Rob Purdham
{{Short description|Former England international rugby league footballer}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Rob Purdham
|fullname = Robert Purdham
|image = Rob Purdham Quins.JPG
|image_size = 250px
|position = {{rlp|LF|SR|SO|CE}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1980|4|14}}
|birth_place = Egremont, Cumbria, England
|height = {{convert|1.85|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|retired = yes
|club1 = Whitehaven
|year1start = 1999
|year1end = 01
|appearances1 = 55
|tries1 = 18
|goals1 = 13
|fieldgoals1 = 3
|points1 = 101
|club2 = {{nowrap|London Broncos /}}
Harlequins RL
|year2start = 2002
|year2end = 11
|appearances2 = 197
|tries2 = 36
|goals2 = 167
|fieldgoals2 = 2
|points2 = 480
|teamA = England U21
|yearAstart = 2001
|yearAend =
|appearancesA = 1
|triesA = 2
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 8
|teamB = England A
|yearBstart = 2003
|yearBend =
|appearancesB = 2
|triesB = 1
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 4
|teamC = Cumbria
|yearCstart = 2003
|yearCend = 10
|appearancesC = 2
|triesC = 0
|goalsC = 1
|fieldgoalsC = 0
|pointsC = 2
|teamD = England
|yearDstart = 2006
|yearDend = 08
|appearancesD = 7
|triesD = 3
|goalsD = 15
|fieldgoalsD = 0
|pointsD = 42
|source = {{cite web|title=Career Statistics|url=http://www.robertpurdham.co.uk/index-20.html|publisher=Robert Purdham Testimonial|access-date=17 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621012617/http://www.robertpurdham.co.uk/index-20.html|archive-date=21 June 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Rob-Purdham|title=Profile at loverugbyleague.com|publisher=loverugbyleague.com|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/robert-purdham/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Purdham&submit=Go&c=England|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054135/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Purdham&submit=Go&c=England|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2016|title=England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk|publisher=englandrl.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}
|new = yes
}}
Rob Purdham (born 14 April 1980) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. An England international representative {{rlp|lf}}, he previously played for Whitehaven and London Broncos/Harlequins. Purdham also operated as a {{rlp|ce|so}} or {{rlp|sr}}. Purdham is a former captain of the England national team.
Background
Rob Purdham was born in Egremont, Cumbria.
Early career
Purdham started his career in his hometown with amateur side Egremont Rangers. In February 1998, he played and scored a try in the club's 18–0 fourth round Challenge Cup victory over the professionals of Workington Town.{{cite web|last1=Graham|first1=Helen|title=1998: When Egremont nilled Workington Town|url=http://www.Whitehavenews.co.uk/sports/arl/1998-when-egremont-nilled-workington-town-1.386995|website=Whitehaven News|publisher=CN Group|access-date=17 August 2014|date=5 January 2006}} In 1999, he signed professional terms with Whitehaven in the Northern Ford Premiership.{{cite web|last1=Bose|first1=Mihir|title=Pain of brother's loss won't stop Rob Purdham preaching rugby league gospel|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/interviews/pain-of-brothers-loss-wont-stop-rob-purdham-preaching-rugby-league-gospel-6397676.html|website=London Evening Standard|access-date=17 August 2014|date=3 May 2011}} During his three years at the club, he went on to make 55 appearances.{{cite web|title=Rob Purdham, former England international, retires on medical advice with shoulder injury|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/8947133/Rob-Purdham-former-England-international-retires-on-medical-advice-with-shoulder-injury.html|website=Telegraph|access-date=17 August 2014|date=9 December 2011}}
London Broncos
=London Broncos (2002–2005)=
Purdham joined London Broncos in December 2001,{{cite web|last1=de la Rivière|first1=Richard|title=Rob Purdham|url=http://richarddelariviere.co.uk/?p=546|publisher=WordPress|access-date=17 August 2014|date=29 December 2010}} following his selection for the England under-21 tour of South Africa, and an impressive start to the season with Whitehaven. He made his début for the Broncos in a Challenge Cup game against Batley Bulldogs.{{cite web|title=Barrow boys target Cup shock|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/challenge_cup/1807295.stm|website=BBC Sport|access-date=17 August 2014|date=8 February 2002}}
=Harlequins RL (2006–2011)=
On 20 May 2006, Rob set a new Quins club record by scoring 34 points (2 tries, 13 goals) in Harlequins RL's 82–8 victory over Barrow Raiders in the Challenge Cup. The 13 goals in itself surpassed the previous record of 12 held by Paul Sykes.
