Chris Atkin

Chris Atkin
Atkin (fourth from the left) with the Swinton Lions
Personal information
Full name Christopher Atkin
Born (1993-02-07) 7 February 1993
Widnes, England
Height 172 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight 82 kg (12 st 13 lb)
Playing information
Position Stand-off, Scrum-half, Hooker, Fullback

Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2014–17 Swinton Lions 100 44 268 9 721
2017– Hull Kingston Rovers 38 12 5 5 63
Total 138 56 273 14 784
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2018– England Knights 0 0 0 0 0
As of 11 October 2018
Source: [1][2]

Christopher “Chris” Atkin (born 7 February 1993) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays for Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League. He has previously played for the Swinton Lions. He primarily plays in the halves as a stand-off or scrum-half.[3][4]

Background

Atkin was born in Widnes, England.

He is a graduate of Liverpool John Moores University.

He is also a qualified teacher, previously teaching Physical Education at Wade Deacon High School in Widnes.

Playing career

Widnes Vikings' Academy

Atkin was in the Widnes Vikings' Academy System and he has previously played for the England Students in the 2013 Student Rugby League World Cup.[5]

Atkin was released by the Widnes Vikings' Academy System due to them already having two established young halfback's in Tom Gilmore and Danny Craven.

Playing positions

He primarily plays in the halves as a stand-off or scrum-half, but he can also play as a hooker and fullback.

Swinton Lions (2014-17)

Between 2014 and 2017, he played for the Swinton Lions on a part-time basis under Head Coach, John Duffy.

Atkin was the hero in the Lions' 2015 play-off semi-final victory over the York City Knights, slotting over the match-winning drop-goal in golden-point extra-time, to secure their spot in the 2015 play-off final.

Once again, Atkin's impressive performance in the 2015 play-off final against the Keighley Cougars proved to be the difference at the final whistle.

Swinton Lions gained promotion to the Championship with a thrilling 29-28 victory over the Cougars, with Atkin scoring a try and kicking over a drop-goal, which proved to be the deciding factor come the end of the match.

Chris recorded exactly one-hundred appearances for the Lions and he scored over seven-hundred points in the process. He went down as one of the clubs best players in their most recent history.

Hull Kingston Rovers (2018 - present)

Atkin was originally slated to join Hull Kingston Rovers in the 2018 season, but due to financial difficulties at the Swinton Lions, Hull KR agreed to pay the Lions a five-figure transfer fee to secure Atkin's services with immediate effect.[6]

On 23 July 2017, Atkin made his Hull Kingston Rovers' début against Halifax, in a 28-6 Championship league defeat.[7]

Atkin was part of the Hull Kingston Rovers' side that won promotion back to the Super League, at the first time of asking following relegation the season prior.

Following an impressive start to his Hull Kingston Rovers' career in the latter-stages of the 2017 Championship season, Atkin was quickly handed his Super League bow in round two against the Leeds Rhinos in 2018, where he won the Sky Sports' 'Man-of-the-Match' Award.[8][9]

Chris scored his first try for Hull KR on 2 April 2018, in a 44-6 Super League defeat at the hands of the Wigan Warriors at the DW Stadium.

Representative career (2018 - present)

It was announced by the Rugby Football League on 7 March 2018, that Atkin had been selected in the 25-man England Knights' Performance Squad, that would be touring Papua New Guinea for a two-game test series later in the year.

References

  1. ↑ Rugby League Project
  2. ↑ loverugbyleague
  3. ↑ "Hero Chris Atkin puts Swinton Lions in Grand Final with last-ditch win over York". Salford Online. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  4. ↑ "Atkin looking to make the most of Whitehaven game". Total RL. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  5. ↑ "Widnes rugby youngster Chris Atkin hoping for World Cup future". Liverpool Echo. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "Hull KR's financial pledge to fast-track Chris Atkin deal". The Yorkshire Post. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  7. ↑ "Halifax vs Hull KR LIVE – Score updates, match action, pictures and reaction". Hull Daily Mail. 23 July 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  8. ↑ "Leeds 20-11 Hull KR: Rhinos edge spirited Rovers in Super League". Sky Sports. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  9. ↑ "Live Commentary". Sky Sports. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
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