Phil Clarke

Phil Clarke (born Sunday (1971-05-16) 16 May 1971 (age 41) in Blackrod, Bolton) is an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s, and commentator, playing at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Wigan, and Sydney Roosters, as a Stand-off/Five-eighth, Second-row, or Loose forward/Lock.

During the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season, he played for defending champions Wigan at loose forward in their 1991 World Club Challenge victory against the visiting Penrith Panthers. Clarke was selected to go on the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand. he played at loose forward in Great Britain's win over Australia in Melbourne.

During the 1992–93 Rugby Football League season Clarke played at loose firward for defending RFL champions Wigan in the 1992 World Club Challenge against the visiting Brisbane Broncos. After the 1993–94 Rugby Football League season Clarke travelled with defending champions Wigan to Brisbane, playing at loose forward in their 1994 World Club Challenge victory over Australian premiers, the Brisbane Broncos. Phil Clarke represented England at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. He became the first player to win England caps whilst at the Sydney City Roosters. Adrian Morley later became the first player to win Great Britain caps whilst at the Sydney Roosters. Clarke's playing career was cut short when he suffered a broken neck in his only season with Sydney. Although he made a full recovery, he was warned by doctors never to play Rugby League again.

Phil Clarke is now a Sky Sports Rugby League pundit. He began working with Sky television in 1999 alongside Bill Arthur on Academy matches but nowadays he can be seen working with Eddie Hemmings and Mike "Stevo" Stephenson on Sky Sports Super League broadcasts and is respected for his in depth analysis of games and regularly "knocks sense" into colleague Mike Stephenson.

In March 2006 he quit his job as Great Britain team manager after five years, having become part of the GB set-up in 2001. His reasons for leaving were the "lack of leadership and direction" for the Great Britain team, and the lack of improvement in competitiveness against international opponents; adding that "Despite what's been said by the RFL and certain parts of the media, we're no closer now than we were 15 years ago."

Read more about Phil Clarke:  Genealogical Information

Famous quotes containing the word clarke:

    “Wherever there’s Kellys there’s trouble,” said Burke,
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    —Joseph I. C. Clarke (1846–1925)