Chris Atkin
{{short description|English professional rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Chris Atkin
|fullname = Christopher Atkin
|image = Chris Atkin Hull KR.jpg
|position = {{rlp|SO|SH|HK|FB|SR|PR|LF|C|W}}
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|2|7|df=y}}
|birth_place = Widnes, Cheshire, England
|height = {{convert|1.72|m|ftin|abbr=on|order=flip}}
|weight = {{convert|82|kg|stlb|abbr=on|order=flip}}
|club1 = {{nowrap|Swinton Lions}}
|year1start = 2014
|year1end = 17
|appearances1 = 108
|tries1 = 44
|goals1 = 268
|fieldgoals1 = 9
|points1 = 721
|club2 = {{nowrap|Hull Kingston Rovers}}
|year2start = 2017
|year2end = 19
|appearances2 = 66
|tries2 = 15
|goals2 = 5
|fieldgoals2 = 5
|points2 = 75
|club3 = Salford Red Devils
|year3start = 2020
|year3end = 25
|appearances3 = 110
|tries3 = 17
|goals3 = 4
|fieldgoals3 = 1
|points3 = 77
| club4 = {{nowrap|Castleford Tigers}}
| year4start = 2025
| year4end = present
| appearances4 = 0
| tries4 = 0
| goals4 = 0
| fieldgoals4 = 0
| points4 = 0
| teamA = {{nowrap|England Knights}}
| yearAstart = 2018
| yearAend =
| appearancesA = 2
| triesA = 0
| goalsA = 0
| fieldgoalsA = 0
| pointsA = 0
| new = yes
| source = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/chris-atkin/summary.html Rugby League Project]{{Rugby league records |id=2479 |title=Chris Atkin |access-date=3 November 2024}}
| updated = 29 April 2025
}}
Christopher Atkin (born 7 February 1993) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|sh|so}} or {{rlp|hk}} for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League and the England Knights at international level.
He has previously played for the Swinton Lions in League 1 and the Championship, occasionally playing as a {{rlp|fb}}.{{cite web|url=http://salfordonline.com/9476-hero-chris-atkin-puts-swinton-lions-in-grand-final-with-last-ditch-win-over-york.html|title=Hero Chris Atkin puts Swinton Lions in Grand Final with last-ditch win over York|publisher=Salford Online|date=28 September 2015|accessdate=14 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.totalrl.com/chris-atkin-swinton-lions-preview|title= Atkin looking to make the most of Whitehaven game|publisher=Total RL|date=5 March 2016|accessdate=14 October 2016}} Atkin also played for Hull Kingston Rovers in the Championship and the Super League.
Background
Atkin was born in Widnes, Cheshire, England. He is a graduate of Liverpool John Moores University. Atkin is also a qualified teacher, previously teaching Physical Education at Wade Deacon High School in Widnes.
Early career
Atkin was in the Widnes Vikings' Academy System and he has previously played for the England Students in the 2013 Student Rugby League World Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/widnes-rugby-youngster-chris-atkin-4279751|title=Widnes rugby youngster Chris Atkin hoping for World Cup future|publisher=Liverpool Echo|date=8 June 2013|accessdate=14 October 2016}}
Atkin was then eventually released by the Widnes Academy System due to them already having two established young halves in Tom Gilmore and Danny Craven.
Senior career
=Swinton (2014-17)=
Between 2014 and 2017, he played for Swinton on a part-time basis under Head Coach, John Duffy. Atkin was the hero in the Swinton's 2015 play-off semi-final victory over the York City Knights, slotting over the match-winning drop-goal in golden-point extra-time, to secure their spot in the 2015 play-off final. Once again, Atkin's impressive performance in the 2015 play-off final against the Keighley Cougars proved to be the difference at the final whistle. Swinton gained promotion to the Championship with a thrilling 29-28 victory over Keighley, with Atkin scoring a try and kicking over a drop-goal, which proved to be the deciding factor come the end of the match.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
=Hull Kingston Rovers (2017 - 2019)=
Atkin was originally slated to join Hull Kingston Rovers in the 2018 season, but due to financial difficulties at Swinton, Hull Kingston Rovers agreed to pay the Swinton club a five-figure transfer fee to secure Atkin's services with immediate effect during the dying stages of the 2017 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/hull-kr/hull-kr-s-financial-pledge-to-fast-track-chris-atkin-deal-1-8642120|title= Hull KR's financial pledge to fast-track Chris Atkin deal|work=The Yorkshire Post|date=10 July 2017|accessdate=26 September 2018}}
On 23 July 2017, Atkin made his Hull Kingston Rovers début against Halifax, in a 28-6 Championship league defeat.{{cite news|url=https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/rugby-league-news/halifax-vs-hull-kr-live-229936|title=Halifax vs Hull KR LIVE – Score updates, match action, pictures and reaction|work=Hull Daily Mail|date=23 July 2017|accessdate=26 September 2018}}
Atkin was part of the Hull Kingston Rovers side that won promotion back to the Super League, at the first time of asking following relegation the season prior.
