Stephen Hampson (born 14 August 1961) is a former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played as a fullback in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and coached rugby league in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.

Steve Hampson
Personal information
Full nameStephen Hampson
Born (1961-08-14) 14 August 1961 (age 63)
Playing information
PositionFullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1983–93 Wigan 296+8 55 48 3 319
1989 Illawarra Steelers 11 1 0 0 4
1993–95 Halifax 24+1 5 0 1 21
1995–96 Salford Reds 39 11 11 8 74
1997 Widnes Vikings 12+6 4 0 0 16
Total 397 76 59 12 434
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1987–92 Great Britain 12 1 0 0 4
1987–89 Lancashire 3 1 0 0 4
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1998–2000 Lancashire Lynx 0 0 0 0
Source: [1][2][3]

He played club level rugby union (RU) for Vulcan RUFC (1978–83) in Newton-le-Willows, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, and at club level for Wigan, Illawarra Steelers, Halifax, Salford Reds and the Widnes Vikings.[1][4]

Playing career

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Club career

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Hampson started his rugby league career with Wigan, joining from Newton-le-Willows based rugby union club Vulcan RUFC in October 1983.[5] After a promising start during his first season at the club, Hampson broke his leg in a match against Hull Kingston Rovers in April 1984, and then suffered a broken wrist in a reserve team game during his recovery. The injuries meant that he only played one first team game during the 1984–85 season.[6]

Hampson won his first honours with Wigan during the 1985–86 season, appearing as a substitute (replacing wing Gary Henley-Smith) in Wigan's 34–8 victory over Warrington in the 1985 Lancashire Cup Final at Knowsley Road, St Helens, on Sunday 13 October 1985.[7] He started at fullback in Wigan's 11–8 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1985–86 John Player Special Trophy Final at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 11 January 1986.[8]

Hampson was an unused substitute in the 1986 Lancashire Cup final against Oldham, but played fullback in the 18–4 victory over Warrington in the 1986–87 John Player Special Trophy Final during the 1986–87 season at Burnden Park, Bolton on Saturday 10 January 1987.[9]

During the 1987–88 season, Hampson played at fullback for defending champions Wigan in their 1987 World Club Challenge victory against the visiting Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. A few days later, he played in the 28–16 victory over Warrington in the 1987 Lancashire Cup Final at Knowsley Road, St Helens, on Sunday 11 October 1987.[10]

He played fullback in the 22–17 victory over Salford in the 1988 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1988–89 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 23 October 1988,[11] and played fullback in the 12–6 victory over Widnes in the 1988–89 John Player Special Trophy Final at Burnden Park, Bolton on Saturday 7 January 1989.[12]

Hampson played fullback (replaced by substitute Neil Cowie) in the 5–4 victory over St Helens in the 1992 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1992–93 season at Knowsley Road, St Helens on Sunday 18 October 1992,[13] and played fullback, and scored a drop goal in the 15–8 victory over Bradford Northern in the 1992–93 Regal Trophy Final at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 23 January 1993.[14]

In 1989, he played alongside fellow import Andy Gregory for the Illawarra Steelers in the NSWRL premiership. Although the club finished bottom of the league table, they reached the final of the 1989 Panasonic Cup.[15] Hampson played and scored a try in the final, but the match ended in a 20–22 defeat against Brisbane Broncos.

Hampson played in the club's 1991 World Club Challenge victory against the visiting Penrith Panthers. He spent almost ten years as a player for the club between 1983 and 1993. During his Wigan career, he made 296 starts (plus 8 subs bench appearances), scoring 55 tries, 48 conversions and 3 drop goals, a total of 319 points. Wigan reached the Challenge Cup Final eight times while Hampson was at the club, but he missed the first three Challenge Cup Finals (in 1984, 1985 and 1988) due to injury.[16]

After being released by Wigan in 1993, he went to play for Halifax, Salford Reds and Widnes Vikings.[17]

Representative career

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Hampson received his first call-up for Great Britain in 1986.[18] He was selected to go on the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour, but was forced to withdraw after breaking his arm a few weeks before the tour departed.[19] He was also selected for the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand. He was capped 12 times for Great Britain between 1987 and 1992.[1]

Coaching career

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Hampson was coach of Lancashire Lynx between 1998 and 2000.[20][21] He worked as a personal trainer for other sportsmen such as cricketer Andrew Flintoff and golfer Darren Clarke.[22][23]

He has worked as a fitness conditioner for Sale Sharks, Lancashire CCC, and in rugby league at international level with Great Britain.[4]

As part of the 2010 Wigan Warriors coaching staff re-structure Hampson became the Assistant Under 18's Coach.

Honours

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Wigan

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Player Summary: Steve Hampson". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Hampson takes Great Britain role". BBC. 23 May 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2008.
  5. ^ "Wigan Swoop To Sign A Mystery Teenager". Manchester Evening News. 28 October 1983. p. 63 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ Fitzpatrick, Paul (11 January 1986). "Pumping iron and going for gold". The Guardian. London. p. 15. ProQuest 186682389.
  7. ^ "1985-1986 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  8. ^ "11th January 1986: Wigan 11 Hull KR 8 (John Player Special Trophy Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  9. ^ "10th January 1987: Warrington 4 Wigan 18 (John Player Trophy Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  10. ^ "1987–1988 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  11. ^ "1988–1989 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  12. ^ "7th January 1989: Wigan 12 Widnes 6 (John Player Trophy Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  13. ^ "1992–1993 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  14. ^ "23rd January 1993: Bradford 8 Wigan 15 (Regal Trophy Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  15. ^ "Wigan legend Steve Hampson on his days with the Illawarra Steelers". Illawarra Mercury. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  16. ^ de la Rivière, Richard (29 December 2010). "Steve Hampson". WordPress. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  17. ^ "Player Directory". rugby.widnes.tv. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  18. ^ Fitzpatrick, Paul (10 January 1986). "Hampson finds way into Bamford's stable squad". The Guardian. London. p. 22. ProQuest 186667079.
  19. ^ "Edwards and Hampson drop out". The Guardian. London. 3 June 1988. p. 23. ProQuest 186834655.
  20. ^ "The man behind Lancashire Lynx". Lancashire Telegraph. 22 January 1998. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  21. ^ "Hampson leaves Lynx". Lancashire Telegraph. 9 May 2000. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Flintoff's new regime". BBC Sport. 27 September 2000. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  23. ^ "Clarke hires a fitness trainer". Evening Chronicle. 18 September 2003. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
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