George Flanagan (born 8 October 1986) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker for the Keighley Cougars in RFL League 1.
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | George Flanagan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 8 October 1986 Bradford, West Yorkshire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 14 st 5 lb (91 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Hooker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] As of 26 August 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal life
editFlanagan was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.
He has a son, George Flanagan Jr. who is also a rugby league footballer. Flanagan Jr. played alongside his father at the Bradford Bulls, making his first-team debut in July 2022 in a match against the London Broncos.[2] The two went on to play against each other for the first time when Keighley met Hunslet in August 2024.[3]
Career
editBradford Bulls
editFlanagan started his career coming through the ranks at the Bradford Bulls through their academy system.
In 2018 Flanagan signed a two-year deal to play for his hometown club leaving Hunslet R.L.F.C. one game into the 2018 League 1 season. He scored 14 tries for the Bradford Bulls in the 2019 season, helping them earn promotion through the playoffs back to the Championship. He scored one of his famous 'show n go' tries in the playoff final to further extend Bradford's lead in the 35th minute against former player Leon Pryce's Workington Town, who had previously done the double over Bradford in the regular season.
Flanagan has received a £250 fine and an eight-game ban for an "attack to the testicles" against Hakim Miloudi during a Championship game on 4 August 2019.[4] He has received another £250 fine and a ten-game ban for the same attack made during a Challenge Cup game on 21 March 2021.[5] Following this second ban, Flanagan has shared his mental health struggles, stating that he was "enduring the toughest period of his career", and has temporarily walked away from social media due to the backlash on social media over the ban.[6]
Keighley Cougars
editOn 7 May 2024 Flanagan signed for Keighley Cougars in the RFL League 1 on loan, following a period at Rochdale Hornets under the dual registration agreement between Bradford and Rochdale.[7] This move was made permanent later in the season.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Player Summary: George Flanagan". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ Heppenstall, Ross (22 July 2022). "George Flanagan rejected four Super League clubs to fulfil Bradford Bulls dream". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ "Cougars battle back from Blackmore red to claim thrilling win over Hunslet". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ "Flanagan gets long ban for testicle 'attack'". BBC Sport. 13 August 2019. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ "Flanagan gets 10-game ban for low grab". BBC Sport. 30 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2 April 2021.
- ^ Bower, Aaron (14 May 2021). "George Flanagan opens up on his mental health battles, and his work with new Bradford wellbeing group The Speak In Club". Thirteen Rugby. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ Nathan Atkinson (7 May 2024). "Bradford Bulls loan George Flanagan out to Keighley Cougars". Bradford Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "Bulls bid sad farewell to Flanagan as hooker makes permanent move to Keighley". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.