Club career

In 1980, Waddell had trials with rugby league club Keighley,^[9] but was not offered a contract. In 1983, while on holiday in Blackpool, he asked for a trial at Blackpool Borough, and subsequently accepted an offer to sign for the club.^[10]

In January 1987, Waddell was signed by Oldham for a fee of £15,000.^[11][12]

Waddell joined Leeds in September 1988.^[11] He played in Leeds' 33–12 victory over Castleford in the 1988 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1988–89 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Sunday 16 October 1988.

Waddell joined Sheffield Eagles in 1990, and went on to play for Swinton, Wakefield Trinity and Rochdale Hornets. In 1994, he joined Carlisle. He was briefly appointed as player-coach at the club following the departure of Cameron Bell, but was replaced as coach a few months later by Paul Charlton. He played for South Wales RLFC in 1996 before finishing his professional career with Barrow.^[13]

Representative career

Waddell made his international debut in 1984 while at Blackpool Borough, making his first (and only) appearance for England against Wales.^[2]

He debuted for Great Britain while at Oldham in 1988, playing in two matches against France. He was selected for the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour later that year, and was the only player from a Second Division club to be chosen in the squad. He played in two Test matches during the tour; the 26–12 victory against Australia in the 3rd Ashes Test, and the 10–12 defeat against New Zealand. He made one further appearance for Great Britain while at Leeds in 1989 against France.^[3]

Waddell also made four appearances for the newly-formed Scotland national team in 1995, including playing all three games for the team at the 1995 Emerging Nations Tournament.