Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Ian Smales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1968-09-26)26 September 1968 (age 56) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing, Centre, Stand-off, Second-row, Loose forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ian Smales (born 26 September 1968) is an English former professionalrugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level forGreat Britain (non-Test matches), andYorkshire, and at club level forFeatherstone Rovers,Castleford Tigers andHunslet Hawks, as awing, centre, stand-off, second-row, orloose forward, consequently he was known as aUtility player.[2]
A former English Schools international atloose forward, Smales signed forFeatherstone Rovers fromLock Lane amateurs in April 1987.[3]
Smales played atstand-off inFeatherstone Rovers' 14-20 defeat byBradford Northern in the1989 Yorkshire Cup Final during the1989–90 season atHeadingley,Leeds on Sunday 5 November 1989.
Smales played atsecond-row inFeatherstone Rovers' 20-16 victory overWorkington Town in the1992–93 Divisional Premiership Final during the1992–93 season atOld Trafford,Manchester on Wednesday 19 May 1993.[4]
In 1993, Smales was signed byCastleford for a fee of £115,000.[5][6]
Smales played right-second-row in Castleford's 33-2 victory overWigan in the1993–94 Regal Trophy Final during the1993–94 atHeadingley,Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1994.[7] He made 95 appearances for the club.[8]
He briefly returned to Featherstone in 1997, making four further appearances.[9]
Smales was selected forGreat Britain while at Featherstone Rovers for the1990 Great Britain Lions tour. He played in seven games during the tour, but was uncapped as he did not appear in any Test matches.
Smales won acap forYorkshire while atFeatherstone Rovers; during the1991–92 season againstLancashire.
Ian Smales still attends Featherstone Rovers games, and now works as a Sport & Active Lifestyles’ Health & Fitness Officer, forWakefield District Council. He is married to Keely Smales, and has a daughter; Alice Smales, and a son; Eli Smales.
Ian Smales is the son of therugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s, andcoached in the 1970s and 1980s;Tommy Smales.[10]
