Adrian Vowles
Encyclopedia
Adrian Vowles is an Australian former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played in Australia for several years, gaining State of Origin
selection in 1994, but spent the majority of his career in the European Super League
. Vowles also represented for Scotland
.
he won his first premiership with Charleville Railways.
and was selected as a reserve back in Queensland's second State of Origin
match in 1994.
in 1995 but had the misfortune to be sent off in the club's first premiership match, the 32-16 loss to the Sydney Bulldogs
.
The Cowboys used six different captains as they struggled through a difficult foundation season in 1995. Vowles, appointed by new coach Graham Lowe, took on the role in 1996.
from 1997 through to 2001. During that time he was selected to represent Scotland
in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup
as well as being voted the winner of the Man of Steel award in 1999. He played the last three games of the 2003 season when he was granted a release from Wakefield. He returned to the Tigers in 2005 for a brief spell in their promotion winning season back into the Super League.
in 2002 but switched to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
mid-season to take on a player-coach role.
saved Wakefield from relegation in the 2002 season. Vowles remained with Wakefield until the final three matches of the 2003 season, when he was granted a release by the club, and he returned to Australia.
feeder club the Toowoomba Clydesdales
. Strong performances throughout season 2004 almost had Vowles running on the field in top flight premiership football again in the National Rugby League
competition after an 8 year absence.
honoured 13 rugby league footballers on Thursday 20 August 2009, at a ceremony at The Jungle
, the home of the Castleford Tigers
. A fleet of new buses were named after the 'Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team'. Members of the public nominated the best ever rugby league footballers to have played in West Yorkshire, supported by local rugby league journalists; James Deighton from BBC Leeds, and Tim Butcher, editor of Rugby League World
. The 'Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team' is; Trevor Foster
MBE
, Neil Fox
MBE
, Albert Goldthorpe
, Alan Hardisty
, Stan Kielty
, Lewis Jones, Roger Millward
MBE
, Malcolm Reilly
, Garry Schofield
, Keith Senior
, David Topliss
, Dave Valentine
, and Adrian Vowles.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played in Australia for several years, gaining State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
selection in 1994, but spent the majority of his career in the European Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
. Vowles also represented for Scotland
Scotland national rugby league team
The Scotland national rugby league team represent Scotland in international rugby league football tournaments. The team is run under the auspices of the Scotland Rugby League, and are nicknamed The Bravehearts. Scotland are not regarded as a test nation...
.
Playing career
Starting out playing in the country town of Charleville, QueenslandCharleville, Queensland
Charleville is a town in south western Queensland, Australia, 758 kilometres by road west of Brisbane . It is the largest town and administrative centre of the Murweh Shire, which covers an area of 43,905 square kilometres...
he won his first premiership with Charleville Railways.
Gold Coast Seagulls
Vowles was Clubman of the Year in his début year with the Gold Coast SeagullsGold Coast Chargers
Gold Coast were a professional Rugby league football club which played in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership from 1988 to 1994, the Australian Rugby League premiership from 1995 to 1997, and the National Rugby League premiership in 1998...
and was selected as a reserve back in Queensland's second State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
match in 1994.
North Queensland Cowboys
Vowles signed with the North Queensland CowboysNorth Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in 1995 but had the misfortune to be sent off in the club's first premiership match, the 32-16 loss to the Sydney Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
.
The Cowboys used six different captains as they struggled through a difficult foundation season in 1995. Vowles, appointed by new coach Graham Lowe, took on the role in 1996.
Castleford Tigers
After two seasons at the helm in North Queensland, Vowles moved to England to play with CastlefordCastleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
from 1997 through to 2001. During that time he was selected to represent Scotland
Scotland national rugby league team
The Scotland national rugby league team represent Scotland in international rugby league football tournaments. The team is run under the auspices of the Scotland Rugby League, and are nicknamed The Bravehearts. Scotland are not regarded as a test nation...
in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
as well as being voted the winner of the Man of Steel award in 1999. He played the last three games of the 2003 season when he was granted a release from Wakefield. He returned to the Tigers in 2005 for a brief spell in their promotion winning season back into the Super League.
Leeds Rhinos
Vowles moved to Leeds RhinosLeeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
in 2002 but switched to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
mid-season to take on a player-coach role.
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Vowles and co-coach Shane McNallyShane McNally
Shane McNally is an Australian former rugby league footballer and current Queensland Cup coach. He was sacked by Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in June 2005.-Playing career:...
saved Wakefield from relegation in the 2002 season. Vowles remained with Wakefield until the final three matches of the 2003 season, when he was granted a release by the club, and he returned to Australia.
