Seamus McCallion

Former Ireland international rugby league footballer

Seamus McCallion

Personal information

Full name| Seamus McCallion
Born|  (1964-04-10) 10 April 1964 (age 61)
Belfast, Northern Ireland[1]

Playing information

Position| Hooker
| Club

Years  | Team  | Pld | T | G | FG | P
1983  | Kent Invicta | 4  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
1984–91  | Halifax | 200  | 30  | 0  | 3  | 123
1992  | Leeds | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
1996  | Bramley | 2  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
2004  | Gateshead Thunder | 5  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
| Total  | 211  | 30  | 0  | 3  | 123
Representative
Years  | Team  | Pld | T | G | FG | P
1995–96  | Ireland | 3  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 4

Coaching information

| Club

Years | Team | Gms | W | D | L | W%
2004  | Gateshead Thunder |  |  |  |  |

Source: [2][3]

Seamus McCallion (born 10 April 1964) is an Irish former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played at club level for Halifax, Leeds and Bramley, as a hooker.[2]

## Playing career

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### Early career

[edit]

McCallion started his career with Huddersfield-based amateur club Moldgreen, and was selected for the 1983 BARLA Young Lions tour of New Zealand.[4] After playing a few games on trial at Kent Invicta during the 1983–84 season, he was signed by Halifax in March 1984.[5]

### Halifax

[edit]

McCallion played in all 37-matches in Halifax's victory in the Championship during the 1985–86 season, scoring 7-tries in 30 League matches and 2 in Cup competitions.

McCallion played hooker, and scored a try in Halifax's 19-18 victory over St. Helens in the 1987 Challenge Cup Final during the 1986–87 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 2 May 1987, and played hooker in the 12-32 defeat by Wigan in the 1988 Challenge Cup Final during the 1987–88 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 30 April 1988.

McCallion played hooker in Halifax' 12-24 defeat by Wigan in the 1989–90 Regal Trophy Final during the 1989–90 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 13 January 1990.[6]

In 1992, McCallion was sold to Leeds as part of an exchange deal, but never made an appearance for the first team.[7]

### International honours

[edit]

Seamus McCallion won caps for Ireland while Unattached, and at Bramley in 1995 and 1996 gaining 3-caps.[8]

## Post-playing career

[edit]

In 2003, McCallion was appointed as head coach of Gateshead Thunder.[9] He was replaced by Dean Thomas a year later.[10]

In November 2022, he was appointed as Head Physio at Hull.[11]

## Personal life

[edit]

McCallion's daughter, Orla, plays rugby league for Leeds Rhinos Women.[12]

## Honoured by Rugby League Ireland

[edit]

On 25 March 2004 six footballers were inducted into Rugby League Ireland's inaugural Hall of Fame at the Rugby League Heritage Centre in Huddersfield, they were; John "Jack" Daly (Huddersfield/Featherstone Rovers), Robert "Bob" Kelly (Keighley/Wakefield Trinity/Batley), Seamus McCallion (Halifax/Leeds/Bramley), Thomas "Tom" McKinney, (Salford/Warrington/St. Helens), Terry O'Connor (Salford/Wigan Warriors/Widnes Vikings), Patrick "Paddy" Reid (Huddersfield/Halifax).[13]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Seamus McCallion: Halifax's 1987 Challenge Cup winning 'band of renegades'". BBC Sport. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
2. ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
3. ^ "Player Summary: Seamus McCallion". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
4. ^ Fitzpatrick, Paul (26 February 1986). "Search for team to tame Kangaroo kids". The Guardian. London. p. 28\. ProQuest 186720356.
5. ^ "Now Lockwood is forced into changes". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 2 March 1984. p. 15 – via British Newspaper Archive.
6. ^ "13th January 1990: Wigan 24 Halifax 12 (Regal Trophy Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
7. ^ "1992-1993". Leeds Rhinos. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
8. ^ Williams, Graham; Lush, Peter; Farrar, David (2009). The British Rugby League Records Book. London League. pp. 104–105\. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6.
9. ^ "Thunder face one Hull of a friendly fixture". Evening Chronicle. 28 October 2003. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
10. ^ "Thunder name Thomas as coach". Evening Chronicle. 10 September 2004. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
11. ^ "Hull FC confirm coaching appointments as Tony Smith brings in trusted allies". Yorkshire Post. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
12. ^ "Leeds Rhinos v St Helens: Orla McCallion determined to follow in father's footsteps by winning Challenge Cup final". Yorkshire Evening Post. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
13. ^ "Coach gets a double". Evening Chronicle. 25 March 2004. Retrieved 1 January 2009.

## External links

[edit]

* (archived by web.archive.org) Crooks in trouble

* v
* t
* e

Halifax squad – 1986–87 Challenge Cup Final winners

* 1 Graham Eadie
* 2 Scott Wilson
* 3 Colin Whitfield
* 4 Grant Rix
* 5 Wilf George
* 6 Chris Anderson (c)
* 7 Gary Stephens

* 8 Ben Beevers
* 9 Seamus McCallion
* 10 Keith Neller
* 11 Paul Dixon
* 12 Mick Scott
* 13 John Pendlebury

* 14 Brian Juliff (substitute)
* 15 Neil James (substitute)
* Coach: Chris Anderson

* v
* t
* e

Newcastle Thunder coaches

Gateshead Thunder|

* Shaun McRae (1999)
* Andy Kelly (2001–02)
* Paul Fletcher (2003)
* Seamus McCallion (2004)
* Dean Thomas (2005–06)
* Dave Woods (2007–08)
* Chris Hood (2009)
* Steve McCormack (2009)
* Richard Pell (2010–11)
* Kevin Neighbour (2012–13)
* Stanley Gene (2014–15)

Newcastle Thunder|

* Michael Mantelli (2016–17)
* Jason Payne (2017–19)
* Simon Finnigan (2019–20)
* Eamon O'Carroll (2020–22)
* Denis Betts (2022)
* Chris Thorman (2023–25)
* Graham Steadman (interim) (2025–)

*[Pld]: Played
*[T]: Tries
*[G]: Goals
*[FG]: Field goals
*[P]: Points
*[Gms]: Games
*[W]: Wins
*[D]: Draws
*[L]: Losses
*[W%]: Win percentage
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template