Position Wing Current club Retired | Name John Bentley Role Rugby Player | |
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Date of birth (1966-09-05) 5 September 1966 (age 49) | ||
John bentley on england s chances in the rugby world cup
John Bentley (born 5 September 1966) is an English former dual-code international Rugby League and Rugby Union wing three quarter.
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Career
Originally a Union player, he made his England début against Ireland in 1988 aged 21 and played on the summer tour against Australia.
After training as a policeman he switched codes from Rugby Union, which was then an amateur-only game, to Rugby League, where he became a professional. He played for Great Britain at league, for England in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup and signed for Leeds, before moving on to Halifax, as well as enjoying a short spell in Australia with Balmain Tigers.
When Rugby Union turned professional, he signed for Union side Newcastle Falcons in 1996, making 3 appearances as they won their first and so far only Premiership title in 1998. He was then selected for the 1997 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, where he played in the second and third Tests, playing opposite James Small.
After the tour he played twice more for England at Rugby Union before switching back to League with Huddersfield Giants.
He is currently involved with Leeds Tykes community rugby programme and matchday entertainment. He is an Honorary President of the Yorkshire Region of the rugby charity Wooden Spoon improving the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in Britain and Ireland.
Born in Dewsbury, he currently lives in nearby Mirfield with his wife Sandy and three children. Hosting and coaching at rugby camps across England with Sale Sharks, Newcastle Falcons and Leeds Carnegie.