Mick Cassidy

Michael Darren Cassidy (born 3 July 1973) is the Head of youth development of the Wigan Warriors and a former professional rugby league footballer. Cassidy had a wealth of experience with the dominant Wigan side of the early to mid-1990s. Cassidy is a Great Britain representative.[4] Cassidy's position of choice was in the second-row, but he could also play as a prop or hooker.[2] Cassidy has been labelled a utility player and has played wherever he has been needed.

Mick Cassidy
Personal information
Full nameMichael Darren Cassidy[1]
Born (1973-07-03) 3 July 1973
Wigan, Lancashire, England
Playing information
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight14 st 5 lb (91 kg)
PositionProp, Hooker, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1990–04 Wigan Warriors 368 52 0 0 208
2005–07 Widnes Vikings 83 6 0 0 24
2008 Barrow Raiders
Total 451 58 0 0 232
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1994–97 Great Britain
1995–96 England 6
1998–08 Ireland 11

Background

Cassidy was born in Wigan, Lancashire, England.

Playing career

Wigan

Cassidy was born in Wigan, Lancashire, and started his career out at his hometown club, Wigan, and progressed through the academy ranks to make his senior début at the age of 18.

Cassidy was an interchange/substitute, i.e. number 15, in Wigan's 2–33 defeat by Castleford in the 1993–94 Regal Trophy Final during the 1993–94 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1994, played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in the 40–10 victory over Warrington in the 1994–95 Regal Trophy Final during the 1994–95 season at Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield on Saturday 28 January 1995,[7] and played right-second-row in the 25–16 victory over St. Helens in the 1995–96 Regal Trophy Final during the 1994–95 season at Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield on Saturday 13 January 1996.[8]

After the 1993–94 Rugby Football League season Cassidy travelled with defending champions Wigan to Brisbane, playing from the interchange bench in their 1994 World Club Challenge victory over Australian premiers, Brisbane Broncos. Cassidy was part of the England squad at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup.[3][9] He was selected to play for England in the 1995 World Cup Final on the reserve bench but Australia won the match and retained the Cup.

In the 1997 post season, Cassidy was selected to play for Great Britain as a second-row in the first game of the Super League Test series against Australia. He played for Wigan from the interchange bench in their 1998 Super League Grand Final victory over Leeds. Cassidy played for the Wigan Warriors as a second-row in their 2000 Super League Grand Final loss against St. Helens. Cassidy later switched allegiance through ancestry to play for Ireland. He was ruled out of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup through injury.[10] Cassidy served a total of 14 years at the Wigan club, enjoying a testimonial in 2000. Cassidy played for the Wigan Warriors as a second-row in their 2001 Super League Grand Final loss to the Bradford Bulls. Cassidy played for the Wigan Warriors as a second-row in the 2003 Super League Grand Final which was lost to the Bradford Bulls. Cassidy was named in the Wigan team of the decade and was acknowledged as one of the game's best utility players.[11]

Widnes

Cassidy joined Widnes in 2005, earning the 'Player of the Year' award in his first season at the Halton Stadium.[12] He could not, however save them from relegation from Super League in 2005's Super League X. Cassidy represented the Irish side on numerous occasions over several years. He was named in the Ireland squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.[13] Cassidy finished his playing career with Cumbrian side Barrow Raiders, helping the club win promotion from National League Two in 2008.

References
  1. "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  2. Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org%5d http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Mick_Cassidy.html Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org] Check |url= value (help). Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. wigan.rlfans.com
  6. rugby.widnes.tv
  7. "28th January 1995: Warrington 10 Wigan 40 (Regal Trophy Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  8. "13th January 1996: St Helens 16 Wigan 25 (Regal Trophy Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 7 October 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  9. "World Cup 1995 Details". Hunter. 20 July 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2007.
  10. "Irish World Cup setback". BBC. 13 September 2000. Retrieved 20 July 2007.
  11. "Team of the Decade". BBC. 20 July 2007. Archived from the original on 8 August 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2007.
  12. "Mick Cassidy". Widnes. 20 July 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2007.
  13. "Cassidy included in Ireland squad". BBC. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
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