Oliver Roberts (born 24 December 1994) is an Ireland international rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row and loose forward for Sheffield Eagles in the RFL Championship.

Oli Roberts
Personal information
Full nameOliver Roberts
Born (1994-12-24) 24 December 1994 (age 29)
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight17 st 0 lb (108 kg)
Playing information
PositionSecond-row, Loose forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013–14 Bradford Bulls 6 0 0 0 0
2015–22 Huddersfield Giants 95 17 0 0 68
2015(loan) Sheffield Eagles 2 0 0 0 0
2015(loan) Oldham 8 2 0 0 8
2020(loan) Halifax 1 1 0 0 4
2020(loan) Salford Red Devils 8 0 0 0 0
2021(loan) Salford Red Devils 4 0 0 0 0
2022(DR) Halifax Panthers 3 0 0 0 0
2022 Newcastle Thunder 7 1 0 0 4
2023– Sheffield Eagles 0 0 0 0 0
Total 134 21 0 0 84
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015– Ireland 9 6 0 0 24
Source: [1][2][3]
As of 5 January 2023

He played for the Bradford Bulls in the Super League. He spent time on loan from Huddersfield at the Sheffield Eagles in the Kingstone Press Championship, Oldham in Kingstone Press League 1 and Salford in the Super League.

Background

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Roberts was born in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England.

Bradford Bulls

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Roberts who started his career at the Bradford Bulls was involved in the Bradford Bulls scholarship system from the Under-15s and was given a 3-year professional contract at the start of the 2013 season.[citation needed]

Oliver is a product of the Bradford Bulls Junior Development system.

2013

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Roberts missed the pre-season friendlies against the Dewsbury Rams and Leeds Rhinos due to an injury.

He featured in Round 18 (St Helens R.F.C.). Oliver also featured in Round 21 (Wigan Warriors).

2014

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Roberts featured in the pre-season games against Hull FC, Dewsbury Rams, and the Castleford Tigers.

He featured in Round 5 (Huddersfield Giants) and then Round 7 (Widnes Vikings). Roberts appeared in Round 10 (Wigan Warriors). He featured in Round 4 (Oldham) in the Challenge Cup.

Roberts secured his dream move to play-off contenders Huddersfield Giants.

Huddersfield

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2015

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He signed for the Huddersfield Giants on a 2 Year Deal.[citation needed]

In October and November 2015, Roberts was selected in Ireland's team for the 2015 European Cup. He made his international début in Ireland's opening match against France.

2016

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Roberts featured in Round 1 (St Helens R.F.C.) to Round 6 (Catalans Dragons) then in Round 8 (Salford Red Devils) to Round 23 (Warrington Wolves). Ollie also played in the Super 8 Qualifier 1 (Salford Red Devils) to Qualifier 7 (Hull Kingston Rovers). He played in the Challenge Cup in Round 6 (Leeds Rhinos). He scored against Salford Red Devils (1 try) and Featherstone Rovers (2 tries).

In 2016 he was called up to the Ireland squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup European Pool B qualifiers.[4]

2017

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Roberts featured in Round 1 (Widnes Vikings) to Round 3 (Hull F.C.). He scored against Wakefield Trinity (1 try) and Hull F.C. (1 try).

2020

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Roberts agreed to extend his current loan deal with Salford Red Devils for the whole 2021 season.[5]

International

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Despite having represented Ireland, in 2019 he was one of four Giants players to be called into the England Knights squad.[6]

Statistics

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Statistics do not include pre-season friendlies.

Season Appearance Tries Goals F/G Points
2013 Bradford Bulls 2 0 0 0 0
2014 Bradford Bulls 4 0 0 0 0
2015 Huddersfield Giants 0 0 0 0 0
2016 Huddersfield Giants 7 3 0 0 12
2017 Huddersfield Giants 22 4 0 0 16
Total 40 5 0 0 20

References

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  1. ^ Love Rugby League
  2. ^ Rugby League Project
  3. ^ Bradford Bulls Website
  4. ^ "Warrington Wolves trio named in Ireland squad for World Cup qualifiers". Warrington Guardian. 24 September 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  5. ^ "OLIVER ROBERTS RECRUITED FOR 2021". www.salfordreddevils.net. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  6. ^ https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/huddersfield-giants/huddersfield-giants-quartet-are-selected-for-england-knights-squad-1-9674104 [dead link]
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