Publishing Group. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-7472-7764-4.
- ^ "St Helens 26-4 Hull FC". BBC News. 14 October 2006. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ^ "Carvell changes mind on Hull deal". BBC Sport. 2 July 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
- ^ "Warrington complete double deal as Carvell signs on". The Independent. 16 September 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Leeds 6-30 Warrington". BBC. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Warrington's battered Brett Hodgson recovers to see off Leeds in final". Guardian UK. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "Leeds Rhinos 18–35 Warrington Wolves". BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Newsum, Matt (5 October 2013). "Super League Grand Final: Wigan Warriors beat Warrington". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ "Wigan see off Warrington in X-rated Grand Final to complete double". Guardian. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ "Ex-Leeds Rhinos, Castleford Tigers and Featherstone Rovers forward Carvell calls it a day". Yorkshire Evening Post. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
- ^ "Six new GB faces for Tri-Nations". BBC Sport. 25 September 2006. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
- ^ "Myler gets England call". England Rugby League. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Castleford Tigers prop Garreth Carvell handed first Wales call up in 14 years". skysports.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Garreth Carvell withdraws from Wales squad for European Cup". skysports.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Carvell's Career Befitting Of New Salford Roles". Salford Red Devils. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
- ^ "Garreth Carvell appointed into new role at Leigh Centurions". Leigh Journal. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
- ^ "Players' union chief says blame society, not rugby league, for increased drug use". The Guardian. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
- ^ "'We are failing our players': Super League under fire for fixture crush". The Guardian. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2025.