Mark Percival

{{Infobox rugby league biography

| name = Mark Percival

| fullname =

| image = Mark Percival.jpg

| image_size =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1994|04|29}}

| birth_place = Widnes, Cheshire, England

| height = {{convert|1.85|m|ftin|abbr=on|order=flip}}

| weight = {{convert|88|kg|stlb|abbr=on|order=flip}} {{cite web|url= http://www.saintsrlfc.com/team/73#TB_inline?height=590&width=650&inlineId=hiddenBoxContent1192&modal=true|title= Mark Percival|publisher= St Helens RLFC|accessdate =29 March 2013}}

| position = {{rlp|CE}}

| club1 = {{nowrap|St Helens}}

| year1start = 2013

| year1end = present

| appearances1 = 252

| tries1 = 124

| goals1 = 379

| fieldgoals1 = 0

| points1 = 1340

| club2 = {{nowrap|→ Rochdale Hornets}}

| year2start = 2014(loan)

| year2end =

| appearances2 = 1

| tries2 = 0

| goals2 = 0

| fieldgoals2 = 0

| points2 = 0

| teamA = England

| yearAstart = 2016

| yearAend = 18

| appearancesA = 6

| triesA = 2

| goalsA = 1

| fieldgoalsA = 0

| pointsA = 10

| retired = no

| source = {{Rugby league records |id=4493 |title=Mark Percival |access-date=17 September 2023}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/mark-percival/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}

| updated = 24 April 2025

}}

Mark Percival (born 29 April 1994) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|ce}} for St Helens in the Super League and England at international level.

He made his début for Saints in 2013, winning the Super League Grand Final with the club in 2014.

Background

Percival was born in Widnes, Cheshire, England.

Percival played junior rugby for Halton Hornets before joining St Helens' academy side.{{cite web|last1=Badshah|first1=Nadeem|title=Mark Percival signs four year St Helens contract extension|url=http://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12206/10835543/mark-percival-signs-four-year-st-helens-contract-extension|website=Sky Sports|accessdate=15 January 2018|date=13 April 2017}}

Club career

Percival made his first team début against Leeds on 1 March 2013.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/mar/01/st-helens-leeds-super-league|title=Leeds Rhinos on the charge again as Ryan Hall double sinks St Helens|newspaper=The Guardian|date=1 March 2013|accessdate=29 March 2013}} In June 2014, he made one appearance for Rochdale Hornets.{{cite web |title=Barrow Raiders 38 - 18 Rochdale Hornets |url=https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/4/sport-news/87415/barrow-raiders-38-18-rochdale-hornets |website=Rochdale Online |access-date=17 September 2023 |date=1 June 2014}}

St Helens reached the 2014 Super League Grand Final, and Percival was selected to play at centre in their 14–6 victory over the Wigan side at Old Trafford.{{cite web|url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/11/st-helens-wigan-super-league-grand-final-match-report|title= St Helens win Grand Final after Wigan's Ben Flower is sent off|date= 11 October 2014 |work=The Guardian |accessdate=15 October 2014}}{{cite web|url = https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-league/29559845|title= St Helens 14–6 Wigan Warriors|date= 11 October 2014 |work=BBC Sport|accessdate=15 October 2014}}

In April 2017, Percival signed a new four-year contract with Saints. He was named in the Super League Dream Team for the first time at the end of the 2017 season.{{cite web|last1=Critchley|first1=Mike|title=Mark Percival in Super League Dream Team|url=http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/saints/news/15556193.Mark_Percival_in_Super_League_Dream_Team/?ref=rss|website=St Helens Star|accessdate=15 January 2018|date=25 September 2017}}

He played in the 2019 Challenge Cup Final defeat by Warrington at Wembley Stadium.{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/st-helens-vs-warrington-live-18996678|title=St Helens 4-18 Warrington RESULT: Challenge Cup Final as it happened from Wembley|publisher=Mirror|date=24 August 2019|accessdate=1 November 2019}}

He played in the 2019 Super League Grand Final victory over Salford at Old Trafford.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-league/2019/10/12/st-helens-vs-salford-red-devils-super-league-grand-final-live/|title=St Helens give Justin Holbrook the perfect send-off with commanding Grand Final victory over Salford|publisher=Telegraph|date=12 October 2019|accessdate=25 October 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2019/oct/12/st-helens-v-salford-red-devils-super-league-grand-final-live/|title=St Helens 23-6 Salford Red Devils: Super League Grand Final – as it happened|website=The Guardian|date=12 October 2019|last1=Unwin|first1=Will}}{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/11777123/st-helens-win-2019-super-league-league-leaders-shield/|title=St Helens win 2019 Super League League Leaders' shield|website=Sky Sports}}

Percival missed most of the 2020 Super League season with a shoulder injury.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/51493142/|title=Mark Percival: St Helens centre out for 'several months' with shoulder injury|work=BBC Sport}}

