Ian Watson (rugby league)

Ian Watson (born 27 October 1976), also known by the nickname of "Watto", is a professional rugby league coach who is the head coach of the Huddersfield Giants in the Betfred Super League, and a former Wales international who played as a scrum-half or hooker in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.

Ian Watson
Personal information
Full nameIan Watson
Born (1976-10-27) 27 October 1976
Salford, Greater Manchester, England
Playing information
PositionScrum-half, Hooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1995–97 Salford Reds
1996(loan) → Workington Town 1 15 0 34
1998–00 Swinton Lions
2001 Widnes Vikings
2002 Salford City Reds 23 2 0 1 9
2003 Rochdale Hornets 32 7 27 6 88
2004 Oldham 20 6 5 7 41
2006 Swinton Lions 12 3 5 0 22
2006 Widnes Vikings 16 0 1 0 2
2007 Halifax 30 3 9 1 31
2008–09 Leigh Centurions 52 13 62 5 180
2010–14 Swinton Lions 109 11 6 0 56
Total 294 46 130 20 463
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1995–11 Wales 30 7 1 0 30
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2014 Swinton Lions
2015–20 Salford Red Devils 164 80 0 84 49
2021– Huddersfield Giants 0 0 0 0
Total 164 80 0 84 49
As of 30 December 2020
Source: [1][2][3]

He played for the Salford City Reds, Workington Town, Swinton Lions, Widnes Vikings, Rochdale Hornets, Oldham, Halifax and the Leigh Centurions. Watson was a goal-kicker who holds the appearance record for Wales with 30 caps.[1][2][3]

Watson has coached the Swinton Lions in the Championship and the Salford Red Devils in the Super League.

Background

Watson was born in Salford, Greater Manchester, England.

Club career

Watson started his professional career with the Salford Reds coming though from local amateur team Eccles RLFC. In July 1996, he joined Workington Town on loan,[4] where he played in the Super League for the first time. He returned to the Salford Reds for the 1997's Super League II, making 27 appearances for the club.[5] Following the signings of Martin Crompton and Josh White, despite being a firm club favourite Watson was deemed surplus to requirements, and was sold to the Swinton Lions for a fee of £15,000.[6] He spent three years with the Swinton Lions before signing a one-year contract with the Widnes Vikings for the 2001 season.[7] He returned to the Super League a year later, re-joining the Salford City Reds on a one-year deal.[8] Watson played out the remainder of his career in the Championships.

In January 2014, Watson was appointed as player-coach for the Swinton Lions.[9] He left Swinton Lions in July 2014 to join the Salford Red Devils as an assistant coach.[10] In late 2015, Watson was promoted to interim head coach after Iestyn Harris left the club.[11] He was given the job on a permanent basis for 2016, working alongside Director of Rugby Tim Sheens.

He coached the Salford Red Devils to the 2019 Super League Grand Final defeat by St. Helens at Old Trafford.[12][13][14]

On 17 October 2020, he coached Salford in the 2020 Challenge Cup Final defeat against Leeds at Wembley Stadium.[15]

On 19 November 2020, Watson was confirmed as the new Huddersfield Giants coach on a three year deal.[16]

International career

Ian Watson holds the record for having won the most caps for Wales. Having made his début against the USA in Philadelphia in 1995, he made 30 appearances for Wales, scoring 7 tries and kicking one goal.[17] He played at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.[18][19] His final appearance for Wales came during the 2011 Four Nations tournament against New Zealand, and he announced his international retirement shortly after.[20]

References
  1. "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. "Gay's good news for Castleford". The Independent. 20 July 1996. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  5. Hadfield, Dave (14 January 1998). "Rugby League: Clubs refuse to alter fixtures". The Independent. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  6. Fitzpatrick, Paul (9 February 1998). "Rugby League: Barrow lifts the Lions First Division: Swinton 41, Keighley 16". The Guardian. p. 10. ProQuest 245210714.
  7. "Busy Widnes; Rugby League". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 30 August 2000. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  8. "Watson returns". South Wales Echo. 12 December 2001. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  9. "Swinton chairman resigns as club awaits investment". Love Rugby League. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  10. Ian Watson signed by Salford
  11. Ian Watson's in at the deep end at the Salford Red Devils but learning from legends
  12. "St Helens give Justin Holbrook the perfect send-off with commanding Grand Final victory over Salford". The Telegraph. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  13. "St Helens 23-6 Salford Red Devils: Super League Grand Final – as it happened". The Guardian.
  14. "St Helens win 2019 Super League League Leaders' shield". Sky Sports.
  15. "Leeds beat Salford 17-16 after Luke Gale lands late winning drop-goal". www.bbc.co.uk.
  16. "Huddersfield hire Ian Watson as new head coach". South Wales Guardian. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  17. "Thomas début on Wednesday" The Press Association (3 October 2010)
  18. Williams, Graham; Lush, Peter; Farrar, David (2009). The British Rugby League Records Book. London League. pp. 108–114. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6.
  19. "Statistics at walesrugbyleague.com". walesrugbyleague.com. 18 June 2010. Archived from the original on 8 June 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  20. "Briers to retire from Wales duty". BBC News.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Gary Chambers
2013		 Coach
Swinton Lions
2014		 Succeeded by
John Duffy
2014-2017
Preceded by
Iestyn Harris
2014-2015		 Coach
Salford Red Devils
2015-2020		 Succeeded by
Richard Marshall
2021-present
Preceded by
Luke Robinson (caretaker)
2020		 Coach
Huddersfield Giants
2021-present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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