Andrew Henderson (rugby league)

Andrew Henderson (born 17 June 1979) is the assistant coach at the Warrington Wolves in the Super League. He is a former Scotland international rugby league footballer and the former head coach of the London Broncos from 2 March 2015 to 10 October 2017. He played as a hooker, he previously played for the Gateshead Thunder, Castleford Tigers, Balmain Tigers, Salford City Reds, Barrow Raiders and the Sheffield Eagles.

Not to be confused with Andrew Henderson (rugby union).
Andrew Henderson
Personal information
Born (1979-06-17) 17 June 1979
Torquay, Devon, England
Playing information
Height172 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight84 kg (13 st 3 lb)
PositionHooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2001 Salford City Reds
2002–03 Barrow Raiders 71 22 0 0 100
2004 Balmain Tigers 26 10 0 0 40
2005–08 Castleford Tigers 115 22 0 0 88
2009 Gateshead Thunder 26 7 0 0 28
2010 Barrow Raiders 12 3 0 0 12
2010–14 Sheffield Eagles 130 20 0 0 80
2015 London Broncos 15 0 0 0 0
Total 395 84 0 0 348
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2003–13 Scotland 22 4 0 0 16
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2013 Sheffield Hallam Eagles 17 16 0 1 94
2015–17 London Broncos 92 54 1 37 59
Total 109 70 1 38 64
Source: [1][2][3]

Background

He was born Torquay, Devon, England.

Playing career

Henderson began his professional career in England in 2001 with super league side Salford City Reds. With limited opportunities there, Henderson moved to Northern Ford Premiership club Barrow Raiders for the 2002 and 2003 seasons. He captained the Raiders for the 2003 season. Soon after, Super League side Widnes Vikings snapped up Henderson for a trial period, in which he featured for them in the 2004 Sydney World Sevens tournament, and a friendly match against the Wests Tigers. He failed to agree a deal with Widnes and subsequently joined the Wests Tigers, captaining their premier league side Balmain Tigers in 2004.

Henderson joined Castleford Tigers for the 2005 season after their relegation from the Super League. He spent 4 seasons at the club. Henderson captained the side twice to promotion to the Super League in 2005 and 2007. The 2008 Super League season was to be his final year at Castleford after the club and Henderson failed to agree terms on a new deal. Henderson wanted to stay and made it clear to the fans in the final game of the season. The Castleford fans also wanted Henderson to stay and in the final home game the fans sung his name and chanted 'Sign him on!' Also during 2008, Henderson, along with brother Kevin, made head lines when they were set to take the Rugby Football League to court over rules changes to the current quota system, which they felt would affect their super league careers.

Henderson playing for Gateshead Thunder

He signed for Championship side Gateshead Thunder for the 2009 season in the Championship. Henderson spent only one season with Gateshead as the club were faced with financial problems and a shareholders dispute leading them into administration. This forced Henderson to look elsewhere and he joined Championship winners Barrow Raiders in the 2009 close season on a two-year deal. Henderson left Barrow and joined Sheffield Eagles towards the end of the 2010 season, after the Barrow club failed to honour his contract.

Henderson went on to play just over four successful seasons with Sheffield, with 2014 being his final year. In his time here he was enjoyed a grand final appearance in 2011 and back to back grand final victories in 2012, and 2013.

The Hendersons are a Scottish family and all three brothers play for Scotland at international level. Henderson began his international career in 2003 featuring in the European Nations Cup. He went on to make 17 test appearances in European competitions and 5 World Cup appearances in 2008 and 2013 finishing his international career in Scotland's World Cup quarter final match against New Zealand in Leeds.[4][5][6]

All three brothers featured in the Scotland squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.[7]

Coaching career

Sheffield Eagles

On 24 February 2013, Henderson was appointed the head coach of a new community club, Sheffield Hallam Eagles, run by Sheffield Eagles, and Sheffield Hallam University. In their first season, Henderson's team lost just once all season, winning the Conference League South beating Nottingham Outlaws in the grand final.

London Broncos

On 11 July 2014, London Broncos head coach Joe Grima appointed Andrew Henderson as his assistant beginning in November. On 2 March 2015, Joey Grima resigned after ten months in charge and just 3 games into the Championship season.[8] Henderson took charge of the Championship side on an interim basis. After 2 games in charge with 1 win and 1 loss, he was appointed as the Broncos new permanent head coach.[9]

Andrew Henderson led the Broncos to an average 7th-placed finish in the 2015 Championship and 3rd place in the Championship Shield, eventually losing the Shield Final to Featherstone Rovers 34–6 at the Select Security Stadium in Widnes.

In 2016 he guided the Broncos to a 2nd-place finish in the Championship taking them into the Super 8's Qualifiers for the chance to gain promotion. The Broncos finished a reasonable 6th place on points difference with wins over Batley, Salford and Featherstone. They just missed out on the million pound game to Salford.

In 2017, they currently sit joint 2nd in the Championship.

The Broncos are the only team to have won on all 3 occasions under the guidance of Henderson at the Summer Bash event. They have recorded a 42-6 win and 32-14 win over Sheffield Eagles in 2015 and 2016. In 2017 they defeated Featherstone Rovers 42-16.

Coaching Statistics
As of 23 September 2017
Team From To Record
G W D L PF PA PD Win %
London Broncos 2 March 2015 Present 92 54 1 37 2,743 1,971 +772 058.70

References
  1. loverugbyleague
  2. Rugby League Project
  4. "Scotland call up Super League six". BBC Sport. 26 September 2005. Retrieved 8 December 2007.
  5. "Robertson ready for Scotland". Sportinglife. 30 May 2008. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  6. "Robertson set for kilt call-up". Fox Sports. 30 May 2008. Archived from the original on 6 December 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  7. "Henderson trio in Scots cup squad". BBC. 29 August 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
  8. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/31695108
  9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/32075085
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