Kris Tassell

Kris Tassell (born 16 September 1973) is a former Wales international rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. fullback, wing, or centre, he played for the Canberra Raiders, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, North Queensland Cowboys, Salford City Reds, Wakefield Trinity and the Swinton Lions.[1][2]

Kris Tassell
Personal information
Born (1973-09-16) 16 September 1973 (age 50)
Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Height189 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight96 kg (15 st 2 lb)
PositionFullback, Wing, Centre
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1992Canberra Raiders20000
1995Canterbury Bulldogs40000
1996–99North Queensland42180072
2000–01Salford City Reds45120048
2002Wakefield Trinity24100040
2003Swinton Lions25120048
Total1425200208
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
2000–04Wales1160024
Source: [1][2]

Background

Born in Mount Isa, Tassell, who is of Welsh descent through his grandparents, played his junior rugby league for the Cairns Kangaroos and attended Trinity Anglican School before being signed by the Canberra Raiders.[3]

Playing career

In 1990, Tassell started at fullback for the Queensland under-17 side in their 14–all draw with New South Wales.[4] In Round 10 of the 1992 NSWRL season, he made his first grade in the Raiders' 31–12 loss to the Parramatta Eels.[5]

In 1995, Tassell joined the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, playing four first grade games, spending the majority of the season in reserve grade.[6] In 1996, he returned to Queensland, signing with the North Queensland Cowboys. That season, he scored eight tries in nine games before a knee injury against the Newcastle Knights in Round 11 ended his season. He finished the year as the club's equal-top try scorer.[7] In 1998, after just three games in 1997, Tassell became a regular starter for the Cowboys, playing 18 games on the wing. In 1999, his final year at the club, he played 12 games.

In 2000, Tassell joined the Salford City Reds in the Super League. He played 26 games that season, mainly at centre, scoring seven tries. Later the year, he represented Wales at the Rugby League World Cup. In their first group game against the Cook Islands, he scored a hat trick and was named Man of the Match. In their semi-final loss to Australia, he scored a try in the 22–46 defeat.

In 2002, after two seasons with Salford, Tassell moved to Wakefield Trinity, where he scored 10 tries in 24 games. In 2003, Tassell played for the Swinton Lions in the National League Two. In November 2003, he once again scored a try against Australia in Wales' 4–76 loss on the 2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France.

Statistics

NSWRL/ARL/Super League/NRL

SeasonTeamMatchesTGGK %F/GPts
1992 Canberra20000
1995 Canterbury-Bankstown40000
1996 North Queensland980032
1997 North Queensland31004
1998 North Queensland1860024
1999 North Queensland1230012
Career totals48180072

Super League

SeasonTeamMatchesTGGK %F/GPts
2000 Salford City2670028
2001 Salford City1950020
2002 Wakefield Trinity24100040
Career totals69220088

International

SeasonTeamMatchesTGGK %F/GPts
2000 Wales540016
2002 Wales11004
2003 Wales31004
2004 Wales20000
Career totals1160024

Personal life

Tassell's older brothers, Brad and Jason, were both professional rugby league players.[8]

References