Mick Cassidy
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mick" D. Cassidy, (born 3 July 1973 in Wigan, Lancashire
) is an English former rugby league
player. Cassidy is currently the fitness coach for the Widnes Vikings
after retring from the game in 2008. Cassidy had a wealth experience with the dominant Wigan
side of the early to mid-90s. Cassidy is a Great Britain
representative. Mick Cassidy's position of choice was on the , but he can also operate at , or . Cassidy has been labelled a utility player and has played wherever he has been needed.
Cassidy started his career out at his hometown club, Wigan
and progressed through the academy ranks to make his senior debut at the age of 18. After the 1993–94 Rugby Football League season Cassidy travelled with defending champions Wigan
to Brisbane, playing from the interchange bench in their 1994 World Club Challenge
victory over Australian premiers, the Brisbane Broncos
. Mick Cassidy was part of the England
squad at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup
.
In the 1997 post season, Cassidy was selected to play for Great Britain
at second-row forward in the first game of the Super League Test series
against Australia.
Cassidy later switched allegiance through ancestry to play for Ireland
. Mick served a total of 14 years at the Wigan club, enjoying a testimonial in 2000. Mick Cassidy was ruled out of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup
through injury.
Cassidy joined the Widnes Vikings
in 2005, earning the 'Player of the Year' award in his first season at the Halton Stadium
. He could not, however save them from relegation from Super League
in 2005
. Cassidy represented the Irish side on numerous occasions over the last several years. He was named in the Ireland squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
. Mick Cassidy later played for Cumbrian side Barrow Raiders
, in National League Two.
Cassidy was named in the Wigan team of the decade and was acknowledged as one of the games best utility players.
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
) is an English former rugby league
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...
player. Cassidy is currently the fitness coach for the Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
after retring from the game in 2008. Cassidy had a wealth experience with the dominant Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
side of the early to mid-90s. Cassidy is a Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
representative. Mick Cassidy's position of choice was on the , but he can also operate at , or . Cassidy has been labelled a utility player and has played wherever he has been needed.
Cassidy started his career out at his hometown club, Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
and progressed through the academy ranks to make his senior debut at the age of 18. After the 1993–94 Rugby Football League season Cassidy travelled with defending champions Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
to Brisbane, playing from the interchange bench in their 1994 World Club Challenge
1994 World Club Challenge
The 1994 MMI World Club Challenge was a replay of the 1992 World Club Challenge, with 1993–94 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan facing the 1993 NSWRL season premiers, the Brisbane Broncos, this time in Australia. Wigan were clearly the dominant club in the English game, having won the...
victory over Australian premiers, the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane 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...
. Mick Cassidy was part of the England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
squad at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup
1995 Rugby League World Cup
The 1995 Rugby League World Cup was held during October in the United Kingdom. It was the eleventh staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was marketed as the Halifax Centenary World Cup, reflecting the tournament's sponsorship and the fact that 1995 marked the 100th birthday of the sport...
.
In the 1997 post season, Cassidy was selected to play for Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
at second-row forward in the first game of the Super League Test series
Super League Test series
The Super League Test series was a three-Test match series between the Great Britain national rugby league team and Super League's Australian national team held during November 1997 in England...
against Australia.
Cassidy later switched allegiance through ancestry to play for Ireland
Ireland national rugby league team
The Ireland national rugby league team, known as the Wolfhounds, represent the island of Ireland in rugby league football. The team is organized by Rugby League Ireland and are accredited as an affiliate member of the Rugby League International Federation...
. Mick served a total of 14 years at the Wigan club, enjoying a testimonial in 2000. Mick Cassidy was ruled out of 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...
through injury.
Cassidy joined the Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
in 2005, earning the 'Player of the Year' award in his first season at the Halton Stadium
Halton Stadium
The Stobart Stadium Halton is a rugby league stadium in Widnes, England. The Widnes Vikings play their home games there as do Everton Reserves...
. He could not, however save them from relegation from 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...
in 2005
Super League X
engage Super League X is the official name of 2005's Super League season. It was the 10th season of Super League and saw twelve teams from across England compete for the premiership. The season kicked off in early February, culminating in a six team play-off seriesThe Grand Final, held at Old...
. Cassidy represented the Irish side on numerous occasions over the last several years. He was named in the Ireland squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
. Mick Cassidy later played for Cumbrian side Barrow Raiders
Barrow Raiders
Barrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....
, in National League Two.
Cassidy was named in the Wigan team of the decade and was acknowledged as one of the games best utility players.