Andy Last
{{short description|English rugby league footballer and coach}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Andy Last
|fullname = Andrew Gary Last[https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?scan=1&r=266586593:6560&d=bmd_1653949805 FreeBMD Entry Information]
|image = Andy Last.jpg
|imagesize = 290
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|3|25|df=y}}
|birth_place = Kingston upon Hull, Humberside, England
|death_date =
|height =
|weight =
|position = {{rlp|HK}}
|club1 = {{nowrap|Hull FC}}
|year1start = 1999
|year1end = 05
|appearances1 = 29
|tries1 = 4
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 16
|coachteam1 = {{nowrap|Hull FC}}
|coachyear1start = 2020
|coachyear1end =
|coachgames1 = 14
|coachwins1 = 8
|coachdraws1 = 0
|coachlosses1 = 6
|coachteam2 = {{nowrap|Castleford Tigers}}
|coachyear2start = 2023
|coachyear2end =
|coachgames2 = 19
|coachwins2 = 4
|coachdraws2 = 0
|coachlosses2 = 15
|retired =
|source = [https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/andy-last/summary.html Rugby League Project playing][https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/andy-last/summary.html Rugby League Project coaching][https://stats.rugbyleaguerecords.com/playersummary.php?tselect=5007 RL Record Keepers' Club]
|updated = 4 August 2023
}}
Andy Last (born 25 March 1981) is an English professional rugby league coach who is the assistant coach for the England national rugby league team and a former professional rugby league footballer.
He is a former head coach of Hull FC and the Castleford Tigers in the Super League. He played as a {{rlp|hk}} for Hull FC in the Super League between 1999 and 2005.
Background
Last was born in Kingston upon Hull, Humberside, England.
Playing career
On 1 August 1999, Last made his Super League debut for Hull FC against the Warrington Wolves.{{Cite web |last=Bazeley |first=Marc |date=25 April 2020 |title=Andy Last: England assistant and Hull FC coach stepping out of the shadows |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/11978296/andy-last-england-assistant-and-hull-fc-coach-stepping-out-of-the-shadows |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=Sky Sports}} The return of Lee Jackson to Hull in 2001 saw Last playing mainly for the A-team, before he suffered a broken tibia and fibula to end his career prematurely. He made a total of 29 appearances and scored 4 tries, with his final appearance made at the age of 24.
Coaching career
= Hull F.C. (youth, assistant, interim) =
Last joined the coaching staff of Hull FC. In 2005, he led the club's under-21s side to Academy Grand Final victory.{{cite web |date=30 January 2021 |title=What became of Hull FC's 2005 Academy Grand Final winners |url=https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/hull-fc-2005-happened-next-4138296 |access-date=27 February 2021 |publisher=Hull Daily Mail}} He worked as an assistant coach for the first team under Lee Radford, winning back-to-back Challenge Cups in 2016 and 2017.{{Cite web |date=21 December 2020 |title=Andy Last: Wakefield Trinity bring long-serving Hull coach in as Chester's assistant |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/55393761 |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=BBC Sport}}
On 12 March 2020, Last was announced as Hull's interim head coach following Radford's dismissal, with Kieron Purtill being his assistant.{{Cite web |date=12 March 2020 |title=Super League: Lee Radford sacked after Hull beaten by Warrington |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/51817083 |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=BBC Sport}}{{Cite web |last=Darbyshire |first=Drew |date=12 March 2020 |title=Lee Radford sacked by Hull FC |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/lee-radford-sacked-by-hull-fc |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=Love Rugby League}} Four days later, the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Last would only coach his first game in August.{{Cite web |last=Bazeley |first=Marc |date=23 April 2020 |title=Andy Last uses break to settle into Hull FC interim head coach role |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/11070/11977633/andy-last-uses-break-to-settle-into-hull-fc-interim-head-coach-role |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=Sky Sports}}{{Cite web |last=Newsum |first=Matt |date=7 August 2020 |title=Andy Last: Hull FC interim boss on the progression from fan to head coach |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/53680209 |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=BBC Sport}} He guided Hull to a 6th-placed finish and reached the play-off semi-finals.{{Cite web |last=Newsum |first=Matt |date=19 November 2020 |title=Super League play-offs: Wigan Warriors beat Hull FC 29-2 to reach Grand Final |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/54976143 |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=BBC Sport}} In November 2020, Hull appointed Brett Hodgson as their new head coach, with Last offered an alternative position.{{Cite web |date=25 November 2020 |title=Brett Hodgson: Hull FC appoint former Warrington and Huddersfield full-back as head coach |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/55079258 |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=BBC Sport}}
= Wakefield Trinity (assistant) =
