John Joyner

{{short description|English RL coach and former GB & England international rugby league footballer}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = John Joyner

|fullname =

|image =

|imagesize =

|caption =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|3|15|df=y}}

|birth_place = Leeds, England

|death_date =

|death_place =

|height =

|weight =

|position = {{rlp|CE|SO|LF}}

|club1 = Castleford

|year1start = 1972

|year1end = 92

|appearances1 = 613

|tries1 = 185

|goals1 = 0

|fieldgoals1 = 0

|points1 = 614

|teamA = Great Britain U24

|yearAstart = 1976

|yearAend = 79

|appearancesA = 5

|triesA = 1

|goalsA = 0

|fieldgoalsA = 0

|pointsA = 3

|teamB = Yorkshire

|yearBstart = 1977

|yearBend = 87

|appearancesB = 12

|triesB = 6

|goalsB = 0

|fieldgoalsB = 0

|pointsB = 18

|teamC = England

|yearCstart = 1980

|yearCend = 81

|appearancesC = 4

|triesC = 2

|goalsC = 0

|fieldgoalsC = 0

|pointsC = 6

|teamD = Great Britain

|yearDstart = 1978

|yearDend = 84

|appearancesD = 16

|triesD = 2

|goalsD = 0

|fieldgoalsD = 0

|pointsD = 6

|coachteam1 = Castleford

|coachyear1start = 1993

|coachyear1end = 97

|coachgames1 = 127

|coachwins1 = 70

|coachdraws1 = 4

|coachlosses1 = 53

|retired = yes

|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/john-joyner/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}{{Rugby league records |id=9006 |title=John Joyner |access-date=15 May 2024}}

}}

John Joyner (born 15 March 1955) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and coached in the 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Castleford, as a {{rlp|ce|so}}, or {{rlp|lf}}, and coached at club level for Castleford.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/john-joyner/summary.html|title=Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/coachprofile.php?p=coach&id=8|title=Coach Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk|publisher=thecastlefordtigers.co.uk |date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813211849/http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/coachprofile.php?p=coach&id=8|archivedate=13 August 2011}}

Background

Joyner was born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.{{cite book |last1=Emery |first1=David |title=Who's Who in Rugby League |url=https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinrugbyle0000unse/page/70/mode/2up?view=theater |date=1984 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-356-10435-5 |page=70}}

Playing career

=Club career=

Joyner made his debut for Castleford in September 1972 against Bramley.{{cite web |title=Debut of a Tiger legend |url=http://totalrl.com/features/content.php?feat_id=242&featcat_id=32 |website=Total Rugby League |access-date=15 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114200312/http://totalrl.com/features/content.php?feat_id=242&featcat_id=32 |archive-date=14 January 2010 |date=1 September 2007}} On 16 September 1973, Joyner scored 5 tries in a Player's No.6 Trophy match against Millom, a joint club record shared with several other Castleford players.{{cite web|url=http://www.castigers.com/page.php?id=711|title=Records - All Time - Match Records|publisher=castigers.com|date=31 December 2013|accessdate=1 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104134326/http://www.castigers.com/page.php?id=711|archive-date=4 November 2013|url-status=dead}}

Joyner played right-{{rlp|ce}} in Castleford's 12-4 victory over Leigh in the 1976 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1976–77 season at Hilton Park, Leigh on Tuesday 14 December 1976.

Joyner played right-{{rlp|ce}} and scored a try in Castleford's 25-15 victory over Blackpool Borough in the 1976–77 Player's No.6 Trophy Final during the 1976–77 season at The Willows, Salford on Saturday 22 January 1977.

Joyner played right-{{rlp|ce}} in Castleford's 17-7 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1977–78 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1977–78 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 15 October 1977, played {{rlp|so}}, and scored a try in the 10-5 victory over Bradford Northern in the 1981–82 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1981–82 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 3 October 1981, played {{rlp|so}} in the 2-13 defeat by Hull F.C. in the 1983–84 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1983–84 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 15 October 1983, played {{rlp|so}} in the 31-24 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1986–87 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1986–87 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 11 October 1986, played {{rlp|so}} in the 12-12 draw with Bradford Northern in the 1987–88 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1987–88 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 17 October 1987, played {{rlp|lf}} in the 2-11 defeat by Bradford Northern in the 1987–88 Yorkshire Cup Final replay during the 1987–88 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 31 October 1987, and played {{rlp|lf}}, and scored a try in the 12-33 defeat by Leeds in the 1988–89 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1988–89 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Sunday 16 October 1988.

