Paul Sykes (rugby league)

For other people with the same name, see Paul Sykes (disambiguation).

Paul Sykes (born 11 August 1981) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a stand-off for Dewsbury Rams in the Championship.

Paul Sykes

Personal information
Full name	Paul Sykes
Born	(1981-08-11) 11 August 1981 (age 42) Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight	14 st 7 lb (92 kg)^[1]
Playing information
Rugby league
Position	Fullback, Centre, Stand-off
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1999–02 Bradford Bulls 9 2 3 0 14 2001(loan) → London Broncos 9 1 23 1 51 2002–07 London Broncos 128 48 263 3 721 2008–12 Bradford Bulls 100 36 72 2 290 2012(loan) → Wakefield Trinity 22 3 73 3 161 2013–14 Wakefield Trinity 40 9 65 3 169 2015 Featherstone Rovers 34 18 104 0 280 2016– Dewsbury Rams 172 29 463 9 1051 Total 514 146 1066 21 2737 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2005–09 England 5 2 6 0 20 2007 Great Britain 1 1 0 0 4
Rugby union
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1999(loan) Wakefield RFC 1 0 0 0 0
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 2022 Dewsbury Rams 2 0 0 2 0
Source: ^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6] As of 24 March 2024

Sykes came through the ranks at Bradford Bulls making his debut in 1999. He left the Bulls in 2002 for London Broncos before resigning for them in 2008. Sykes also spent time at Wakefield Trinity and Featherstone Rovers.

Sykes made his debut for England national team in 2005 and also went on to represent Great Britain.

In 2022 he was appointed interim head-coach at Dewsbury Rams following the departure of Lee Greenwood.^[3][4]

Background

Sykes was born in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England.

Bradford

Paul Sykes is a product of Bradford Bulls academy, making his breakthrough in the 1999 Bradford season during 1999's Super League IV. However opportunities at Odsal Stadium were limited and so Sykes went on loan spells at London in both the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

In his first spell at Bradford Bulls, he was loaned out to Wakefield RFC for which he played one game of Rugby Union.

 

Sykes playing for Harlequins Rugby League

Move to London

With the promise of more regular first XIII rugby Sykes moved south to join the London Broncos in a permanent deal in August 2002.

Sykes soon settled back to life in the capital and representative honours were gained with an appearance for England "A" against New Zealand in October, followed by a place on the successful "A" team tour to Fiji and Tonga.

Sykes has further earned England caps against Russia and Wales in 2003 and France and New Zealand in 2005.^[5]

Sykes originally came to the club as full-back, but the arrival of club captain Mark McLinden has seen Sykes operate largely in the centres in Super League X and XI.

Sykes successfully converted during 2005 to the centre position where his powerful running and strong tackling are seen to their best advantage.

Super League XI saw Sykes ruled out for much of the season after damaging his kidneys in February. However he made a comeback towards the end of the season after initially being ruled out for the entire campaign

2005 was a record breaking year for Sykes. On 27 February against the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Sykes kicked 12 goals from 12 attempts to break a 17-year-old London club record.

Further records for most goals and most points followed at the season's end and in recognition of these achievements Sykes was voted Supporters' Player-of-the-Year for 2005. Harlequins centre Sykes has confirmed his expected move to Bradford for next season on a two-year contract.

Sykes, who made his Great Britain début earlier this season, left Bradford on loan in 2002 to find first-team rugby.

Quins coach Brian McDermott also paid tribute to Sykes' contribution at the Stoop.

Bradford and the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

Sykes signed for Bradford Bulls in September 2007 as a replacement for the departing Ben Harris.

On rejoining Bradford he said: "A lot's changed at Bradford since the first time around and I think there's only Paul Deacon and Jamie Langley still there. "But I'm ready for a fresh challenge and I'm hoping to move back north to win some silverware. Bradford are always challenging and I'm glad I'm going to be a part of that. "Also, my girlfriend has just given birth to our first child as well and we want to be closer to our family." Boss Steve McNamara reckons he has picked up a rare talent, and added "I'm absolutely delighted to have secured an outstanding English centre and thank the board for making the deal possible".

In the 2012 season Sykes was loaned out to fellow West Yorkshire club the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats after only playing 2 games for Bradford Bulls. Here he managed to help lead the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats into the play-offs ironically at the expense of Bradford Bulls. Sykes soon signed a permanent one-year deal with the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats for the 2013 season.

Career statistics

Season	Club	Apps	Tries	Goals	F/G	Points
1999	Bradford Bulls	4	0	0	0	0
2000	Bradford Bulls	2	2	0	0	4
2001	Bradford Bulls	0	0	0	0	0
2001	London Broncos	9	1	23	1	51
2002	Bradford Bulls	3	0	3	0	6
2002	London Broncos	16	2	14	0	36
2003	London Broncos	17	6	1	0	26
2004	London Broncos	27	6	68	0	160
2005	London Broncos	32	14	133	2	324
2006	Harlequins RL	8	2	9	0	26
2007	Harlequins RL	28	18	39	1	151
2008	Bradford Bulls	29	16	3	0	70
2009	Bradford Bulls	26	10	17	0	74
2010	Bradford Bulls	27	4	48	2	114
2011	Bradford Bulls	16	6	2	0	28
2012	Bradford Bulls	2	0	2	0	4
2012	Wakefield Trinity	22	3	73	3	161
2013	Wakefield Trinity	16	5	37	2	96
2014	Wakefield Trinity	24	4	28	1	73
2015	Featherstone Rovers	34	18	104	0	280
2016	Dewsbury Rams	2	1	5	1	15
2017	Dewsbury Rams	3	2	9	0	26
2018	Dewsbury Rams				0
2019	Dewsbury Rams	23	5	47	3	117
2020	Dewsbury Rams	5	1	21	0	46
2021	Dewsbury Rams	19	1	42	2	90
2022	Dewsbury Rams	23	3	32	1	77
2023	Dewsbury Rams	18	3	85	1	183
2024	Dewsbury Rams	0	0	0	0	0
	Total	487	141	963	20	2,510

Great Britain

In June 2007 Sykes was called up to the Great Britain squad^[7][8] and will play in the centres in the Test match against France.^[9]

Sykes is joined in the Great Britain Test side by Harlequins RL teammate Chris Melling.^[10]

Sykes made his Great Britain début in the 42–14 victory over the French on 22 June 2007, scoring one try.^[11][12]

England

In September 2008 he was named in the England training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup,^[13] and in October 2008 he was named in the final 24-man England squad.^[14]

He has been 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.^[15]

Sykes has also represented the England in their warm up match against Wales before the 2009 Four Nations.

References

1. "The official Engage Super League web site". web page. Super League. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
2. Rugby League Project Coaches
3. "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
4. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
5. . englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 30 November 1994. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
6. "Player Summary: Paul Sykes". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
7. "Eight new faces in Lions squad". BBC. 12 June 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2007.
8. . Quins RL. 13 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
9. "New-look GB select five new caps". BBC. 20 June 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
10. . Quins. 20 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
11. "Great Britain 42–14 France". BBC. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2007.
12. "Hungry Lions Please Smith". SportingLife. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2007.
13. . England Rugby League. 29 September 2008. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
14. "Purdham earns World Cup call-up". BBC. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
15. "Gleeson to lead new-look England". BBC. 9 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.

External links

• (archived by web.archive.org)
• (archived by web.archive.org)
• Sykes joins Broncos
• Harlequins' Sykes out for season
• Injured Sykes extends Quins stay
• (archived by web.archive.org)