Ryan_Bailey_(rugby_league)

Ryan Bailey (rugby league)

Ryan Bailey (rugby league)

Former Great Britain and England international and rugby league footballer

Ryan Bailey (born 11 November 1983) is an English former rugby league footballer who played as a prop. A Great Britain and England international and Yorkshire representative, he played the majority of his club career at the Leeds Rhinos, making over 300 appearances and winning six Super League championships and three World Club Challenges with the club. After leaving Leeds, Bailey played for Hull Kingston Rovers, Castleford Tigers and the Warrington Wolves. After Super League his playing career continued in League 1 with a Canadian club, Toronto Wolfpack, and then at Workington Town. He then went to Leigh Centurions in the Championship.

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Background

Bailey was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. His father is of West Indian heritage.[6]

Playing career

Leeds Rhinos

Bailey made his Super League début for Leeds in 2002 at age 18.[7]

Bailey played for the Leeds Rhinos as a prop in their 2004 Super League Grand Final victory against the Bradford Bulls. He was then selected in the Great Britain team to compete in the end of season 2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament. In the final against Australia Bailey played from the interchange bench in the Lions' 44–4 loss.

As Super League IX champions, the Leeds club faced 2004 NRL season premiers, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the 2005 World Club Challenge. Bailey played as a prop in Leeds' 39–32 victory. He played for Leeds in the 2005 Challenge Cup Final as a prop in their loss against Hull FC.[8] Bailey played for the Leeds club as a prop in their 2005 Super League Grand Final loss against Bradford. Bailey played in the 2008 Super League Grand Final victory over St Helens.[9]

Bailey played in the 2009 Super League Grand Final victory over St. Helens at Old Trafford.[10] Bailey played in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final defeat by Warrington at Wembley Stadium.[11][12] Bailey played from the interchange bench for Leeds in the 2011 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Wigan at Wembley Stadium.[13][14]

Bailey played in the 2011 Super League Grand Final victory over St. Helens at Old Trafford.[15][16]

Bailey (pictured right) playing for the Leeds Rhinos in 2012.

Bailey played in the 2012 Challenge Cup Final defeat by Warrington at Wembley Stadium.[17][18][19][20]

Bailey played in the 2012 Super League Grand Final victory over Warringtonat Old Trafford.[21][18] In 2014, Leeds held a testimonial game for Bailey against London Broncos.[22] On 8 May 2014, he made his 300th career appearance for the Leeds club. Bailey played in the 2014 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Castleford Tigers at Wembley Stadium.[23]

Hull KR

In 2015 Bailey moved to Hull Kingston Rovers. He was not fit enough to play former club Leeds in the opening game of the season but went on to score on his début the week after. In March it was announced Bailey had been released because of personal issues after only playing one game for the club.[citation needed]

Castleford Tigers

A month later he joined the Castleford Tigers for the remainder of the season where he rejoined former coach Daryl Powell. He played six games and scored one try before being released at the end of the season.[citation needed]

Warrington Wolves

In November 2015 Warrington announced the signing of Bailey on a one-year contract for the 2016 season. There, he would play under Tony Smith again with whom he won two Grand Finals with at Leeds. Bailey publicly opened up about his struggle with depression in 2016.[24] He played in the 2016 Challenge Cup Final defeat by Hull F.C. at Wembley Stadium.[25][26] He played in the 2016 Super League Grand Final defeat by Wigan at Old Trafford.[27]

Toronto Wolfpack

Ahead of the 2017 season, Bailey signed for newcomers to Rugby League Toronto. He made his début for the new club in an 80-0 victory over North Wales Crusaders. He then went on to play in seven more games that year and helped in securing the Wolfpack's Kingston Press League 1 triumph and subsequent promotion to the Betfred Championship. On 18 January 2018, it was reported that Bailey, along with teammates Fuifui Moimoi and David Taylor, parted ways with the club by "mutual agreement" following a preseason training camp in Portugal.[28] It was later reported that the players had twice missed curfew during the trip.[29]

Workington Town

After his departure from Toronto, Bailey joined league 1 side Workington in January 2018.[30] After playing just six games for the Cumbrian team, Bailey was offered a chance to move up to the Championship to play for Leigh and left Workington in April 2018.[31]

Leigh Centurions and retirement

Bailey joined Leigh in April 2018 and made 11 appearances for the club in the 2018 season.[32] In November 2018, Bailey joined Featherstone Rovers on a trial contract but decided to retire from the game in February 2019 aged 35.[33][34]

Controversies

In July 2003, he was found guilty of brawling in the street in Leeds, and was sent to a young offender institution for nine months.[35]

Bailey played for the Leeds Rhinos as a prop in their 2004 Super League Grand Final victory against the Bradford Bulls. He was then selected in the Great Britain team to compete in the end of season 2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament. In the final against Australia Bailey played from the interchange bench in the Lions' 44–4 loss. On 23 December 2004 the Rugby Football League fined Bailey along with Leeds' teammate Keith Senior £1,500 each after they tested positive to the banned stimulant ephedrine.[36]