In 2007, he was appointed the club's captain, replacing Mark McLinden.{{cite web|title=Harlequins & Hull name skippers|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/6286991.stm|website=BBC Sport|access-date=17 August 2014|date=22 January 2007}}
In July 2011, Purdham announced he would be leaving Harlequins at the end of the season, and returning home to the family farm in Cumbria, England.{{cite web|title=Rob Purdham to leave Harlequins and return to Cumbria|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/london/9545502.stm|website=BBC Sport|access-date=17 August 2014|date=22 July 2011}} He made a total of 197 appearances for the club, five games less than the club's record appearance holder Steele Retchless. Although he initially showed interest in re-signing with former club Whitehaven, he announced his retirement from playing altogether following medical advice.{{cite web|title=Cumbria RL star Rob Purdham forced to retire from pro game|url=http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/rl/cumbria-rl-star-rob-purdham-forced-to-retire-from-pro-game-1.904904|website=News & Star|publisher=CN Group|access-date=17 August 2014|date=9 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819085112/http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/rl/cumbria-rl-star-rob-purdham-forced-to-retire-from-pro-game-1.904904|archive-date=19 August 2014|df=dmy-all}} He played a total of 264 games during his professional career (252 appearances at club level, and 12 representative appearances).
Representative career
Purdham made his representative début in 2001 for England's under-21 team during their tour of South Africa, scoring two tries in a 112–6 victory over the hosts.{{cite web|title=Turley Spearheads Young Guns' Rout|url=http://www.leighrl.com/News/News11112001.htm|website=Leighrl.com|access-date=4 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011201182153/http://www.leighrl.com/News/News11112001.htm|archive-date=1 December 2001}}
In 2003, Purdham represented England A, appearing twice during the 2003 European Nations Cup.
England coach Paul Cullen named Purdham as captain in his 20-man training squad for the 2006 Federation Shield tournament. Purdham lifted the trophy with a 32–14 victory over Tonga.
In September 2008 he was named in the England training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup,{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/article.php?id=11890|title=Myler gets England call|publisher=England Rugby League|date=29 September 2008|access-date=3 October 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007232803/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/article.php?id=11890|archive-date=7 October 2008|df=dmy-all}} and in October 2008 he was named in the final 24-man England squad, making two appearances in the tournament.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7656553.stm|title=Purdham earns World Cup call-up|publisher=BBC|date=7 October 2008|access-date=7 October 2008}}
Purdham also played twice for Cumbria.
Career highlights
- Junior Clubs: Egremont Rangers, Whitehaven
- First Grade Stats: 246 career games scoring 46 tries
- International Début: 22 October 2006 against France
Personal life
Purdham's brother, Garry, who was also a professional rugby league footballer for Workington Town, died on 2 June 2010, at Gosforth, Cumbria, during a shooting spree in which a further 12 people were killed.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/jun/03/derrick-bird-brother-victim-spree-cumbria|title=Derrick Bird's brother was the first victim before random spree in Cumbria|work=The Times|date=2 June 2010|access-date=3 June 2010| location=London| first=Matthew| last=Taylor}} Purdham was given compassionate leave by his club to travel back to Cumbria and has subsequently said that the positive response of the rugby league community has convinced him he was right not to give up his playing career following the tragedy.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/georgeriley/2010/07/purdham_interview_makes_its_ma.html| title=Purdham interview leaves its mark| work=BBC| date=16 July 2010| access-date=17 August 2014| first=George| last=Riley}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- (archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20090213141019/http://www.league.quins.co.uk/squad/index.php?player=81396&includeref=dynamic Harlequins RL Profile]
- (archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928015620/http://www.quins.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=32521&newstype=n&matchid=&storytype=RL Purdo for England]
{{England 2008 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{London Broncos}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Purdham, Robert}}
Category:Cumbria rugby league team players
Category:England national rugby league team captains
Category:England national rugby league team players
Category:English rugby league players
Category:London Broncos captains
Category:London Broncos players