X-Nico

13 unusual facts about Wigan Warriors


1892 Home Nations Championship

, J Toothill (Bradford), Launcelot Percival (Oxford Uni.), A Ashworth (Oldham), E Bullough (Wigan), William Yiend (Hartlepool Rovers), William Bromet (Tadcaster)

Brian Nordgren

Brian Nordgren (1926 – 15 May 2007) was a New Zealand rugby league player who played professionally for Wigan.

Craven Park, Barrow-in-Furness

For the visit of Wigan in the Challenge Cup improvements were made and the capacity is now 7,600 (up from 6,500).

John Plath

In the weeks following the grand final Plath travelled with the Broncos to England, where he played from the interchange bench in the 1992 World Club Challenge against British champions Wigan, helping Brisbane become the first NSWRL club to win the match in Britain.

He was a replacement player in Brisbane's 20-14 loss to Wigan in the 1994 World Club Challenge at Lang Park.

Liam Botham

Although playing well for the Rhinos, the 2004 Superleague Champions, Botham signed for struggling Wigan towards the end of the season, feeling he could not get a regular place in the Rhinos team.

Lusi Sione

He spent two years in England and during this time trialled for the Wigan Warriors.

NORWEB

English Rugby League team Wigan Warriors had Norweb as their primary shirt sponsor between 1989 and 1999 (as Energi between 1998 and 1999).

Stade de la Mosson

The Catalans Dragons will continue their policy of playing home games away from the Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan by playing their Stobart Super League fixture against Wigan Warriors at the stadium.

Station Road, Swinton

In its heyday it boasted a capacity of 60,000, although with a record attendance of 44,621 for Warrington v Wigan in the 1951 Challenge Cup semi-final this was never really tested.

Wigan F.C.

Wigan Warriors, rugby league club originally named Wigan Football Club

Willie Carne

During the 1994 NSWRL season, Carne played at fullback for the defending premiers Brisbane when they hosted British champions Wigan for the 1994 World Club Challenge.

Still in England, he played for the Broncos on the wing in the 1992 World Club Challenge against British champions Wigan, helping Brisbane become the first NSWRL club to win the match in Britain.


1991 Trans-Tasman Test series

Goal kicking Wigan-based utility back Frano Botica, who had made his Kiwi debut in the first test against France, was preferred to Manly-Warringah goal kicking fullback Matthew Ridge for the three tests, while the only Kiwi on debut in Melbourne was Christchurch-born, South Sydney Rabbitohs winger Jason Williams, playing the first of 12 career tests.

1996 Bradford Bulls season

This meant that the Bulls had to travel to Central Park to play Wigan in the Premiership Trophy Semi-Final, in what was his last game in a Wigan shirt Shaun Edwards scored 4 tries to end Bradford's hopes of a Premiership final appearance in a hard fought 42-36 Wigan win.

Chaz I'Anson

I'Anson's return to fitness and form has led to the development of a promising half back partnership with Wigan Warriors' dual registered Stand Off Joe Mellor.

Fleetwood Flyers

The Flyers first competed in the National League Division Two in 1948 when they replaced Wigan Warriors after three matches.

Frano Botica

Botica joined the Wigan rugby league club in British league in 1990 in what was an exodus of All Black backs to rugby league including Matthew Ridge (Manly-Warringah), John Gallagher (Leeds) and John Schuster Newcastle).

Garry Schofield

He led the Lions to five wins from five and players such as Tom Spencer (Wigan Warriors), Daniel Rooney (Workington Town) and Alex Walmsley (Batley Bulldogs) have since graced the professional ranks.

Jordan James

Jordan James (born 24 May 1980 in Bath, Somerset, England) is a Welsh rugby league international Captain and player, who currently plays for Wales and for Salford of Super League, he has previously played for Crusaders, South Wales Scorpions, Swinton, Widnes, Castleford, Sheffield Eagles and Wigan.

Kerry Hemsley

During the Australian off-seasons, Hemsley played in France for Olympique Pontétien in 1982–1983 and in England for the Wigan Warriors in 1983–1984.

Mark Aston

This must have seemed a long way from the day, only 18 months earlier, when Aston won the Lance Todd Trophy in the Rugby League Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium, inspiring Sheffield Eagles to a famous 17-8 win over Wigan.

Maurice Bamford

He also enjoyed time at Wigan, Halifax, Bradford Northern, Workington Town, York, Keighley, Prescot Panthers, and Lancashire Lynx.

Super League Dream Team

The team consisted of six players from league leaders Wigan Warriors, three from league runners-up Warrington Wolves, two from Catalans Dragons and one each from St Helens RLFC and Super League XVI winners Leeds Rhinos.

Tim Jonkers

A recurrence of an injury to his knee, meant that Jonkers was forced to sit out most of his first season, and in March 2006, with first team opportunities scarce, he accepted a one month loan deal with Wigan Warriors to play under his former boss Ian Millward.

Wayne Sykes

He was the first local Youth Team player to sign Professional First Team papers for the London Broncos after having trials with Wigan, Hull & York, making 2 First Team appearances.