Toowoomba Clydesdales
Vowles returned to his home state Queensland to play in the Queensland Cup for the Brisbane BroncosBrisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
feeder club the Toowoomba Clydesdales
Toowoomba Clydesdales
The Toowoomba Clydesdales are a rugby league football club based in Toowoomba, Queensland, named after the Scottish horse breed. They played in the Queensland Wizard Cup since the competition began in 1996 but no longer play in this competition....
. Strong performances throughout season 2004 almost had Vowles running on the field in top flight premiership football again in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
competition after an 8 year absence.
Burleigh Bears
After a year in the Queensland Cup at Toowoomba, Vowles shifted clubs and headed for the Queensland Gold Coast to play for the Burleigh Bears in 2005. He played in the QLD Cup Grand Final side which were runners up to the NQ Young Guns. Vowles then became assistant coach before relinquishing that role to become CEO.Honoured by Arriva Yorkshire
Arriva YorkshireArriva Yorkshire
Arriva Yorkshire is a division of Arriva which operates bus services around West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire and the southern areas of North Yorkshire in England.-History:Arriva Yorkshire was formed as a combination of mergers of previous...
honoured 13 rugby league footballers on Thursday 20 August 2009, at a ceremony at The Jungle
The Jungle (Wheldon Road)
The Jungle is the former name of Wheldon Road, a stadium in Castleford, West Yorkshire, England. This is the home of the Castleford Tigers rugby league team....
, the home of the Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
. A fleet of new buses were named after the 'Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team'. Members of the public nominated the best ever rugby league footballers to have played in West Yorkshire, supported by local rugby league journalists; James Deighton from BBC Leeds, and Tim Butcher, editor of Rugby League World
Rugby League World
Rugby League World is a dedicated rugby league magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom. Other rugby league titles published by League Publications Ltd include the weekly newspaper Rugby Leaguer & League Express and the annual Gillette Rugby League Yearbook.-History:Rugby League World began...
. The 'Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team' is; Trevor Foster
Trevor Foster
Trevor J. F. Foster MBE , was a Welsh rugby footballer and coach. He played rugby union for Newport and rugby league for Bradford Northern...
MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, Neil Fox
Neil Fox (rugby league)
Neil Fox MBE is an English former rugby league footballer and player-coach of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. A goal-kicking , he is one of the most prominent figures in the history of the sport because he holds the all-time points record, scoring 6,220 points during his career...
MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, Albert Goldthorpe
Albert Goldthorpe
Albert Goldthorpe was an English rugby footballer from the period around 1895's schism in English rugby, which led to the formation of rugby league football around the turn of the century.One of five brothers , Goldthorpe made his first...
, Alan Hardisty
Alan Hardisty
Alan 'Chuck' Hardisty is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s, '60s and '70s and coach of the 1970s, who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Castleford, and Leeds, playing at , i.e...
, Stan Kielty
Stan Kielty
Stan Kielty was an English rugby league footballer. A member of the Halifax Hall of Fame, Stan began his professional career at Wakefield Trinity before signing for Halifax in 1946. He later went on to represent Yorkshire and England, playing at , i.e...
, Lewis Jones, Roger Millward
Roger Millward
Roger Millward MBE is an English former rugby league footballer and coach of the mid to late 20th century. A goal-kicking , he gained a high level of prominence in the sport in England by playing for Hull KR and Castleford, as well as representing Great Britain...
MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, Malcolm Reilly
Mal Reilly
Malcolm J. Reilly is an English former rugby league footballer and coach. A Great Britain international representative , Reilly played club football for Castleford Tigers in England and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in Australia...
, Garry Schofield
Garry Schofield
Garry E. Schofield OBE is an English retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 1990s. At the time of his retirement he was the most-capped Great Britain player of all time along with Mick Sullivan, with 46 appearances. He also won three England caps, making him the highest...
, Keith Senior
Keith Senior
Keith Senior is an English professional rugby league or who most recently played for the Leeds Rhinos in Super League. He has won every honour in the English domestic game. He holds the record for the most Super League appearances & the most Super League tries...
, David Topliss
David Topliss
David Topliss was an English Rugby League World Cup winning footballer and coach. He played and coached with Wakefield Trinity in the late 1970s and early 1980s....
, Dave Valentine
Dave Valentine
David Donald Valentine was a Scottish representative rugby union and Rugby League World Cup winning footballer, a dual-code rugby international of the 1940s and '50s.-Rugby union:...
, and Adrian Vowles.