T’Other Side: Swinton Lions

T’Other Side: Swinton Lions

2019 Matches

FIRST TEAM SQUAD

LAST TIME OUT

Head Coach: Stuart Littler

Stuart Littler was promoted to the position of Head Coach in July 2017 last year when John Duffy moved to Fev. He guided them to survival in the Championship, avoiding relegation by one place in the Championship Shield. Then last year he repeated the survival by virtue of the Championship being increased to 14 teams and a play-off against Workington.

His playing career was primarily as a centre. He began with Salford in 1998 and stayed there until moving to Leigh in 2011. In 2014 he played for Rochdale on loan and then spent the final two years of his playing career with Swinton in 2015 and 2016. He also played 19 games for Ireland.

Captain: Rhodri Lloyd

Rhodri Lloyd is now in his first year as the Swinton Lions captain. His professional career began with South Wales Scorpions in 2011 (on loan from Crusaders RL) and then in 2012 he was signed by Wigan but during his 4 years there he only played 7 games spending most of his time on loan or dual reg with South Wales (2012 and 2013), Leigh (2013), London Broncos (2013), Whitehaven (2014) Workington (2015) and Swinton (2015). He then signed for Swinton during 2016 and has remained there ever since.

He has played 15 times for Wales including in the 2013 and 2017 World Cups.

At the back

Matty Ashton, wing or centre, has made a remarkable start to his professional career. Last year he was playing for Rochdale Mayfield ARL. So far this year he has scored 23 tries in 21 matches and was named by League Express as man of the match against Fev in March. Last week he scored 4 tries against Leigh and was again named as League Express man of the match.

Mike Butt is a winger and is also a regular try scorer with 19 in 23 matches this year. He has been with Swinton since making his professional début in 2015. Last year he played for Wales.

Richard Lepori, wing or fullback, began his career with Oldham in 2013. He spent 2014 playing in Australia with Atherton Roosters in Queensland. In 2015 he joined Whitehaven but returned to Oldham in July. Last year he was with Rochdale. He has played 9 times for the Italy international team.

Craig Mullen, centre or second row, is one of several Wigan players who have played for Swinton this year on dual reg. He made his professional début playing for London Skolars on dual reg and then played for Swinton, also on dual reg, before making his Wigan début in a Super League match at Wakefield. In 2016 he played for the England Academy.

In the halves

Last year scrum-half Rob Fairclough had two loans spells with Swinton from Saint Helens last year. Although he never got to play in the Saints first team he did play for the England Academy in 2016. He signed for Swinton this year.

Jack Hansen, halfback or fullback, started with North Wales Crusaders in 2016 and transferred to Swinton in July 2017.

At Hooker

Scott Moore, hooker or halfback, was ‘not available’ to play rugby league last year. His career began back in 2004 as a 16 year old (the youngest ever Super League player) with Saint Helens and he remained there until 2011 although he had loan spells with Castleford (2008) and Huddersfield (2009). In 2012 he signed for Widnes but was released in April and then joined Huddersfield. In 2013 he played for North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL and joined London Broncos in 2014. In 2015 he joined Castleford but moved on to Wakefield in mid-season. In 2017 he played for Bradford. This year he signed for Rochdale but transferred to Swinton in June. At representative level he has played for England U18, England and England Knights.

Luke Waterworth has been Swinton’s starting hooker in all their games so far this year. He made his professional début for Wigan against Hull KR in March 2016 and later that year went to Swinton on loan. He became a Swinton player last season.

In the pack

Gavin Bennion, prop, has been one of Swinton’s stand out players this season. He was a member of the Warrington Wolves academy but never got to play in the first team there. His professional début was with Swinton in 2013 whilst on dual reg. He began the 2014 season on loan at Fev but injury restricted him to just one sub appearance. In June he signed for Swinton. He spent 2015 in Australia playing for Mackay Cutters. In 2016 he signed for Halifax and spent 2017 at Rochdale. He was signed by Salford in 2018 but played only twice for them going out on loan or dual reg to Swinton, Oldham and Rochdale. He then became a Swinton player for this year.

Billy Brickhill, loose forward, usually starts on the bench. He made his début with North Wales in 2016 and the following year played for Gloucestershire All Golds. He signed for Swinton in 2017. Last year he was at Rochdale and joined Swinton for this season.

Frankie Halton, second row, was signed this year from Leigh Miners Rangers ARL and has played in most matches so far this year despite it being his first season as a professional.

Lewis Hatton, prop or second row, joined Swinton this year having been at Rochdale Hornets in 2017 and 2018.

Paddy Jones, loose forward or prop, made his début for Gloucestershire All Golds (on loan from Rochdale) in 2017 and also had a loan spell at Coventry Bears. He joined Swinton in 2018.

Dual Registration and Loans

Swinton Lions have a dual registration agreement this year with Wigan Warriors. So far this season there have been 9 Wigan players who have appeared for Swinton. They are: Liam Byrne (loose forward), Liam Forsyth (back - now signed for Leigh), Josh Ganson (hooker - now signed for Widnes), Chris Hankinson* (centre), Liam Paisley (second row/centre - now signed for Barrow), Craig Mullen (centre or second row), Oliver Partington (loose forward), Jake Shorrocks (halfback) and Harry Smith (stand-off). They also have Samy Kibula (second row) on loan from Wigan.

* Wigan signed Chris Hankinson from Swinton last July

In May Salford prop, Adam Lawton, played for Swinton on loan.

The Fev Connection

There aren’t any members of the current Rovers squad who have previously played for Swinton.

The only member of the Swinton squad who has played for Fev is Gavin Bennion. He made one substitute for Rovers in 2014 while on loan from Warrington.