Samy_Kibula

Samy Kibula

Samy Kibula

Congolese professional rugby league footballer

Samy Kibula (born 7 August 1999) is a Congolese professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop forward for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League.

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He has previously played for the Wigan Warriors and the Warrington Wolves in the Super League, and for the Bradford Bulls and the Batley Bulldogs in the RFL Championship. He has spent time on loan at the Swinton Lions and the Dewsbury Rams in the Championship, and at the London Skolars and Oldham in League 1.

Background

Kibula was born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo[4] to a Congolese father and South African mother.[5] Aged 2, his family moved to the United Kingdom, settling in Wigan and later Tyldesley.[6]

Growing up, Kibula played junior rugby union for Leigh RUFC and Sale Sharks and rugby league for Leigh Miners Rangers.[6][7] He joined the Wigan Warriors youth system, winning two Academy Grand Finals in 2017 and 2018.[8]

Playing career

Wigan Warriors

On 12 July 2018, Kibula made his Super League début for the Wigan Warriors against the Huddersfield Giants.[9]

Swinton Lions (loan)

Kibula joined the Swinton Lions in the RFL Championship on loan at the start of the 2018 season. On 18 February, he made his professional debut for Swinton against the Batley Bulldogs.[10]

In June 2019, Swinton announced the return of Kibula on a month-long loan deal,[11] which was later extended until the end of the season.[12] He made 11 appearances in his second stint at the club, scoring tries against Bradford and Widnes.[2]

London Skolars (DR)

Kibula made two appearances for the London Skolars in League 1 during the 2018 season, through their dual registration agreement with Wigan.[2] On 23 June, he scored two tries against the North Wales Crusaders.[13]

Dewsbury Rams (loan)

Kibula joined the Dewsbury Rams in the Championship on loan at the start of the 2019 season. He was sent off, but avoided suspension,[14] for a "minor" altercation after conceding a try to Swinton.[15] He made 12 appearances, scoring tries against Featherstone and Thatto Heath, before departing in June.[16]

Warrington Wolves

In September 2019, the Warrington Wolves announced the signing of Kibula on a one-year deal ahead of the 2020 season.[8][17] His younger brother Ambrose was already on the club's scholarship system.[18] He made his Warrington debut on 30 August against Wakefield Trinity.[19]

Newcastle Thunder (loan)

On 20 December 2020, it was announced that Kibula would join the Newcastle Thunder in the Championship on a season-long loan.[20] However, in March, he suffered a ruptured Achilles in training, forcing him to miss the entirety of the season.[21]

Bradford Bulls

On 4 October 2021, the Bradford Bulls announced the signing of Kibula on a one-year deal for the 2022 Championship season.[22][23] In his sole season at the club, he made 14 appearances and scored tries against Dewsbury and Halifax.[2]

Dewsbury Rams (loan)

In May 2022, Kibula joined the Dewsbury on a two-week loan deal for his second spell with the Rams.[24][25] He made two appearances and scored a try against Featherstone.[2]

Batley Bulldogs

On 18 November 2022, it was announced that Kibula had signed for the Batley Bulldogs for the 2023 season.[26][27] He featured in Batley's 1895 Cup final defeat against the Halifax Panthers at Wembley.[28] He made a total of 19 appearances, his highest tally yet in a first-grade season, and scored three tries against Keighley, Halifax and Barrow.[2] Head coach Craig Lingard later said, "last season he really developed at Batley and turned out to be a standout player there."[29]

Oldham (loan)

In May 2023, Kibula joined League 1 side Oldham on a one-month loan deal.[30][5] He made four appearances for the Roughyeds and scored one try.[2]

Castleford Tigers

On 19 October 2023, the Castleford Tigers announced the signing of Kibula.[31] He would join on a one-year deal for 2024, with an option for a further year.[29] This move would see him return to a full-time environment and follow former coach Craig Lingard, who had been appointed the new head coach at Castleford.[32]

Kibula made his Castleford debut on 25 February against the Salford Red Devils in round 2 of the 2024 season.[33]

References

  1. [1]
    The future looks bright for Wigan Warriors despite poor pre-season results
  2. [2]
    RL Record Keepers' Club
  3. [3]
    Rugby League Project
  4. [4]
    The future looks bright for Wigan Warriors despite poor pre-season results
  5. [5]
    "All about our new man". Oldham RLFC. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  6. [6]
    Bower, Aaron (10 January 2020). "Warrington prop Kibula keen to repay parents after leaving life in DR Congo behind for new start in England". TotalRL. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  7. [7]
    "Ten facts with: Samy Kibula". Swinton Lions. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  8. [8]
    Turner, Matt (12 September 2019). "Warrington Wolves sign Samy Kibula from Wigan Warriors". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  9. [9]
    "Super League: Huddersfield Giants 20-12 Wigan Warriors". BBC Sport. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  10. [10]
    "Swinton 28 - 48 Batley - Match Report & Highlights". Sky Sports. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  11. [11]
    "Lions make double signing as one departs". Swinton Lions. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  12. [12]
    "Swinton extend Kibula loan to end of season". Swinton Lions. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  13. [13]
    "London Skolars 28-36 North Wales Crusaders". BBC Sport. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  14. [14]
    Darbyshire, Drew (30 May 2019). "Championship forward not facing suspension for incident with ball boy". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  15. [15]
    Darbyshire, Drew (31 May 2019). "Dewsbury forward Samy Kibula apologises to ball boy after incident at Swinton". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  16. [16]
    Darbyshire, Drew (7 June 2019). "Swinton make double signing as one leaves the club". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  17. [17]
    Darbyshire, Drew (12 September 2019). "Warrington sign Samy Kibula from Wigan". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  18. [18]
    Darbyshire, Drew (9 January 2020). "Samy Kibula dreams of playing alongside his brother for Warrington". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  19. [19]
    "Super League: Warrington 36-0 Wakefield". BBC Sport. 30 August 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  20. [20]
    Turner, Matt (20 December 2020). "Newcastle Thunder sign Samy Kibula on loan from Warrington". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  21. [21]
    Shaw, Matthew (16 March 2021). "Warrington Wolves forward ruled out for the season". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  22. [22]
    Parker, Simon (4 October 2021). "Warrington forward Kibula joins Bradford Bulls for 2022". The Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  23. [23]
    "Samy Kibula eyes promotion after making Championship switch". Love Rugby League. 5 Oct 2021. Retrieved 12 Oct 2021.
  24. [24]
    Atkinson, Nathan (13 May 2022). "Bradford allow Kibula to join Dewsbury on loan". The Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  25. [25]
    "Rams secure Kibula loan". Dewsbury Rams. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  26. [26]
    Walker, Callum (18 November 2022). "Ex-Bradford Bulls and Warrington Wolves man joins Championship side". TotalRL. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  27. [27]
    Pattison, Cam (18 November 2022). "Former Wigan Warriors & Warrington Wolves youngster joins Championship side". Serious About Rugby League. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  28. [28]
    "1895 Cup final: Batley Bulldogs 10-12 Halifax Panthers". BBC Sport. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  29. [29]
    Darbyshire, Drew (19 October 2023). "Castleford Tigers make another new signing for 2024: 'He could be a really good pick up for us'". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  30. [30]
    "Kibula in ahead of crucial period". Oldham RLFC. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  31. [31]
    "Kibula is a Tiger". Castleford Tigers. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  32. [32]
    O'Brien, James (19 October 2023). "'Could be a really good pick-up': Castleford Tigers land former Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves prop Samy Kibula". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  33. [33]
    "Super League: Salford Red Devils 26-22 Castleford Tigers - Hosts hold on for first win". BBC Sport. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
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