On 21 December 2020, Wakefield Trinity appointed Last as an assistant coach, to work alongside Chris Chester and Willie Poching. Last said he opted for this role to "spread [his] wings and gain some different experiences", rather than remaining at Hull in a role "tailored to his skill-set" according to chairman Adam Pearson.{{Cite web |date=21 December 2020 |title=Andy Last departs Hull FC to link up with Super League rivals Wakefield Trinity |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/12169315/andy-last-departs-hull-fc-to-link-up-with-super-league-rivals-wakefield-trinity |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=Sky Sports}}
= Castleford Tigers (assistant, interim) =
On 29 September 2021, the Castleford Tigers announced the appointment of Last as assistant coach following the arrival of Lee Radford as head coach.{{Cite web |date=29 September 2021 |title=Andy Last appointed assistant coach |url=https://castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=7652 |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=Castleford Tigers}}{{Cite web |date=30 September 2021 |title=Andy Last looking forward to Lee Radford reunion |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/andy-last-lee-radford-reunion |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=Love Rugby League}}
On 6 March 2023, Last was appointed interim head coach of Castleford when Radford was relieved of his duties.{{Cite web |date=6 March 2023 |title=Super League: Lee Radford relieved of duties as Castleford Tigers coach as Andy Last takes interim charge |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/13995/12827219/super-league-lee-radford-relieved-of-duties-as-castleford-tigers-coach-as-andy-last-takes-interim-charge |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=Sky Sports}}{{Cite web |last=Newsum |first=Matt |date=6 March 2023 |title=Lee Radford: Castleford Tigers coach leaves Super League club by mutual agreement |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/64861536 |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=BBC Sport}} He took charge of six fixtures while the club held talks with candidates in their selection process. On 19 April 2023, he was named as full-time head coach on a two-and-a-half-year deal.{{Cite web |date=19 April 2023 |title=Andy Last: Castleford name England assistant as head coach after interim stint |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/65327804 |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=BBC Sport}} On 4 August 2023, immediately following a defeat against Huddersfield that left the Tigers at the bottom of the Super League table for the first time, Last departed Castleford.{{Cite web |date=4 August 2023 |title=Andy Last: Castleford Tigers sack head coach after falling to bottom of Super League |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/66412788 |access-date=4 August 2023 |website=BBC Sport}}{{Cite web |date=4 August 2023 |title=Andy Last: Castleford Tigers head coach sacked following 28-0 home defeat to Huddersfield Giants |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12204/12933921/andy-last-castleford-tigers-head-coach-sacked-following-28-0-home-defeat-to-huddersfield-giants |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=Sky Sports}}{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=James |date=4 August 2023 |title=Castleford Tigers 0 Huddersfield Giants 28: Andy Last sacked after fifth defeat in a row |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/castleford-tigers-0-huddersfield-giants-28-andy-last-sacked-after-fifth-defeat-in-a-row-4244649 |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=The Yorkshire Post}}
= England (assistant) =
In April 2020, while interim head coach of Hull FC, Last joined the coaching staff for the England national team in the build up towards the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.{{Cite web |last=Smailes |first=James |date=15 April 2020 |title=Hull FC interim coach Andy Last joins England set-up as Shaun Wane names coaching team |url=https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/rugby-league-news/england-rugby-league-andy-last-4049586 |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=Hull Daily Mail}}{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=James |date=18 April 2023 |title=England coach gives backing as Andy Last set for Castleford job |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/england-coach-backing-andy-last-castleford |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=Love Rugby League}}
In June 2024, Last was Acting Head Coach for England's mid-season game against France, as Head Coach Shaun Wane was recovering from an ankle operation.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/c729wv5r2d5o | title=Shaun Wane: England head coach to miss France Test to recover from ankle surgery | date=27 June 2024 }} Last guided England to a 40–8 victory.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/cw9ylwnl9zpo | title=France 8-40 England: Handley, Welsby, Johnstone score two tries apiece in England win | date=29 June 2024 }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.castlefordtigers.com/player.php?playerid=1373 Castleford Tigers profile]
{{Castleford Tigers coaches}}
{{Hull FC coaches}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Last, Andy}}
Category:Castleford Tigers coaches
Category:English rugby league coaches