Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Gareth Stephens[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Pontefract, England[1] | 15 April 1974|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Stand-off, Scrum-half | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [2] |
Gareth Stephens (born 15 April 1974) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a stand-off or scrum-half in the 1990s and 2000s. He played at representative level for Great Britain (Under-21s), and Wales, and at club level for Leeds where he signed a record schoolboy contract and made his first team debut at the age of 17, Castleford Tigers (Heritage No. 710), Hull FC, Sheffield Eagles and the York Wasps.[2]
Stephens was born in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England, and he is the son of Gary Stephens,[3] former rugby league international footballer of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Gareth Stephens is also the cousin of Dean Hanson,[4] the rugby league prop, second-row, or loose forward of the 1980s and 1990s for Halifax and the Illawarra Steelers.
Stephens started his career at Leeds, making his début in September 1991.[5] He was signed by Castleford for £65000 in July 1994.[6] He went on to play for Hull FC, Sheffield Eagles, Halifax Blue Sox and York Wasps.[7][8]
Stephens won caps at Great Britain academy and U21 level along with four caps for Wales between 1995 and 1998, including at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup.[2]