Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook

Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook (born 14 January 1986) is a former rugby league footballer who last played as a prop, second-row or loose forward for St Helens in the Betfred Super League. He has played for both England and Ireland at international level.

Louie "LMS"^[1] McCarthy Scarsbrook

Personal information
Full name	Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
Born	(1986-01-14) 14 January 1986 (age 38)^[2] Whitechapel, London, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)^[3]
Weight	16 st 5 lb (104 kg)^[3]
Playing information
Position	Prop, Loose forward, Second-row
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2006–10 Harlequins RL 97 20 0 0 70 2011–23 St Helens 373 63 0 0 252 Total 470 83 0 0 322 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2008–09 England 2 2 0 0 8 2017 Ireland 3 1 0 0 4
Source: ^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7] As of 10 October 2023

He came through the London Broncos academy, but only played for the first team when it was named Harlequins RL in the Super League.

LMS was contracted to play for St. Helens until 2020, which would be his testimonial season. In close to twelve years, he won four League Leader's Shields in 2014, 2018, 2019 and 2022 plus five Super League championships. He also won the 2021 Challenge Cup with St Helens.

Background

McCarthy-Scarsbrook was born on 14 January 1986 in Whitechapel, London, England. He grew up on the Isle of Dogs, and was educated at St Joseph's Academy, Blackheath.^[8] He played football as a goalkeeper during his youth, but was persuaded by one of his schoolteachers to try rugby league. He played for Greenwich Admirals before joining London Broncos Academy ranks in 2004.^[9]

Playing career

Early career

McCarthy-Scarsbrook was a product of the Quins RL Junior Academy squad. He toured Australia with British Amateur Rugby League Association U18s in 2004. He spent the 2005 season on loan at Hull FC's Senior Academy, and played a prominent role in Hull's reserve grade Grand Final winning season.^[10]

 

McCarthy-Scarsbrook playing for Harlequins Rugby League

Harlequins RL

McCarthy-Scarsbrook returned to London and in 2006 made his Super League début. By 2008 Harlequins coach Brian McDermott was tipping McCarthy-Scarsbrook for a place in England's World Cup squad.^[11][12]

McCarthy-Scarsbrook was named in the England training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.^[13]

McCarthy-Scarsbrook was named in the England team to face Wales at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster prior to England's departure for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.^[14]

McCarthy-Scarsbrook announced on 1 September 2010^[15] that he was to leave Quins at the end of the season after turning down a new contract.

St Helens

On 3 September 2010, St Helens confirmed the capture of Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook on a four-year deal starting in 2011, where he'll join up with St. Helens' other new signings Josh Perry and Michael Shenton. Upon Signing the deal Louie said, '"St Helens are entering an exciting time in their history and to be a part of that was a great pull." He continued: "Not only will they have a new stadium in 2012 but the quality of the players already in the squad means they will be challenging on all fronts. "I am looking forward to linking up with my new teammates and continuing to learn under Royce Simmons. "I would like to thank Quins for giving me the chance to play rugby league and I have enjoyed my time there. The fans and players have been excellent with me and I wish them all well in the future."^[16]

He played in the 2011 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford.^[17][18]

In 2014, McCarthy-Scarsbrook made his 100th appearance for St Helens in their Challenge Cup fixture against Leeds.

St Helens reached the 2014 Super League Grand Final, and McCarthy-Scarsbrook was selected to play at second-row in their 14-6 victory over the Wigan Warriors at Old Trafford.^{[19][20][21][22]}

He played in the 2019 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Warrington Wolves at Wembley Stadium.^[23]

He played in the 2019 Super League Grand Final victory over the Salford Red Devils at Old Trafford.^[24][25][26]

He played in St Helens 2020 Super League Grand Final victory over Wigan at the Kingston Communications Stadium in Hull.^[27]

