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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Lee Mossop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1989-01-17)17 January 1989 (age 36)[1] Whitehaven, Cumbria, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 17 st 13 lb (114 kg)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Prop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lee Mossop (born 17 January 1989) is an English retired professionalrugby league footballer who played as aprop forward for theSalford Red Devils in theSuper League[2][3] and theEngland Knights andEngland at international level.[4]
He previously played for theWigan Warriors over two separate spells in theSuper League, and on loan fromWigan at theBarrow Raiders andWorkington Town in theChampionship, and theHuddersfield Giants in the Super League. Mossop has also played for theParramatta Eels in theNRL.[5]
Mossop was born inWhitehaven,Cumbria, England.
Lee attendedSt John Rigby College inOrrell from 2005 to 2007 and gained A-levels in subjects such as Physical Education and Business Studies.
In his youth he played for amateur sideHensingham ARLFC.
Mossop made his début in theChallenge Cup victory againstPia Donkeys on 20 April 2008.[6] where he impressed scoring a try. He was involved in four games off the bench in total in 2008. He was given a three-year deal with Wigan in 2008.
In April 2009, Mossop was loaned toBarrow following an appearance for Wigan during their2009 Challenge Cup fixture against Barrow.[7] He impressed atBarrow making four appearances scoring a try.
In May 2009 it was announced that Lee would joinHuddersfield on a month loan, and it was subsequently announced that Lee would be staying atHuddersfield on a season long loan withWigan having the option to recall Lee at any time if needed.
In July 2009 it was announced that Lee would rejoinWigan from his loan spell atHuddersfield due to injuries to captainSean O'Loughlin andHarrison Hansen[8] He went on to make 11 appearances that season, scoring 1 try.
Mossop started 2010 brightly in Wigan colours and attracted interest from AustralianNRL sideCanterbury-Bankstown.
However, on 29 March 2010 Mossop signed a five-year deal at the Wigan club which would see him stay as a Cherry and White until the end of the 2014 season.
Mossop started the 2011 season as aprop and impressed many in that position. He made 29 appearances for Wigan in 2011'sSuper League XVI, scoring tries againstSalford, Huddersfield and rivalsSt Helens in Wigan's 10–32 win atWidnes in June.
Mossop played in Wigan's2011 Challenge Cup Final victory over theLeeds Rhinos atWembley Stadium. He came on off the bench before having to leave the field after dislocating his shoulder. Mossop still came back on at half time despite his dislocated shoulder and played a pivotal role in the scoring ofJeff Lima's second try. Mossop helped Wigan towards their 18th Challenge Cup success.[9][10][11]
In October 2011, Mossop was announced in the 22-man squad for the England Knights, a team of emerging Super League players and futureEngland Rugby League stars. He played in two games for the Knights against France and his home-county,Cumbria, winning both of them.
In March 2012, England coachSteve McNamara announced his England Elite 32-man squad which Mossop was included in. This was Mossop's first inclusion in the England Rugby League first team squad.
He made his England first team début in the International origin game against the Exiles on 16 March 2012 where he came on off the bench.Josh Charnley andCarl Ablett also made their England débuts in this game. He backed up this England début by being picked again for the second and final Exiles game of the series. He also came off the bench in this game.
Mossop earned his first 3 England caps in the 2012 Autumn International series against France and Wales which England won. He came off the bench for the first game and managed to earn a starting spot at prop in the following two games.
On 23 April 2013Wigan Warriors andParramatta Eels announced that Mossop would be joining theNRL competition for two years commencing 2014.[12]
Before leaving Wigan he played in the2013 Challenge Cup Final victory overHull F.C. atWembley Stadium,[13] and also in the2013 Super League Grand Final victory over theWarrington Wolves atOld Trafford.[14]
Mossop made his début for theParramatta Eels on 6 June 2014 against theNorth Queensland Cowboys. After the match Mossop stated that "The Aussies like to rate the NRL competition as the best in the world and they're probably not wrong", "It's a lot faster but a lot of people expect it to be harder but I think Super League is a more physical competition". On 8 July 2014, after a match against theMelbourne Storm, it was revealed that Mossop would be out for the season after sustaining an injury to his left shoulder.[15][16][17]
A season later, Mossop went on to rejoinWigan after an injury hit stint in the NRL. During this second spell at Wigan he played in the2015 Super League Grand Final defeat by theLeeds Rhinos atOld Trafford.[18]
Mossop completed his move toSalford fromWigan on 3 November 2016. He played in the2019 Super League Grand Final defeat bySt. Helens atOld Trafford.[19][20][21]
On 17 October 2020, he played in the2020 Challenge Cup Final defeat for Salford against Leeds atWembley Stadium.[22] In round 11 of the2021 Super League season, Mossop was sent off in Salford's match against Leeds after punchingKonrad Hurrell.[23]
On 9 August 2021 Mossop announced his immediate retirement as a rugby league player on medical advice. In the announcement Mossop said "... after seeing the surgeon last week, he has told me there are no more surgeries he can offer to help prolong my career anymore and instead, it will be one final operation to give me a better quality of life with my wife and young children".[24]