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| Full name | Sean Bernard Long[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1976-09-24)24 September 1976 (age 49) Wigan, Greater Manchester, England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 13 st 5 lb (85 kg)[3] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Scrum-half, Stand-off | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 11 November 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sean Bernard Long (born 24 September 1976), also known by thenickname of"Longy", is an English former professionalrugby league footballer, and coach. He has played in the 1990s and 2000s.[8] AnEngland[6] andGreat Britain[7] internationalscrum-half, Long is regarded by many as one of the finest British players of his generation. He began his career with theWigan Warriors, and also played for theWidnes Vikings andHull FC, but is best known for his time playing forSt Helens in theSuper League with whom he won a total of four Super League championships and fiveChallenge Cups, as well as numerous individual accolades including theMan of Steel award, and threeLance Todd Trophies.
He has also been the head-coach ofFeatherstone Rovers and latterlyOldham RLFC.
Between the ages of eleven and thirteen Long attendedSt Joseph's Catholic Comprehensive School in Horwich but moved to theDeanery High School on Frog Lane in Wigan because the former only played football, not rugby.[9]
After signing from local amateur side,Wigan St Judes, Long started his career atWigan, making his senior debut in 1994, but a serious knee injury kept him out of action for 18 months.[10][11] Unhappy with the lack of first team opportunities at Wigan,[12] and with the club becoming frustrated with Long's off-the-field incidents,[13] he was sold to strugglingFirst Division clubWidnes in April 1997 as part of an exchange deal forLee Hansen.[14]
He made his debut for Widnes againstKeighley Cougars,[15] and went on to make nine appearances during his two month spell at the club. Although Widnes continued to struggle during his time at the club, Long's individual performances attracted the attention of severalSuper League clubs.[16] He was signed bySt Helens in June 1997 for a fee of £80,000.[17]
Long made his St Helens debut againstCronulla Sharks in the1997 World Club Championship.[18] At the end of the season, he played in for Saints in the1997 Premiership final, but lost to former club, Wigan.
Long played forSt Helens from the interchange bench, kicking two goals in their1999 Super League Grand Final victory overBradford Bulls.
Long twice set the St Helens record for the number of points scored in aSuper League season, gaining 284 points in 1999 and 352 points in 2000.[19]
Having won the 1999 Championship,St Helens contested in the2000 World Club Challenge againstNational Rugby League Premiers theMelbourne Storm, with Long playing at scrum half back and kicking a goal in the loss. Long played forSt Helens at scrum half and kicked four goals in their2000 Super League Grand Final victory overWigan Warriors and was named asMan of Steel in 2000.
AsSuper League V champions,St Helens played against2000 NRL PremiersBrisbane Broncos in the2001 World Club Challenge. Long played at scrum half, scoring a try, three goals and a field goal in Saints' victory.
Long played forSt Helens at scrum half, scoring a try, a goal and the match-winning drop goal in their2002 Super League Grand Final victory against theBradford Bulls.[20]
Having wonSuper League VI, St Helens contested the2003 World Club Challenge against 2002 NRL PremiersSydney Roosters. Long played at stand-off in Saints' 38–0 loss.
In 2004, Long was involved in abetting scandal which resulted in him being suspended for three months.[21]
By 2005, Long had scored 2,000 points for St Helens. During the 2005'sSuper League X, he sustained a broken cheek bone in a challenge by Wigan Warrior'Terry Newton in an incident that saw Newton receive a 12-match ban, the heaviest for an on-field action in Super League history at the time.[22]
Long played for St Helens at scrum half and scored a try in their2006 Challenge Cup Final victory overHuddersfield Giants and won theLance Todd Trophy as man-of-the-match in a Challenge Cup final for a record third time. St Helens reached the2006 Super League Grand final to be contested againstHull FC and Long played at scrum half in Saints' 26–4 victory.
As 2006 Super League champions, St Helens faced 2006 NRL PremiersBrisbane Broncos in the2007 World Club Challenge. Long captained Saints from scrum half in their 18–14 victory. St Helens in 2007 took all honours apart from the Super League title when they were beaten by Leeds atOld Trafford in the Grand Final. In 2007 Long received atestimonial match for St Helens againstLeigh. Former St Helens players returned for the game, includingChris Joynt,Tommy Martyn andPaul Newlove. St Helens won the game 40–10.[23]
He played in 2008'sSuper League XIII Grand Final defeat byLeeds.[24]
He played in the2009 Super League Grand Final defeat by theLeeds Rhinos atOld Trafford.[25]
On 1 June 2009 it was announced that Sean had signed a two-year contract withHull F.C. for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, leaving St Helens after 12 seasons.[26] Also in 2009 an Autobiography,Longy: Booze, Brawls, Sex and Scandal was published.[27] Long kicked his 1,000th goal for St. Helens on 22 February 2009 in a game againstHuddersfield.[28]
Long announced his retirement from playing rugby league on the morning of 10 August 2011.
In the 1997 post season, Long was selected to play forGreat Britain from the interchange bench in two matches of theSuper League Test series againstAustralia.
In 2004, Long served a three-month ban for his part in the2004 rugby league betting scandal. Despite this, Long was selected in theGreat Britain team to compete in the end of season2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament. In the final againstAustralia he played at scrum half in the Lions' 44–4 loss.
Following the 2006 season, Long was selected forGreat Britain in theTri nations. Long played in the first game between Great Britain and Australia, which resulted in Great Britain's first victory inSydney in 18 years, with a score of 23–12. However, on 13 November 2006, Long returned home from the Tri-Nations tour, with 'personal reasons' cited as the reason by Great Britain coachBrian Noble.[29]
Long officially retired frominternational football in April 2007, wishing to concentrate on his club career.[30]
On 1 November 2011 it was announced he had signed a playing contract with Rugby Union sidePreston Grasshoppers inSSENational League 2 North.[31]
In 2017, he joined rugby union sideOrrell RUFC.
Following his retirement as a player, Long began a coaching career, and began an assistant coaching job withSalford.[32]
In 2013, Sean Long was appointed assistant coach ofSamoa's2013 Rugby League World Cup campaign. In 2014 Long reprised his role as Samoa played in theFour Nations. Sean Long was appointed assistant coach for Samoa for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.[citation needed]
In November 2014, Long left Salford and took up the assistant coach role atSt. Helens following former teammateKeiron Cunningham's appointment as head coach from 2015 onwards.[33]
He was assistant coach ofHarlequin FC after leaving St Helens.[citation needed]
On 26 October 2020, Long was confirmed as the Assistant Coach atLeeds marking his return to rugby league.[citation needed]
On 29 March 2021, Long was named as assistant coach forFrance as they prepare for the forthcoming2021 Rugby League World Cup, alongside his responsibilities at Leeds Rhinos.[34]
On 5 October 2022, Long was appointed as the new head coach of RFL Championship side Featherstone. On 7 August 2023, Long was terminated by Featherstone as head coach. The club were sitting eight points clear at the top of the table when the decision was made.[35]
On 25 October 2023 he was appointed head coach ofOldham RLFC on a 3-year deal[36]Longy won his first league title for Oldham in the2024 RFL League One Season
On 11 November 2025 his shock 'mutual respect' exit fromOldham RLFC was announced.[37]
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