Following an impressive start to his Hull Kingston Rovers career in the latter-stages of the 2017 Championship season, Atkin was quickly handed his Super League bow in round two against Leeds in 2018, where he won the Sky Sports' 'Man-of-the-Match' Award.{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/leeds-vs-hull-k-r/48276|title=Leeds 20-11 Hull KR: Rhinos edge spirited Rovers in Super League|work=Sky Sports|date=9 February 2018|accessdate=26 September 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/leeds-vs-hull-k-r/live/48276|title=Live Commentary|work=Sky Sports|date=8 February 2018|accessdate=26 September 2018}}
Atkin scored his first try for Hull Kingston Rovers on 2 April 2018, in a 44-6 Super League defeat against Wigan at the DW Stadium.
=Salford (2020 - 2025)=
In round 10 of the 2021 Super League season, Atkin kicked the winning field goal for Salford in their 9-8 victory over Huddersfield.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/57499903/|title=Huddersfield Giants 8-9 Salford Red Devils|work=BBC Sport }}
In the 2022 Super League season, Atkin played 20 games for Salford including their semi-final loss against St Helens. In the 2023 Super League season, Atkins played 27 games 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 }}
=Castleford Tigers (2025 - )=
On 29 April 2025 it was reported that he had signed for Castleford Tigers in the Super League{{cite web|website=Total RL|date=29 Apr 2025|author=Callum Walker|title=Chris Atkin breaks silence following Salford Red Devils exit and Castleford Tigers move|url=https://www.totalrl.com/chris-atkin-breaks-silence-following-salford-red-devils-exit-and-castleford-tigers-move/}}
Representative career
=England Knights (2018)=
=2018=
It was announced by the Rugby Football League on 7 March 2018, that Atkin had been selected in the 25-man England Knights' Performance Squad, that would be touring Papua New Guinea for a two-game Test match series later in the year.{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ten-new-additions-in-england-knights-squad/|title=Ten new additions in England Knights squad|publisher=loverugbyleague|date=24 July 2018|accessdate=31 October 2019}}
Atkin made his début for the England Knights against Papua New Guinea on 27 October 2018, the game played in Lae ended in a 12-16 victory to the Knights.{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/live-scores/papua-new-guinea-v-england-knights-international-2018/718006#lineup|title=Papua New Guinea vs England Knights|publisher=WWOS|date=27 October 2018|accessdate=30 October 2019}} He played against Papua New Guinea at the Oil Search National Football Stadium.{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/live-scores/papua-new-guinea-v-england-knights-international-2018/718007#lineup|title=Papua New Guinea v England Knights|publisher=WWOS|date=3 November 2018|accessdate=29 October 2019}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.hullkr.co.uk/player/chris-atkin/ Hull Kingston Rovers profile]
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20161002002828/http://www.swintonlionsrlfc.com/team/squad Swinton Lions profile]}}
- [https://www.superleague.co.uk/player/336/chris-atkin SL profile]
{{Castleford Tigers squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Atkin, Chris}}
Category:21st-century English sportsmen
Category:Castleford Tigers players
Category:England Knights national rugby league team players
Category:English rugby league players
Category:Hull Kingston Rovers players
Category:Rugby league fullbacks
Category:Rugby league halfbacks
Category:Rugby league players from Widnes
Category:Salford Red Devils players
Category:Schoolteachers from Cheshire
Category:Swinton Lions players
{{England-rugbyleague-bio-stub}}