Andy Last
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Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Andrew Gary Last[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 25 March 1981 Kingston upon Hull, Humberside, England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Hooker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Coaching information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 4 August 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Andy Last (born 25 March 1981) is an English professional rugby league coach who is the assistant coach for the England national rugby league team and a former professional rugby league footballer.
He is a former head coach of Hull FC and the Castleford Tigers in the Super League. He played as a hooker for Hull FC in the Super League between 1999 and 2005.
Background
[edit]Last was born in Kingston upon Hull, Humberside, England.
Playing career
[edit]On 1 August 1999, Last made his Super League debut for Hull FC against the Warrington Wolves.[5] The return of Lee Jackson to Hull in 2001 saw Last playing mainly for the A-team, before he suffered a broken tibia and fibula to end his career prematurely.[5] He made a total of 29 appearances and scored 4 tries, with his final appearance made at the age of 24.[4]
Coaching career
[edit]Hull F.C. (youth, assistant, interim)
[edit]Last joined the coaching staff of Hull FC. In 2005, he led the club's under-21s side to Academy Grand Final victory.[6] He worked as an assistant coach for the first team under Lee Radford, winning back-to-back Challenge Cups in 2016 and 2017.[7]
On 12 March 2020, Last was announced as Hull's interim head coach following Radford's dismissal, with Kieron Purtill being his assistant.[8][9] Four days later, the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Last would only coach his first game in August.[10][11] He guided Hull to a 6th-placed finish and reached the play-off semi-finals.[12][7] In November 2020, Hull appointed Brett Hodgson as their new head coach, with Last offered an alternative position.[13]
Wakefield Trinity (assistant)
[edit]On 21 December 2020, Wakefield Trinity appointed Last as an assistant coach, to work alongside Chris Chester and Willie Poching.[7] Last said he opted for this role to "spread [his] wings and gain some different experiences", rather than remaining at Hull in a role "tailored to his skill-set" according to chairman Adam Pearson.[14]
Castleford Tigers (assistant, interim)
[edit]On 29 September 2021, the Castleford Tigers announced the appointment of Last as assistant coach following the arrival of Lee Radford as head coach.[15][16]
On 6 March 2023, Last was appointed interim head coach of Castleford when Radford was relieved of his duties.[17][18] He took charge of six fixtures while the club held talks with candidates in their selection process. On 19 April 2023, he was named as full-time head coach on a two-and-a-half-year deal.[19] On 4 August 2023, immediately following a defeat against Huddersfield that left the Tigers at the bottom of the Super League table for the first time, Last departed Castleford.[20][21][22]
England (assistant)
[edit]In April 2020, while interim head coach of Hull FC, Last joined the coaching staff for the England national team in the build up towards the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[23][24]
In June 2024, Last was Acting Head Coach for England's mid-season game against France, as Head Coach Shaun Wane was recovering from an ankle operation.[25] Last guided England to a 40–8 victory.[26]
References
[edit]- ^ FreeBMD Entry Information
- ^ Rugby League Project playing
- ^ Rugby League Project coaching
- ^ a b RL Record Keepers' Club
- ^ a b Bazeley, Marc (25 April 2020). "Andy Last: England assistant and Hull FC coach stepping out of the shadows". Sky Sports. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "What became of Hull FC's 2005 Academy Grand Final winners". Hull Daily Mail. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ a b c "Andy Last: Wakefield Trinity bring long-serving Hull coach in as Chester's assistant". BBC Sport. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Super League: Lee Radford sacked after Hull beaten by Warrington". BBC Sport. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Darbyshire, Drew (12 March 2020). "Lee Radford sacked by Hull FC". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Bazeley, Marc (23 April 2020). "Andy Last uses break to settle into Hull FC interim head coach role". Sky Sports. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Newsum, Matt (7 August 2020). "Andy Last: Hull FC interim boss on the progression from fan to head coach". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Newsum, Matt (19 November 2020). "Super League play-offs: Wigan Warriors beat Hull FC 29-2 to reach Grand Final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Brett Hodgson: Hull FC appoint former Warrington and Huddersfield full-back as head coach". BBC Sport. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Andy Last departs Hull FC to link up with Super League rivals Wakefield Trinity". Sky Sports. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Andy Last appointed assistant coach". Castleford Tigers. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Andy Last looking forward to Lee Radford reunion". Love Rugby League. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Super League: Lee Radford relieved of duties as Castleford Tigers coach as Andy Last takes interim charge". Sky Sports. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Newsum, Matt (6 March 2023). "Lee Radford: Castleford Tigers coach leaves Super League club by mutual agreement". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Andy Last: Castleford name England assistant as head coach after interim stint". BBC Sport. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Andy Last: Castleford Tigers sack head coach after falling to bottom of Super League". BBC Sport. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ "Andy Last: Castleford Tigers head coach sacked following 28-0 home defeat to Huddersfield Giants". Sky Sports. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ O'Brien, James (4 August 2023). "Castleford Tigers 0 Huddersfield Giants 28: Andy Last sacked after fifth defeat in a row". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Smailes, James (15 April 2020). "Hull FC interim coach Andy Last joins England set-up as Shaun Wane names coaching team". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Gordon, James (18 April 2023). "England coach gives backing as Andy Last set for Castleford job". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Shaun Wane: England head coach to miss France Test to recover from ankle surgery". 27 June 2024.
- ^ "France 8-40 England: Handley, Welsby, Johnstone score two tries apiece in England win". 29 June 2024.
External links
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