Iestyn Harris
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Iestyn Harris (born 25 June 1976 in Oldham, England) is a dual-code international rugby player.
Career
His Abercarn-born grandfather Norman played for Ebbw Vale, Pontypool and Newbridge before heading north to win eight Welsh caps under league rules http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1643056.stmHarris was born in Oldham, England, but qualified for Wales because of his father's nationality. His career in rugby began with league club Warrington before a record breaking £350,000 transfer to Leeds Rhinos in 1997. He was appointed captain in his first full season at the age of twenty one, and became the first Leeds skipper in a decade to lift silverware when Leeds claimed the 1999 Challenge Cup.
Harris initially played at full back before being switched to stand-off. In 1998 he collected the annual Man of Steel trophy as the best player in Super League. A superb goal kicker, he broke the club record for goals in a season in 1999 with 168, and broke the 2,000 career points total two years later.
In 2001 he had a £1.5 Million move to Cardiff Blues and Wales, hailed as the "saviour of Welsh rugby" who would help Wales return to the glory years of the 1970s. He was expected to be the next Welsh fly-half, a position which Wales had been blessed with good players in the past. However, he was thrown into the Welsh side on 10 November 2001 versus Argentina in Cardiff, which Wales lost 16-30. However, having only played 200minutes of Rugby Union before his international debut he struggled, particularly with his tactical kicking. This led to a move to inside centre, where he could be creative with less pressure. This culminated in their strong performance in the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia, where Wales finally lost to eventual winners England, despite taking the lead for 60 minutes. Harris proved to be a good union player gaining 25 Wales caps, but nowhere near the mercurial heights expected of him and his price tag http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3781589.stm
In 2004 he returned to rugby league citing family reasons, joining the Bradford Bulls after a contractual fight with former club Leeds http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/3895371.stm Harris wrote a book, published in October 2005, detailing his moves between codes called Iestyn Harris: There and Back - My Journey from League to Union and Back Again. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1845960017/203-5218795-2103910 Harris was part of the 2005 Bradford Bulls squad that became the first side in the history of Super League to win the Grand Final when finishing third in the final league ladder.
On 10 May 2006, Harris announced he would be retiring from playing international rugby with Great Britain, just a week after being named in a 36-strong training squad for June 2006 Test against New Zealand http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/4757641.stm Harris, who won the last of his 15 caps against Australia in November 2005, says he wants to concentrate on his club career but may be available to play for Wales in the 2008 World Cup in Australia
Personal life
Harris has his family home attached to that of his mother Sandra's in Oldham. Although he has a Lancashire accent, his sister is Rhian (her children are Dewi and Emrys); and his wife is Becky is a proud mother to daughter CatrinTrivia
- Weight: 87 kg, Height: 178 cm
- After his switch to Rugby Union in 2001, it is rumoured that England RFU coach Sir Clive Woodward repeatedly offered Harris a place in the England side, in preparation of the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Within a month, he was playing for the Welsh international side
References
External links
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