Andy Ackers
{{short description|England international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
| name = Andy Ackers
|fullname = Andrew Ackers
|image = Andy Ackers Toronto Wolfpack.jpg
|position = {{rlp|HK}}
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|12|25|df=y}}
|birth_place = Golborne, England
|height = {{convert|5|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|14|st|2|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
|club1 = Swinton Lions
|year1start = 2014
|year1end = 15
|appearances1 = 56
|tries1 = 26
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 104
|club2 = London Broncos
|year2start = 2016
|year2end = 17
|appearances2 = 48
|tries2 = 20
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 80
|club3 = Toronto Wolfpack
|year3start = 2018
|year3end = 20
|appearances3 = 66
|tries3 = 28
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 112
|club4 = {{nowrap|Salford Red Devils}}
|year4start = 2020
|year4end = 23
|appearances4 = 74
|tries4 = 10
|goals4 = 0
|fieldgoals4 = 0
|points4 = 40
| club5 = {{nowrap|Leeds Rhinos}}
| year5start = 2024
| year5end = present
| appearances5 = 24
| tries5 = 0
| goals5 = 0
| fieldgoals5 = 0
| points5 = 0
| teamA = {{rlnt|England}}
| yearAstart = 2022
| yearAend =
| appearancesA = 2
| triesA = 2
| goalsA = 0
| fieldgoalsA = 0
| pointsA = 8
|retired =
|source = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/andy-ackers/summary.html Rugby League Project]{{Rugby league records|name=Andy Ackers|id=3086 |access-date=23 July 2023}}
|updated = 18 October 2023
}}
Andrew Ackers (born 25 December 1993) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|hk}} for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League and represents England at the international level.
He has previously played for the Swinton Lions in the Championship and Championship 1, the London Broncos in the Championship, and the Toronto Wolfpack in the Championship and the Super League.
Background
Ackers was born in Golborne, Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. He started playing rugby league at the age of 12 for Golborne Parkside before signing for Hindley.{{cite web |title=Hard work and self belief: The remarkable rise of Andy Ackers |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/hard-work-and-self-belief-the-remarkable-rise-of-andy-ackers/ |website=Love Rugby League |access-date=10 October 2022 |date=12 October 2020}}
Playing career
=Early career=
Ackers was recruited into the Wigan Warriors Academy at the age of 18. He played for the under-18s during the 2012 season{{cite web |title=Wigan Rugby League History - 2012 Valvoline Academy (Under 18s) |url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=3346 |website=www.cherryandwhite.co.uk |access-date=10 October 2022}} but was released without making a single first-team appearance. Ackers then signed with Warrington after a successful trial and captained their under-19s team in 2013.
In the 2014 season, Ackers joined Championship side Swinton Lions on loan before signing a permanent deal with the club a year later. Over a two-year period, he scored 26 tries in 56 games.
=London Broncos=
Ackers became a full time professional as a 23-year-old at the London Broncos signing for the 2016 and 2017.
It was announced on 9 May 2016, that Ackers extended his contract to the end of the 2018 season.{{cite web |title=Ackers commits to London |url=https://www.totalrl.com/ackers-commits-london/ |website=Total Rugby League |access-date=10 October 2022 |date=9 May 2016}}
The London Broncos finished 2nd in both 2016 and 2017, thus he played in the Qualifiers Super 8's for a place in Super League.
File:Andy Ackers London Broncos away @Toulouse.jpg in 2017]]
Ackers last game for London was an away game against Widnes Vikings in the Qualifiers on 16 September 2017. Shortly after, he left the club after the Broncos accepted his request to be released for family reasons.{{cite web |title=Barthau and Ackers granted Broncos release |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/barthau-ackers-granted-broncos-release/ |website=Love Rugby League |access-date=10 October 2022 |date=27 September 2017}}
=Toronto Wolfpack=
Ackers signed for Canadian-based club Toronto Wolfpack a few days after his release. The move was criticised by London Broncos, as Ackers had initially requested his release in order to spend more time with his family in the north of England.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/11064293/london-broncos-criticise-andy-ackers-move-to-toronto-wolfpack/|title=London Broncos criticise Andy Ackers' move to Toronto Wolfpack|website=www.skysports.com}} In both seasons in the Championship his team made the finals stages. His first season saw his club beaten by 4 points at 2 in the Million Pound Game with Ackers sinbinned in the final for a high tackle.
