Dave Whittle - Prop
Wales RLHeritage No | 407 |
Date Of Birth | 22/09/1976 |
Place Of Birth | Wigan |
Height | 180 |
Weight | 104 |
Clubs | Chorley Lynx, Leigh Leopards, St Helens, Warrington Wolves, Wigan Warriors U19, Wigan Warriors U16, Wigan St Patricks |
Honours | Wales RL |
Managed | Wigan St Judes |
Dave Whittle represented Wales in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, qualifying through the heritage rule. He started in all the group matches, but against New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium, he snapped the ligaments in the back of his neck, adding to the list of injuries Wales had in that tournament. However at aged 11, he didn't think he'd ever play sport again, let alone international rugby league, after breaking both legs in an accident. Before the accident, he played the round ball game, but after his rehabilitation, he gave rugby league a go, signing for Ince St Williams in Wigan and then Wigan St Patricks where he was coached by the legendary Brian Folley. At 16, when playing for Wigan Schools against those from Dewsbury, he was spotted by Leeds Rhinos and was offered a contract at Headingley. However Wigan Warriors soon did likewise, so he chose to remain in his own area, doing his apprenticeship alongside Kris Radlinski and Sean Long. Dave didn't make the first team squad at Wigan so he signed for Leigh Centurions, initially on loan, then on a permanent basis. At Leigh, he helped the club to a 2000 Northern Ford Premiership Grand Final win and to two NFP Cup victories. During his time there, he did eventually get to play in Super League, playing two games each for Warrington Wolves and St Helens, both as loan spells. At the start of the 2002 season, he signed for Chorley Lynx. That season would end up being his last playing rugby, as he again picked up injury against New Zealand in Cardiff, snapping all the ligaments in his knee for the third time, forcing him to retire at just 26 years old. During this final season, he secured a job working for Greater Manchester Police as a PCSO. He worked in the police for 15 years before going onto become a Complex Dependency Key Worker for Wigan Council. For the first few years of his retirement, he had nothing to do with rugby at all until his son became old enough to play and he fell in love with the game again and ended up being appointed head coach of Wigan St Judes U13s. Many of the players he trained, including Wales junior international Lewis Pinder, have signed professional contracts with St Helens and Wigan Warriors. In 2020, he changed direction again and left St Judes to become a talent scout for St Helens.
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