Andy_Last

Andy Last

Andy Last

English rugby league footballer and coach

Andy Last (born 25 March 1981) is an English professional rugby league coach who is the assistant coach for the England national rugby league team and a former professional rugby league footballer.

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He is a former head coach of Hull FC and the Castleford Tigers in the Super League. He played as a hooker for Hull FC in the Super League between 1999 and 2005.

Background

Last was born in Kingston upon Hull, Humberside, England.

Playing career

On 1 August 1999, Last made his Super League debut for Hull FC against the Warrington Wolves.[5] The return of Lee Jackson to Hull in 2001 saw Last playing mainly for the A-team, before he suffered a broken tibia and fibula to end his career prematurely.[5] He made a total of 29 appearances and scored 4 tries, with his final appearance made at the age of 24.[4]

Coaching career

Hull F.C.

Last joined the coaching staff of Hull FC. In 2005, he led the club's under-21s side to Academy Grand Final victory.[6] He worked as an assistant coach for the first team under Lee Radford, winning back-to-back Challenge Cups in 2016 and 2017.[7]

On 12 March 2020, Last was announced as Hull's interim head coach following Radford's dismissal, with Kieron Purtill being his assistant.[8][9] Four days later, the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Last would only coach his first game in August.[10][11] He guided Hull to a 6th-placed finish and reached the play-off semi-finals.[12][7] In November 2020, Hull appointed Brett Hodgson as their new head coach, with Last offered an alternative position.[13]

Wakefield Trinity (assistant)

On 21 December 2020, Wakefield Trinity appointed Last as an assistant coach, to work alongside Chris Chester and Willie Poching.[7] Last said he opted for this role to "spread [his] wings and gain some different experiences", rather than remaining at Hull in a role "tailored to his skill-set" according to chairman Adam Pearson.[14]

Castleford Tigers

On 29 September 2021, the Castleford Tigers announced the appointment of Last as assistant coach following the arrival of Lee Radford as head coach.[15][16]

On 6 March 2023, Last was appointed interim head coach of Castleford when Radford was relieved of his duties.[17][18] He took charge of six fixtures while the club held talks with candidates in their selection process. On 19 April 2023, he was named as full-time head coach on a two-and-a-half-year deal.[19] On 4 August 2023, immediately following a defeat against Huddersfield that left the Tigers at the bottom of the Super League table for the first time, Last departed Castleford.[20][21][22]

England (assistant)

In April 2020, while interim head coach of Hull FC, Last joined the coaching staff for the England national rugby league team in the build up towards the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[23] He continues to work with England alongside Shaun Wane.[24]

References

  1. [1]
    FreeBMD Entry Information
  2. [2]
    Rugby League Project playing
  3. [3]
    Rugby League Project coaching
  4. [4]
    RL Record Keepers' Club
  5. [5]
    Bazeley, Marc (25 April 2020). "Andy Last: England assistant and Hull FC coach stepping out of the shadows". Sky Sports. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  6. [6]
    "What became of Hull FC's 2005 Academy Grand Final winners". Hull Daily Mail. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  7. [7]
    "Andy Last: Wakefield Trinity bring long-serving Hull coach in as Chester's assistant". BBC Sport. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  8. [8]
    "Super League: Lee Radford sacked after Hull beaten by Warrington". BBC Sport. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  9. [9]
    Darbyshire, Drew (12 March 2020). "Lee Radford sacked by Hull FC". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  10. [10]
    Bazeley, Marc (23 April 2020). "Andy Last uses break to settle into Hull FC interim head coach role". Sky Sports. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  11. [11]
    Newsum, Matt (7 August 2020). "Andy Last: Hull FC interim boss on the progression from fan to head coach". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  12. [12]
    Newsum, Matt (19 November 2020). "Super League play-offs: Wigan Warriors beat Hull FC 29-2 to reach Grand Final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  13. [13]
    "Brett Hodgson: Hull FC appoint former Warrington and Huddersfield full-back as head coach". BBC Sport. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  14. [14]
    "Andy Last departs Hull FC to link up with Super League rivals Wakefield Trinity". Sky Sports. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  15. [15]
    "Andy Last appointed assistant coach". Castleford Tigers. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  16. [16]
    "Andy Last looking forward to Lee Radford reunion". Love Rugby League. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  17. [17]
    "Super League: Lee Radford relieved of duties as Castleford Tigers coach as Andy Last takes interim charge". Sky Sports. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  18. [18]
    Newsum, Matt (6 March 2023). "Lee Radford: Castleford Tigers coach leaves Super League club by mutual agreement". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  19. [19]
    "Andy Last: Castleford name England assistant as head coach after interim stint". BBC Sport. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  20. [20]
    "Andy Last: Castleford Tigers sack head coach after falling to bottom of Super League". BBC Sport. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  21. [21]
    "Andy Last: Castleford Tigers head coach sacked following 28-0 home defeat to Huddersfield Giants". Sky Sports. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  22. [22]
    O'Brien, James (4 August 2023). "Castleford Tigers 0 Huddersfield Giants 28: Andy Last sacked after fifth defeat in a row". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  23. [23]
    Smailes, James (15 April 2020). "Hull FC interim coach Andy Last joins England set-up as Shaun Wane names coaching team". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  24. [24]
    Gordon, James (18 April 2023). "England coach gives backing as Andy Last set for Castleford job". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
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