He played for St. Helens in their 2021 Challenge Cup Final victory over Castleford.^[28] On 9 October 2021, he played for St. Helens in their 2021 Super League Grand Final victory over Catalans Dragons.^[29] In round 23 of the 2022 Super League season, McCarthy-Scarsbrook scored a rare double in St Helens 60-6 victory over Hull F.C.^[30] On 24 September 2022, McCarthy-Scarsbrook played off the interchange bench in St Helens 24-12 victory over Leeds in the 2022 Super League Grand Final.^[31] On 18 February 2023, McCarthy-Scarsbrook played in St Helens 13-12 upset victory over Penrith in the 2023 World Club Challenge.^[32] On 20 September 2023, McCarthy-Scarsbrook announced he would be retiring from rugby league.^[33] He played 26 games for St Helens in the 2023 Super League season as the club finished third on the table. He played in St Helens narrow loss against the Catalans Dragons in the semi-final which stopped them reaching a fifth successive grand final. This would also be McCarthy-Scarsbrook's final game as a player.^[34]

International career

McCarthy-Scarsbrook made his England début in the victory over Wales on 10 October 2008.^[35] His second game for England was also against Wales, a 48-12 victory in the 2009 Four Nations tournament in which he scored a try.^[7]

He later switched allegiance to Ireland, and was named in their 2017 Rugby League World Cup squad.^[36]

References

1. "Before the 'Captain's Run' for the Castleford semi-final, there was a special presentation from Saints' Heritage Society to the one-and-only Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook". Saints RLFC. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
2. "Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook". au.sports.yahoo.com. Yahoo! 7 Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
3. . www.superleague.co.uk. Rugby Football League. 2015. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
4. "Saints Heritage Society". www.saints.org.uk.
5. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
6. "Player Summary: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
7. "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
8. "How a scouse-cockney combo can buck trend for St Helens in Grand Final". The Guardian. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
9. "Nine picked for Broncos". News Shopper. 12 March 2004. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
10. "What became of Hull FC's 2005 Academy Grand Final winners". Hull Daily Mail. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
11. Fletcher, Paul (5 February 2008). "Quins ace tipped for England call". BBC. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
12. Fletcher, Paul (6 February 2008). "Leading the way in London". BBC. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
13. . England Rugby League. 29 September 2008. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
14. "Gleeson to lead new-look England". BBC. 9 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
15. "Prop Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook to leave Harlequins". BBC Sport. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
16. "St Helens sign Harlequins' Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook". BBC Sport. 3 September 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
17. "Leeds claim Grand Final glory as inspired Rob Burrow sinks St Helens". Guardian. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
18. "St Helens 16 Leeds 32". Daily Telegraph. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
19. "St Helens 14 Wigan Warriors 6: Moment of madness from Wales international Ben Flower costs Wigan dear". Daily Telegraph. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
20. "St Helens win Grand Final after Wigan's Ben Flower is sent off". Guardian. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
21. "St Helens 14–6 Wigan Warriors". BBC Sport. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
22. Cartwright, Phil (11 October 2014). "St Helens v Wigan as it happened". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
23. "St Helens 4-18 Warrington RESULT: Challenge Cup Final as it happened from Wembley". Mirror. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
24. "St Helens give Justin Holbrook the perfect send-off with commanding Grand Final victory over Salford". Telegraph. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
25. Unwin, Will (12 October 2019). "St Helens 23-6 Salford Red Devils: Super League Grand Final – as it happened". The Guardian.
26. "St Helens win 2019 Super League League Leaders' shield". Sky Sports.
27. "Super League Grand Final: Wigan 4-8 St Helens". BBC Sport.
28. "How St Helens players have celebrated their first Challenge Cup win in 13 years". www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk.
29. "Super League Grand Final: Catalans Dragons 10-12 St Helens: Saints win three in a row". BBC Sport.
30. "Super League: Hull FC 6-60 St Helens - Saints confirm semi-final with 11-try demolition". www.bbc.co.uk.
31. "St Helens sink Leeds to win record fourth consecutive Grand Final". www.theguardian.com.
32. "St Helens stun Penrith to win World Club Challenge". BBC Sport.
33. "Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook: St Helens stalwart to retire after 18 seasons". www.bbc.co.uk.
34. "Paul Wellens Q&A: Saints review of year and a look to 2024". www.sthelensstar.co.uk.
35. "England warm up in style". Sky Sports. 10 October 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
36. "Ireland name Rugby League World Cup squad". sbs.com.au. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.

External links

• St Helens profile
• (archived by web.archive.org)
• Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Harlequins
• Quins targeting top six
• SL profile
• Statistics at rlwc2017.com
• Saints Heritage Society profile