File:Andy Ackers Toronto.jpg in 2019]]
His second season saw his club beat part-time Featherstone to be promoted. His third season saw Toronto lose all their Super League games and become hot favourites for relegation. Ackers suddenly left in June 2020; a few weeks before the events at Toronto that would see them ultimately liquidated.{{Cite web |url=https://www.torontowolfpack.com/toronto-wolfpack-thanks-fans-for-incredible-journey/ |title=Toronto Wolfpack Thank Fans for Incredible Journey |website=Toronto Wolfpack |date=24 November 2020 |access-date=12 February 2021}}
=Salford=
On 4 June 2020, Ackers left Toronto and signed a contract with Salford that would run until 2022.{{cite web |title=Hooker Andy Ackers leaves Toronto Wolfpack for the Salford Red Devils |url=https://www.rmotoday.com/national-sports/hooker-andy-ackers-leaves-toronto-wolfpack-for-the-salford-red-devils-2410438 |website=Rocky Mountain Outlook |access-date=10 October 2022 |date=4 June 2020}} Following an impressive start to the 2022 season it was announced Ackers had signed one-year contract extension with Salford Red Devils which would keep him at the AJ Bell Stadium until the end of the 2023 season.{{cite web |title=Andy Ackers leaves Toronto Wolfpack for the Salford Red Devils |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/rugby/andy-ackers-leaves-toronto-wolfpack-salford-red-devils/ |website=sportsnet.ca |accessdate=16 July 2020 |language=en}}
In the 2023 Super League season, Ackers played 20 matches for Salford as the club finished 7th on the table and missed the playoffs.{{cite web|url=https://www.salfordnow.co.uk/2023/10/02/salford-red-devils-2023-season-in-review/|title=Salford Red Devils' 2023 season in review|website=www.salfordnow.co.uk|date=2 October 2023 }}
=Leeds=
On 18 October 2023, Ackers signed a three-year deal to join Leeds ahead of the 2024 Super League season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/67143663/|title=Brodie Croft & Andy Ackers: Leeds Rhinos sign Salford Red Devils pair on three-year deals|website=BBC Sport|date=18 Oct 2023}}
In round 1 of the 2024 Super League season, Ackers made his club debut for Leeds against his former team Salford. Leeds would win the match 22-16.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/68304724/|title=Super League: Leeds 22-16 Salford - Two tries for Ash Handley as Rhinos outlast Red Devils|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}
Ackers played 24 games for Leeds in the 2024 Super League which saw the club finish 8th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/from-310-to-810-peter-smiths-leeds-rhinos-player-ratings-for-2024-season-4799226/|title=Leeds Rhinos player ratings from the 2024 Super League season|website=www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk}}
=England=
Following an outstanding season with Salford, Ackers was announced as part of Shaun Wane's England World Cup squad on 30 September 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/63087279/|title=Rugby League World Cup: England name Dom Young and Victor Radley in squad|work=BBC Sport }}
In the third group stage match at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, Ackers scored two tries for England in a 94–4 victory over minnows Greece.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/63439484/|title=Rugby League World Cup: England crush Greece as Dom Young scores four tries|work=BBC Sport }}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.salfordreddevils.net/team/first-team/andy-ackers/ Salford Red Devils profile]
- [https://www.superleague.co.uk/player/1007/andy%3Cbr-%3Eackers SL profile]
- [https://www.torontowolfpack.com/player/andy-ackers/ Toronto Wolfpack profile]
- [http://www.londonbroncosrl.com/players/andy-ackers/London Broncos profile]
- [https://www.nrl.com/players/rugby-league-world-cup/england/andy-ackers/ England profile]
{{Leeds Rhinos squad}}
{{Toronto Wolfpack - 2019 Million Pound Game winners}}
{{England 2021 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ackers, Andy}}
Category:England national rugby league team players
Category:English expatriate rugby league players
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Canada
Category:English rugby league players
Category:Expatriate rugby league players in Canada
Category:London Broncos players
Category:Sportspeople from the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan
Category:Rugby league players from Wigan
Category:Salford Red Devils players
Category:Swinton Lions players