Jake Connor (born 18 October 1994) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a stand-off or fullback for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League, and England and Great Britain at international level.
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| Full name | Jake Dean Connor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 18 October 1994 Halifax, West Yorkshire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.81 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 15 st 6 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre, Fullback, Stand-off, Scrum-half | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 9 October 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
He has also played as a centre and scrum-half in his career.
He started his career at Huddersfield Giants after coming through their Academy, spending time on loan at Batley in the Championship and Oldham in League 1. He signed for Hull F.C. in 2017 and returned to Huddersfield for the 2023 season.
Background
editConnor was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. His paternal grandfather is from Trinidad.[3]
Career
editHuddersfield
editConnor is a graduate of Huddersfield's academy system and made his Super League début for the Giants on 7 September 2013 in a match against local rivals Bradford Bulls.[citation needed]
Connor played just one match on dual registration with Championship club Batley Bulldogs in the club's 2014 defeat away at Leigh Centurions.
Connor was dual registered with Oldham and played twice for the club, his début being the club's 2015 home encounter with York City Knights at Whitebank Stadium.[citation needed]
Hull F.C.
editConnor signed for Hull F.C. for the 2017 season.
He played in the 2017 Challenge Cup Final victory over Wigan at Wembley Stadium.[4]
Connor played 16 games for Hull F.C. in the 2020 Super League season including the club's semi-final defeat against Wigan.[5]
Connor played 18 games for Hull F.C. in the 2021 Super League season where they missed the playoffs finishing 8th on the table.[6] In round 1 of the 2022 Super League season, Connor was sent off in Hull FC's victory over Wakefield Trinity.[7]
It was announced that Connor was returning to Huddersfield in October 2022.[8]
Return to Huddersfield
editIn round 6 of the 2023 Super League season, Connor made his second club debut for Huddersfield in their 14-12 loss against St Helens R.F.C.[9] Connor played 21 games in the 2023 Super League season as Huddersfield finished ninth on the table and missed the playoffs.[10] Connor played 18 matches for Huddersfield in the 2024 Super League season as the club once again finished 9th on the table.[11]
Leeds Rhinos
editOn 9 October 2024, it was reported that he had signed for Leeds on a two-year deal.[12]
International career
editConnor made his England debut against New Zealand at Mile High Stadium in Denver in 2018 and scored on his debut.[13]
Connor was named at scrum-half for England's post-season friendly against France at the Leigh Sports Village on 17 October 2018.[14]
He was selected in England 9s squad for the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s.[15]
He was selected in the squad for the 2019 Great Britain Lions tour of the Southern Hemisphere.[16]
On 25 June 2021 he played for the Combined Nations All Stars in their 26-24 victory over England, staged at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, as part of England’s 2021 Rugby League World Cup preparation.
References
edit- ^ "Player Summary: Jake Connor". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ Rugby League Project
- ^ Bower, Aaron (24 June 2021). "Hull FC's Jake Connor reveals Combined Nations All Stars motivations and Shaun Wane feedback". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ "Hull FC 18-14 Wigan recap as the Black and Whites claim back-to-back Challenge Cup triumphs". Mirror. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ "Wigan Warriors v Hull FC highlights as FC struggle to find play-off form in one-sided defeat". www.hulldailymail.co.uk. 19 November 2020.
- ^ "Barrie McDermott's 2021 Betfred Super League season review". www.skysports.com.
- ^ "Two Hull FC stars banned as Jake Connor's charge confirmed". www.hulldailymail.co.uk.
- ^ "Giants secure Huge Signing as Watson continues to build for 2023".
- ^ "Super League: Huddersfield Giants 12-14 St Helens - champions hold off hosts' fightback". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Ian Watson explains why Huddersfield Giants underperformed in Super League 2023". www.totalrl.com. 29 September 2023.
- ^ "Huddersfield Giants 34 Castleford Tigers 10: Hosts win dead rubber but 2024 season one to forget for West Yorkshire rivals". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk.
- ^ Callum Walker (9 October 2024). "Leeds Rhinos' new recruit Jake Connor reveals he almost joined Super League side instead of Hull FC". Total RL.
- ^ "England beat New Zealand 36-18 in Denver Test". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ "Tom Johnstone marks debut with England hat-trick against France". Guardian. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ "Sam Tomkins eager to lift inaugural World 9s title with England Down Under". Mirror. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ "Zak Hardaker shock inclusion in 24-man Great Britain squad for tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea". Telegraph. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.