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Craig Kopczak
Personal information
Full nameCraig Kopczak
Born (1986-12-20) 20 December 1986 (age 37)
Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) [1]
Weight17 st 0 lb (108 kg)[1]
Playing information
PositionProp, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2006–12 Bradford Bulls 123 11 0 0 44
2008(loan) → Halifax 5 0 0 0 0
2013–15 Huddersfield Giants 90 6 0 0 24
2016–18 Salford Red Devils 84 13 0 0 52
2019–20 Wakefield Trinity 43 3 0 0 12
2021–23 Featherstone Rovers 51 12 0 0 48
2024– Oldham 19 4 0 0 16
Total 415 49 0 0 196
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2007–17 Wales 22 1 0 0 4
Source: [2][3]
As of 28 January 2024

Craig Kopczak (born 20 December 1986) is a Wales international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for Oldham RLFC in the RFL League 1.

He previously played for the Bradford Bulls in the Super League, and on loan from Bradford at Halifax in 2008's National League One. Kopczak has also played for the Huddersfield Giants, Wakefield Trinity and the Salford Red Devils in the Super League.[2][3]

Background

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Craig Kopczak was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.

Craig is married to Victoria and they have two children, Poppy and Harvey.[4]

Playing career

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Bradford

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Kopczak made his Bradford début in 2006. He spent at period in 2008 on loan at Halifax,[5] and later established himself as an important first-team player for Bradford. He scored his first try for the club against St Helens in 2008, and scored his first career hat-trick against Wakefield Trinity.[6]

Huddersfield

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Kopczak signed a three-year deal[7] with Huddersfield after he left the Bradford club.[8] He played for the club for three years and was a member of the team that won the League Leaders' Shield in 2013.[9]

Salford

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Kopczak joined Salford ahead of the 2016 Super League season.[10][11]

Wakefield Trinity

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Kopczak joined Wakefield Trinity in October 2018 on a one-year deal[12] for the 2019 Super League season, after Salford accepted a transfer fee from the West Yorkshire club. He signed a contract extension in March 2019,[13] remaining at the club until the end of the 2020 Super League season.

Featherstone Rovers

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On 5 December 2020, it was announced that he would join Featherstone Rovers in the RFL Championship for the 2021 season.[14] On 28 May 2022, he played for Featherstone in their 2022 RFL 1895 Cup final loss against Leigh.[15]

Oldham RLFC

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On 23 October 2023, he joined Oldham RLFC for the 2024 season on a two-year deal.[16] Oldham were crowned RFL League One champions in 2024 and automatically promoted to the RFL Championship.[17]

Statistics

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Season Team Apps Tries Goals D/G Points
2006 Bradford Bulls 2 0 0 0 0
2007 4 0 0 0 0
2008 17 0 0 0 0
2009 26 1 0 0 4
2010 29 2 0 0 8
2011 28 6 0 0 24
2012 17 2 0 0 8
Sub-total: 123 11 0 0 44
2008 Halifax R.L.F.C. (loan) 4 0 0 0 0
2013 Huddersfield Giants 30 4 0 0 16
2014 28 1 0 0 4
2015 32 1 0 0 4
Sub-total: 89 6 0 0 24
2016 Salford Red Devils 30 5 0 0 20
2017 32 7 0 0 28
2018 22 1 0 0 4
Sub-total: 84 13 0 0 52
2019 Wakefield Trinity 29 2 0 0 8
2020 14 1 0 0 4
Sub-total: 43 3 0 0 12
2021 Featherstone Rovers 20 6 0 0 24
2022 14 2 0 0 8
2023 15 2 0 0 8
Sub-total: 49 10 0 0 40
2024 Oldham RLFC 0 0 0 0 0
Total 392 43 0 0 172

Wales

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Although born in England, Craig represents Wales at international level due to his heritage. He made his Wales début in 2007, and scored his first Wales try in a match against England in 2009.[18][19]

He featured for Wales in the 2011 Four Nations. He was Wales player of the tournament during the Four Nations, whilst also winning Bradford's Player of the Year 2011.

He captained Wales[20] in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and 2015 European Cup. He captained the team again in the following year's 2017 World Cup qualifiers.

Craig retired from International Rugby League in 2018.[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Huddersfield Giants 1st Team Craig Kopczak". Huddersfield Giants web site. Huddersfield Giants. 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Check out Super League's finest WAGs". Daily Star. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Bulls prop Copczak to join Halifax". BBC Sport. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  6. ^ "Bulls too strong for Cats". Sky Sports. 6 March 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Huddersfield Giants: Craig Kopczak signs three-year deal". BBC Sport. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  8. ^ "Kopczak walks out on Bulls". Sky Sports. 8 September 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  9. ^ Wilson, Andy (1 September 2013). "Huddersfield Giants finish on top in England for first time since 1932". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  10. ^ Barrow-Hudd, Peter (28 September 2015). "Huddersfield Giants prop Craig Kopczak set for move to Salford Red Devils". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Craig Kopczak to captain Wales in European Championship". Sky Sports. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Wakefield sign prop Craig Kopczak from Salford on one-year deal". BBC Sport. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Craig Kopczak: Wakefield Trinity prop extends deal until 2020". BBC Sport. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  14. ^ "FEATHERSTONE ROVERS SIGN CRAIG KOPCZAK". www.rugby-league.com. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Featherstone Rovers: 1895 Cup final defeat to Leigh Centurions gives Brian McDermott's side signal of their progress". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. 29 May 2022.
  16. ^ "Former Wales captain Craig Kopczak joins League One club for 2024: 'A very strong squad is being built for next year'". Love Rugby League. 23 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Turner so proud as Yeds achieve the 'unthinkable'". The Oldham Times. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Cymru RL". Archived from the original on 14 December 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
  19. ^ "Engage Super League". Archived from the original on 8 January 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
  20. ^ "Meet the Team - Craig Kopczak". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  21. ^ "Wales captain Craig Kopczak retires from internationals to focus on Salford". BBC Sport. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
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