Dean Sampson (born 27 June 1967) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop, and spent the majority of his professional career at the Castleford Tigers, with spells in Australia for Gold Coast and the Parramatta Eels. Sampson made over 400 appearances for Castleford (Tigers) between 1987 and 2005. He also represented England and Great Britain at international level, and was selected to go on the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand.[1][2][3]

Dean Sampson
Personal information
Full nameDean Sampson
Born (1967-06-27) 27 June 1967 (age 57)
Stanley Wakefield, England
Playing information
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1987–2005 Castleford 431 68 0 0 272
1990 Gold Coast 8 0 0 0 0
1995 Parramatta Eels 6 2 0 0 8
Total 445 70 0 0 280
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1995–99 England 5 3 0 0 12
1997 Great Britain 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1][2][3]

Background

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Sampson was born in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Playing career

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Sampson started his career at Stanley Rangers before joining Castleford in 1986, and made his first team début in 1987.

International honours

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Sampson played at prop in Great Britain's 14–8 victory over Auckland on the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia at Carlaw Park, Parnell, New Zealand on Wednesday 8 July 1992, and played at prop in Great Britain's 17–6 victory over Canterbury on the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia at Rugby League Park/Addington Showgrounds, Christchurch on Wednesday 15 July 1992.

In the 1997 post season, Sampson was selected to play for Great Britain in the first match of the Super League Test series against Australia.[4]

Sampson won caps for England while at Castleford in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup against Fiji, South Africa (interchange/substitute), and Wales (interchange/substitute), and in 1999 against France (two occasions).

Challenge Cup Final appearances

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Sampson was a substitute (replacing Left-Prop Lee Crooks on 33-minutes) in Castleford's 12–28 defeat by Wigan in the 1992 Challenge Cup Final during the 1991–92 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 2 May 1992, in front of a crowd of 77,386.[5]

County Cup Final appearances

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Sampson appeared as a substitute (replacing Hooker Kevin Beardmore) in Castleford's 12–12 draw with Bradford Northern in the 1987 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1987–88 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 17 October 1987, appeared as a substitute (replacing Prop John Fifita) in the 2–11 defeat by Bradford Northern in the 1987 Yorkshire Cup Final replay during the 1987–88 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 31 October 1987, appeared as a substitute (replacing interchange/substitute David Roockley) in the 12–33 defeat by Leeds in the 1988 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1988–89 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Sunday 16 October 1988, and played prop in the 11–8 victory over Wakefield Trinity in the 1990 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1990–91 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Sunday 23 September 1990.

Regal Trophy Final appearances

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Sampson appeared as a substitute (replacing Prop Martin Ketteridge on 74-minutes) in Castleford's 33–2 victory over Wigan in the 1993–94 Regal Trophy Final during the 1993–94 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1994.[6]

Club career

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Sampson came back in 2003 when Castleford Tigers went through an injury crisis, scoring on his comeback game against Warrington Wolves. He also played once more for Castleford Tigers in 2005 against Hull Dockers in the Challenge Cup.[7] Overall Sampson played 431 games for Castleford scoring 68 tries. With 431-appearances, Sampson is joint second (along with Artie Atkinson) in Castleford's all-time appearance list behind John Joyner, who has 613-appearances. Sampson was a real fans favourite for Castleford and his name was often chanted by the home fans.

Coaching career

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After retirement, Sampson became the club's academy coach and won the Junior academy championship in 2004. He left the club in 2005 and moved to Hull Kingston Rovers, and became the assistant coach there. Sampson left Hull Kingston Rovers after a brief period and stayed out of the game for a while.

Sampson rejoined Castleford for 2009's Super League XIV, and was the club's academy coach once again.

Honoured at Castleford Tigers

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Sampson is a Tigers Hall of Fame Inductee.[8]

Genealogical information

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Sampson is the son of the rugby league footballer, and coach; Dave Sampson and Mavis (née Dean), the nephew of the rugby league footballer; Malcolm Sampson, and the cousin of the sprinter; Denise Ramsden, and the rugby union, and rugby league footballer; Paul Sampson.

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. ^ "Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk". 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  5. ^ "2nd May 1992: Wigan 28 Castleford 12 (Challenge Cup Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2016. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Wigan 2 – 33 Castleford". thecastlefordtigers.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Tigers' roar heard after early strike by Dockers". Yorkshire Post. 13 March 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  8. ^ "Hall of Fame at castigers.com". castigers. 31 December 2008. Archived from the original on 6 May 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
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