Joyner played {{rlp|so}} and was captain in Castleford's 15-14 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1985–86 Challenge Cup Final during the 1985–86 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 3 May 1986.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/viewreport.php?page=report&id=453 |title=Sat 3rd May 1986 - Challenge Cup - Neutral Ground - 82,134 |publisher=thecastlefordtigers |date=31 December 2011 |accessdate=1 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231084544/http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/viewreport.php?page=report&id=453 |archivedate=31 December 2015 }}

Joyner's testimonial match at Castleford took place in 1992. In his 20 seasons as a player, he made a club record 613 appearances for the club, scoring 185 tries.

=Representative honours=

Joyner won caps for England while at Castleford in 1980 against Wales, and France, in 1981 against France, and Wales, and won caps for Great Britain while at Castleford in 1978 against Australia (2 matches), in 1979 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (3 matches), in 1980 against New Zealand (3 matches), in 1983 against France (2 matches), and in 1984 against France, and New Zealand (sub) (3 matches).

In addition to the above Test Matches, John Joyner played right-{{rlp|ce}} in Great Britain's 7-8 defeat by France in the friendly at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, Venice on Saturday 31 July 1982.

Joyner won caps for Yorkshire while at Castleford playing {{rlp|CE}} and scoring a try in the 12-12 draw with Cumberland at Whitehaven's stadium on 15 February 1977, playing {{rlp|CE}} and scoring a try in the 37-9 victory over Lancashire at Hull FC's stadium on 20 September 1978, playing {{rlp|CE}} in the 7-23 defeat by Lancashire at Widnes' stadium on 27 September 1978, playing {{rlp|so}} in the 16-19 defeat by Lancashire at Castleford's stadium on 12 September 1979, and {{rlp|SO}} in the 16-17 defeat by Cumberland at Hull Kingston Rovers' stadium on 17 September 1980.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/playerprofile.php?pid=486|title=Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk|publisher=thecastlefordtigers.co.uk |date=31 December 2013|accessdate=1 January 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216084522/http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/playerprofile.php?pid=486|archivedate=16 February 2012}}

Coaching career

After ending his playing career, Joyner became assistant coach to Darryl Van de Velde at Castleford,{{cite web |title=Rugby League: Castleford fear central threat of Innes and Iro |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-castleford-fear-central-threat-of-innes-and-iro-1475653.html |website=The Independent |access-date=14 May 2024 |date=27 February 1993}} and was promoted to head coach following Van de Velde's departure at the end of the 1992–93 season.{{cite news |last1=Irvine |first1=Christopher |title=Offiah takes centre stage for Wigan |url=https://archive.org/details/NewsUK1993UKEnglish/Apr%2026%201993%2C%20The%20Times%2C%20%2364628%2C%20UK%20%28en%29/page/n21/mode/2up?view=theater |work=The Times |date=26 April 1993 |page=23 |via=Internet Archive}} He was the coach in Castleford's 33–2 victory over Wigan in the 1993–94 Regal Trophy Final during the 1993-94 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1994. He left the club in April 1997, ending a 25-year association with the club.{{cite web |last1=Hadfield |first1=Dave |title=Rugby League: Van de Velde joins Warrington as Harris departs |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-van-de-velde-joins-warrington-as-harris-departs-1265163.html |website=The Independent |access-date=14 May 2024 |date=3 April 1997}}

Honours

Open Rugby World XIII: October 1979, September 1981{{cite web |title=A complete history of the World XIII |url=https://www.totalrl.com/a-complete-history-of-the-world-xiii/ |website=Total Rugby League |access-date=25 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707045313/https://www.totalrl.com/a-complete-history-of-the-world-xiii/ |archive-date=7 July 2022 |date=20 March 2018}}
Challenge Cup: Winners 1986
Castleford Tigers Hall Of Fame{{cite web|url=http://castigers.com/cgi-bin/halloffame.cgi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060506212435/http://www.castigers.com/cgi-bin/halloffame.cgi |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 May 2006 |title=Hall of Fame at castigers.com|publisher=castigers.com|date=31 December 2008 |accessdate=1 January 2009}}