Karl Pratt (born 18 July 1980) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Featherstone Rovers, Leeds Rhinos, and Bradford Bulls (with whom he won the 2003 Super League Grand Final and Challenge Cup). Pratt usually played on the wing, but also played at stand-off, scrum-half, and hooker during his career.[1]

Karl Pratt
Personal information
Born (1980-07-18) 18 July 1980 (age 44)
Leeds, England
Playing information
PositionWing, Stand-off, Scrum-half, Hooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1997–98 Featherstone Rovers 48 30 0 0 120
1999–02 Leeds Rhinos 81 38 0 0 152
2003–05 Bradford Bulls 59 20 0 0 80
Total 188 88 0 0 352
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2001 England 1 1 0 0 4
2002 Great Britain 2 1 0 0 4
Yorkshire
Source: [1][2][3]

Career

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Pratt started his amateur career with Hunslet Parkside. At the age of 15, he trained with hometown team Leeds, but was not taken on by the club.[4] He signed for Featherstone Rovers in 1997, and spent two seasons at the club, scoring 30 tries in 48 appearances.[5] Karl Pratt made his début for Featherstone Rovers on Sunday 8 June 1997, and he played his last match for Featherstone Rovers during the 1998 season, he played on the wing in Featherstone Rovers's 22–24 defeat by Wakefield Trinity in the 1998 First Division Grand Final at McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield on 26 September 1998.[6] In November 1998, he returned to Leeds after being signed for a fee worth up to £150,000.[4]

Pratt won caps for England while at Leeds Rhinos 2001 Wales (sub),[2] and won caps for Great Britain while at Leeds Rhinos 2002 Australia, and New Zealand.[3]

Pratt played for the Bradford Bulls at stand-off half back in their 2003 Super League Grand Final victory against the Wigan Warriors. Having won Super League VIII, Bradford played against 2003 NRL Premiers, the Penrith Panthers in the 2004 World Club Challenge. Pratt played at scrum half back in the Bulls' 22–4 victory. He played for Bradford from the interchange bench in their 2004 Super League Grand Final loss against the Leeds Rhinos.

In 2005, Pratt announced his retirement at the age of 25 due to a persistent shoulder injury.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ^ a b Hadfield, Dave (19 November 1998). "Rugby League: Pratt returns to Leeds". The Independent. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  5. ^ Smith, Peter (7 July 2014). "Leeds Rhinos Bygones: Pratt starred for Rhinos before his career was cut short". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  6. ^ "First Division Grand Final – 1998 – A Night To Remember!". Great Players – Great Games. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Bradford star Pratt ends career". BBC Sport. 1 December 2005. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
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