Paul Wellens
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2013) |
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full name | Paul Simon Wellens[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | [2] St Helens, Merseyside, England | 27 February 1980||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 14 st 9 lb (93 kg)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Fullback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coaching information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As of 26 April 2024 |
Paul Simon Wellens (born 27 February 1980) is an English professional
A
Early life
Born in St Helens, Wellens was educated by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, along with his twin sister Claire who as of 2018 is a Drama teacher at De La Salle.[citation needed]
Playing career
Wellens joined the
2000s
Having won the 1999 Championship, St Helens contested in the 2000 World Club Challenge against National Rugby League Premiers the Melbourne Storm, with Wellens playing at hooker in the loss. Wellens played for St Helens at fullback in their 2000 Super League Grand Final victory over Wigan, and in their 2001 World Club Challenge victory against the Brisbane Broncos.[citation needed]
Wellens played for St Helens at fullback in their 2002 Super League Grand Final victory against Bradford Bulls but was forced to leave the field after just two minutes with a broken cheekbone, which ruled him out of Great Britain's international series against New Zealand the following month.[7] With a point to prove, Wellens became one of Super League's most notable performers and made the number 1 jersey his own at international level whenever Kris Radlinski was injured. His attitude and aptitude to the game earned him a reputation as a model professional. As one of the quieter members of a squad littered with big names and personalities, it was all the more creditable that Wellens earned St Helens player of the season award in 2004 to underline his value at Knowsley Road, establishing himself as one of the fans' favourites. Wellens was selected in the Great Britain team to compete in the end of season 2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament. In the final against Australia he played at fullback in the Lions' 44–4 loss.[citation needed]
In the 2006 season which would see St Helens collect all three major honours at domestic level, Wellens' own form was rewarded with the Rugby League Writers' Association player of the year, Super League players' player of the year and the prestigious
In 2007 Wellens continued his form, but added another dimension to his game by becoming one of the league's top try scorers. This was highlighted in the
Wellens was selected for the England squad to compete in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup in Australia. In Group A's first match against Papua New Guinea he played at fullback in England's victory.
In January 2009, Wellens played in his own testimonial match against Wakefield Trinity.
He played in the 2009 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]
2010s
In 2011, Wellens was named joint captain of St. Helens alongside
He played in the 2011 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford.[20][21]
In 2014, Wellens made history by scoring the 1,000th point in his career.[22] St Helens reached the 2014 Super League Grand Final, and Wellens captained them from fullback in what was a record-equalling 10th grand final appearance.[23] Saints defeated Wigan Warriors 14–6 to win their first Super League title in 8 years, with Wellens lifting the trophy.[24][25][26]
Following a failure to recover from a long-standing hip injury, Wellens announced his retirement from playing on 24 June 2015.
Coaching career
On 18 February 2023, Wellens coached St Helens to their shock 13-12 victory over Penrith in the 2023 World Club Challenge.[28] In his first full season in charge, Wellens guided St Helens to a third placed finish on the table. The club would lose their semi-final match against the Catalans Dragons on the full-time siren which ended their four-year reign as champions.[29]
References
- ^ "Paul Simon Wellens". Companies House. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
- ^ a b c "Paul Wellens". saintsrlfc.com. St. Helens. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
- ^ a b "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ a b "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 21 April 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Wellens injury saddens Sculthorpe". BBC Sport. 22 October 2002. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ "Rhinos Take Super League Title". Sky News. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ Burke, David (11 October 2009). "Smith's Crisp". The Daily Mirror. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ AFP (11 October 2009). "Leeds makes it Super League hat-trick". ABC News. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ AAP (11 October 2009). "Leeds claim third successive Grand Final". nrl. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ Linfoot, Ben (10 October 2009). "Grand Final: Leeds Rhinos 18 St Helens 10". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ Correspondent (12 October 2009). "Potter refuses to blame video ref". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ Fletcher, Paul (10 October 2009). "St Helens 10-18 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ "Third time unlucky as Saints fail to halt Rhinos' charge to title". Liverpool Daily Post. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ "Sinfield hails winning culture". The Daily Mirror. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ Stewart, Rob (12 October 2009). "Lee Smith targets place in England rugby union team after Grand Final victory". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ "Sinfield hails historic title win". BBC Sport. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ "Leeds Rhinos fans in homecoming welcome". Yorkshire Evening Post. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ "Leeds claim Grand Final glory as inspired Rob Burrow sinks St Helens". The Guardian. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ "St Helens 16 Leeds 32". The Daily Telegraph. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ "SAINTS AND WELLENS GO MARCHING ON". Archived from the original on 13 April 2014.
- ^ Cartwright, Phil (11 October 2014). "St Helens v Wigan as it happened". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ "St Helens 14 Wigan Warriors 6: Moment of madness from Wales international Ben Flower costs Wigan dear". The Daily Telegraph. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ^ "St Helens win Grand Final after Wigan's Ben Flower is sent off". The Guardian. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ^ "St Helens 14–6 Wigan Warriors". BBC Sport. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ^ "St Helens legend Wellens retires". BBC Sport. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ "St Helens stun Penrith to win World Club Challenge". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Paul Wellens Q&A: Saints review of year and a look to 2024". www.sthelensstar.co.uk. 14 October 2023.
External links
- Saints Heritage Society profile
- (archived by web.archive.org) Wellens Saints Profile
- (archived by web.archive.org) 2001 Ashes profile
- (archived by web.archive.org) Wonderful Wellens Strikes Four Again
- Wellens Wins Man of Steel Award
- Wellens Wins England Call Up