Bailey was charged with "evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection" during a routine drugs testing session at Toronto's Lamport Stadium on 30 May 2017. An arbitration panel appointed by the UK National Anti-Doping Panel concluded that Bailey had committed an anti-doping rule violation, but that the exceptional circumstances of the case were such that there was no fault or negligence to be apportioned to Bailey and therefore no suspension under the anti-doping rules should be applied. The panel heard evidence, including psychiatric evidence, over three days and heard that Bailey had during the testing process, developed a genuine, if unjustified, belief that the water offered to him by the testing officials was contaminated in some way.[37] The panel also noted that Bailey did take a drugs test three days after the original incident that was negative and stressed that they did not consider Bailey a cheat or someone trying to cover up drug taking.[37] The case is believed to be the first case where a player who has refused to take a test has not been punished.[37]

Honours

Leeds Rhinos

Winner (6): 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012
Runner up (1): 2005
Winner (1): 2014
Runner up (1): 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012

Warrington Wolves

Runner up (1): 2016
Runner up (1): 2016

Toronto Wolfpack

Winner (1): 2017

References

  1. [1]
    "Leeds Rhinos Players & Coaches 1st Team". web page. Leeds Rhinos. 2011. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  2. [2]
    "Player Summary: Ryan Bailey". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  3. [3]
    "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. [4]
    "England Statistics". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. [5]
    "Great Britain Statistics". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. [6]
    "Leeds Rhinos back rugby league in Jamacia [sic]". Archived from the original on 9 July 2006. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  7. [7]
    "Ryan Bailey turns down move to Australia to stay at Leeds Rhinos". The Guardian. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  8. [8]
    "Hull stun Leeds in Challenge Cup". BBC News. 27 August 2005. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  9. [9]
    "2008 Grand Final". BBC. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
  10. [10]
    Fletcher, Paul (10 October 2009). "St Helens 10-18 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  11. [11]
    Scott, Ged (28 August 2010). "Leeds 6–30 Warrington". BBC. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  12. [12]
    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.
  13. [13]
    Scott, Ged (27 August 2011). "Leeds 18-28 Wigan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  14. [14]
    Wilson, Andy (27 August 2011). "Leeds Rhinos 18-28 Wigan Warriors – Challenge Cup final match report". The Guardian. London.
  15. [15]
    "Leeds claim Grand Final glory as inspired Rob Burrow sinks St Helens". Guardian. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  16. [16]
    "St Helens 16 Leeds 32". Daily Telegraph. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  17. [17]
    "Warrington's battered Brett Hodgson recovers to see off Leeds in final". Guardian UK. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  18. [18]
    "Leeds' Kevin Sinfield stars in Grand Final triumph against Warrington". Guardian. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  19. [19]
    "Leeds Rhinos 18–35 Warrington Wolves". BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  20. [20]
    "Warrington Wolves Are Challenge Cup Winners 2012!". Warrington Wolves Official Site. 25 August 2012. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  21. [21]
    "Grand Final: Warrington 18-26 Leeds". BBC Sport. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  22. [22]
    "Leeds 62 London Broncos 10". Sporting Life. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  23. [23]
    "Leeds lift Challenge Cup after Ryan Hall's double stuns Castleford". Guardian. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  24. [24]
    "Ryan Bailey: Help for depression aided Warrington move". BBC Sport. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  25. [25]
    "Hull FC's Jamie Shaul's late try takes Challenge Cup away from Warrington". Guardian. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  26. [26]
    "Challenge Cup final: Hull FC 12-10 Warrington Wolves". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  27. [27]
    "Warrington 6-12 Wigan: Super League Grand Final – as it happened!". Guardian. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  28. [28]
    "Toronto Wolfpack part ways with Dave Taylor, Fuifui Moimoi reportedly following off-field incident". News.com.au. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  29. [29]
    "REVEALED: The reason Taylor and Moimoi were axed from Toronto". Sporting News. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  30. [30]
    "Workington Town swoop for former Super League prop Ryan Bailey". News and Star. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  31. [31]
    "Ryan Bailey leaves Workington Town to join up with Leigh Centurions". News and Star. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  32. [32]
    "Leigh Centurions swoop for six-time Grand Final winning prop Ryan Bailey". Daily Mirror. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  33. [33]
    "Ex-Leeds Rhinos star Ryan Bailey links up with his old pal at Featherstone Rovers". Yorkshire Post. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  34. [34]
    "Ryan Bailey: Former Leeds Rhinos prop retires from rugby league". BBC Sport. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  35. [35]
    "Rugby league stars jailed". BBC News. 29 July 2003. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  36. [36]
    Fisher, Michael (24 December 2004). "More education crucial as trio fail drugs test". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  37. [37]
    "Ryan Bailey: Ex-England & Great Britain prop avoids ban after 'landmark' drugs case". BBC Sport. 3 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.

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