On 17 July 2021, he played for St. Helens in their 26-12 2021 Challenge Cup Final victory over Castleford.{{cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/st-helens-celebrate-challenge-cup-21081897/|title=How St Helens players have celebrated their first Challenge Cup win in 13 years|website=www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk}}

Percival played for St Helens in their 2021 Super League Grand Final victory over Catalans Dragons.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/58858850/|title=Super League Grand Final: Catalans Dragons 10-12 St Helens: Saints win three in a row|work=BBC Sport}}

On 24 September 2022, Percival scored the winning try for St Helens in their 2022 Super League Grand Final victory over Leeds.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/sep/24/st-helens-leeds-super-league-grand-final-match-report-rugby-league/|title=St Helens sink Leeds to win record fourth consecutive Grand Final|newspaper=The Observer|date=24 September 2022 |last1=Bower |first1=Aaron }}

On 18 February 2023, Percival played in St Helens 13-12 upset victory over Penrith in the 2023 World Club Challenge.{{cite news |title=St Helens stun Penrith to win World Club Challenge |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/64666651 |work=BBC Sport}}

Percival played 21 games for St Helens in the 2023 Super League season as the club finished third on the table. He played in St Helens narrow loss against the Catalans Dragons in the semi-final which ended St Helens four-year dominance of the competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/23856044.paul-wellens-q-saints-review-year-look-2024/|title=Paul Wellens Q&A: Saints review of year and a look to 2024|website=www.sthelensstar.co.uk|date=14 October 2023 }}

On 8 March 2024, Percival was controversially sent off during St Helens 24-20 loss against Salford for a tackle on Jack Ormondroyd.{{cite web|url=https://www.totalrl.com/ex-st-helens-stalwart-slams-total-and-utter-embarrassment-following-controversial-red-card-in-salford-red-devils-loss/|title=Ex-St Helens stalwart slams "total and utter embarrassment" following controversial red card in Salford Red Devils loss|website=www.totalrl.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/24173802.wellens-reaction-saints-defeat-mark-percivals-red-card/|title=Wellens' reaction to Saints defeat, Mark Percival's red card|website=www.sthelensstar.co.uk}}

On 11 March 2024, Percival was suspended for two matches in relation to the tackle.{{cite web|url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/st-helens-mark-percival-disciplinary-28796511/|title=St Helens' Mark Percival learns disciplinary fate with two players banned|website=www.examinerlive.co.uk}}

Percival played 21 matches for St Helens in the 2024 Super League season. Percival played in St Helens golden point extra-time playoff loss against Warrington.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/sep/28/warrington-st-helens-super-league-eliminator-playoff-rugby-league-match-report/|title=

‘Soul destroying’: Warrington eliminate St Helens in golden drop goal thriller|website=www.theguardian.com}}

International career

In 2012, Percival was selected in the England Academy squad for their tour to Australia.{{cite web|title=England academy calls up John Bateman and Stevie Ward|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/18512126|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=15 January 2018|date=19 June 2012}}

Percival was selected in England's 24-man squad for the 2016 Four Nations, and made his international début in a pre-tournament warm-up game against France.{{cite web|title=Four Nations warm-up: France 6-40 England|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/37694125|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=15 January 2018|date=22 October 2016}}

In October 2017 he was selected in the England squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/james-roby-back-fold-wayne-11312505|title=England rugby league World Cup squad revealed - and James Roby is back in the fold|publisher=Mirror|date=9 October 2017|accessdate=30 October 2019}} He made his only appearance of the tournament in the final group game against France, scoring a try in a 36–6 win.{{cite web|last1=Irvine|first1=Christopher|title=England have work to do as they book place in Rugby League World Cup quarter-finals|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/england-have-work-to-do-as-they-book-place-in-rugby-league-world-cup-quarter-finals-ctdrtcx2k|website=The Times|access-date=15 January 2018|date=13 November 2017}}

In 2018 he was selected for England against France at the Leigh Sports Village.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-league/2018/10/17/tom-johnstone-marks-debut-england-hat-trick-against-france/|title=Tom Johnstone marks debut with England hat-trick against France|publisher=Guardian|date=17 October 2018|accessdate=31 October 2019}}

References

External links

[https://www.saintsrlfc.com/teams/first-team/mark-percival/ St Helens profile]
[https://www.superleague.co.uk/player/3/mark%3Cbr-%3Epercival SL profile]
[http://www.rlwc2017.com/players?team=379#Mark-Percival Statistics at rlwc2017.com]
[http://www.saints.org.uk/saints/player.php?num=16727 Saints Heritage Society profile]

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century English sportsmen

Category:English rugby league players

Category:England national rugby league team players

Category:Rochdale Hornets players

Category:Rugby league centres

Category:Rugby league players from Widnes

Category:St Helens R.F.C. players