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| Born | (1980-12-26)26 December 1980 (age 44) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 17 st 7 lb (111 kg)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Second-row, Prop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ian Kirke (born 26 December 1981) is an English former professionalrugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. He played the majority of his career for theLeeds Rhinos in the Super League, for whom he made over 200 appearances and won theSuper League Grand Final on five occasions. He also played for theWakefield Trinity Wildcats in theSuper League, and for theYork City Knights inNational League Two.
Kirke started his career atHull Kingston Rovers, making his senior debut in 2000. After spending a year inHull F.C.'s Alliance side, he joinedYork Wasps for the 2002 season.[5] In April 2002, he signed forDewsbury Rams.[6]
He made his Leeds début on Sunday 5 March 2006 when Leeds playedCastleford. During theclose season 2006 he had surgery on both his shoulders to fix a long-term injury. He was a pupil atHornsea School and Language College.
After spells atDewsbury,Hull FC andHull Kingston Rovers, Kirke's breakthrough came atYork City as he quietly set about laying the foundations for their National League Two triumph.Tony Rea took him on loan toLondon Broncos, and Leeds acted on the hint and snapped him up. His father, Bob Kirke, used to play for Hull Kingston Rovers, and as of 2011, he is a Year-3 teacher atHornsea Community Primary School.
Kirke played in the2008 Super League Grand Final victory overSt Helens.[7]
Kirke played in the2009 Super League Grand Final victory overSt Helens atOld Trafford.[8]
Kirke played in the2010 Challenge Cup Final defeat byWarrington atWembley Stadium.[9][10]
In July 2011, Kirke was given a new two-year contract atLeeds.[11] Later that year he played from the substitute bench for Leeds in the2011 Challenge Cup Final defeat byWigan atWembley Stadium.[12][13] Kirke played in the2011 Super League Grand Final victory overSt Helens atOld Trafford.[14][15]
Kirke played in the2012 Challenge Cup Final defeat byWarrington atWembley Stadium.[16][17] Kirke played in the2012 Super League Grand Final victory overWarrington atOld Trafford.[18][19]
Kirke played in the2014 Challenge Cup Final victory over theCastleford Tigers atWembley Stadium.[20]