Denis Betts

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Denis Betts born 14th July, 1969 in Leigh, Lancashire) is an English former rugby league player.

Dennis Betts played for Wigan in the Rugby League Premiership and the Super League. He also played for the Auckland Warriors.

Betts represented England at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. He was also capped 32 times for Great Britain.

Betts' usual position was in the second row.

Denis Betts coached Wigan Warriors in the Super League.

Betts lives next door to long time friend Andy Farrell in Haigh near Aspull.

[edit] Playing career

Denis signed for Wigan from Leigh Miners ARL on 14 October 1986 and went on to make a name for himself as one of the most damaging second row fowards in the game.

He galvanised a great Wigan team, his own medal haul including six Championships, seven Challenge Cups, three Premierships, four John Player/Regal Trophies and two Lancashire Cups. He also received the Lance Todd Trophy (1991) and the coveted Man of Steel award (1995).

He featured in three World Club Challenge matches for Wigan, winning two against Penrith Panthers in 1991 and Brisbane Broncos 1994. He also had the honour of scoring the first try at the JJB Stadium.

At the height of the Super League war he signed a lucrative deal with the Auckland Warriors in 1995, but returned to Wigan in 1998, and played in the side that lost to Sheffield Eagles in the Challenge Cup Final that year. He missed the inaugural Grand Final win that year through injury, but played in the losing Grand Final sides of 2000 and 2001.

He made 32 appearances for Great Britain, the joint highest ever for a forward, and toured three times, in 1990, 1992 and 1996. He was also the vice-captain of England in the 95 World cup final, which they lost to Australia at Wembley Stadium.

[edit] Coaching career

At the end of 2001 Betts moved into coaching as under 18s coach at Wigan, and progressed to under 21s. In July 2003 he was appointed Mike Gregory’s assistant following the departure of Stuart Raper and took temporary charge in May 2004 when Gregory stepped down due to illness. He held the position for a year before he was moved sideways by the club to make way for the appointment of new head coach Ian Millward, who had left St Helens just two weeks earlier and was recruited for his experience. Betts continued to work under Millward until the end of the 2005 season but left in November after refusing to take a post as under-21s coach.

In January 2006 he took up a post as skills and development coach with Guinness Premiership rugby union club Gloucester.