{{short description|Wales international rugby league footballer}} {{about|the 1990-2000s rugby league player for Leeds, Castleford, Sheffield, Halifax & York|the 1960s-80s rugby league player for Castleford, Manly, Wigan, Warrington, Leigh, Halifax & York|Gary Stephens}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Gareth Stephens |fullname = Gareth Stephens<ref name="freebmd">{{Cite web|url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=8vClr5PxjoDDopNCqAnXLw&scan=1|title=Index entry|accessdate=27 February 2016|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}</ref> |image = |imagesize = |caption = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|4|15|df=y}} |birth_place = Pontefract, England<ref name="freebmd" /> |death_date = |height = |weight = |position = {{rlp|SO|SH}} |club1 = Leeds |year1start = 1991 |year1end = 94 |appearances1 = 35 |tries1 = 5 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 20 |club2 = Castleford |year2start = 1994 |year2end = 96 |appearances2 = 26 |tries2 = 4 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 16 |club3 = Hull FC |year3start = 1996 |year3end = 97 |appearances3 = 19 |tries3 = 3 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 12 |club4 = {{nowrap|→Workington Town}} |year4start = 1997{{small|(loan)}} |year4end = |appearances4 = 0 |tries4 = 0 |goals4 = 0 |fieldgoals4 = 0 |points4 = 0 |club5 = Sheffield Eagles |year5start = 1997 |year5end = 99 |appearances5 = 28 |tries5 = 5 |goals5 = 0 |fieldgoals5 = 0 |points5 = 20 |club6 = Halifax Blue Sox |year6start = 2000 |year6end = |appearances6 = |tries6 = |goals6 = |fieldgoals6 = |points6 = |club7 = York Wasps |year7start = 2001 |year7end = |appearances7 = 4 |tries7 = 0 |goals7 = 0 |fieldgoals7 = 0 |points7 = 0 |teamA = Great Britain U-21s |yearAstart = 1992 |yearAend = 95 |appearancesA = 6 |triesA = 2 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 8 |teamB = Wales |yearBstart = 1995 |yearBend = 98 |appearancesB = 4 |triesB = 2 |goalsB = 0 |fieldgoalsB = 0 |pointsB = 8 |new = yes |retired = yes |source = <ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/gareth-stephens/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}</ref> | module = {{infobox person | embed = yes | father = Gary Stephens | relatives = Dean Hanson (cousin) }} }}
'''Gareth Stephens''' (born 15 April 1974) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a {{rlp|so}} or {{rlp|sh}} in the 1990s and 2000s. He played at representative level for Great Britain (Under-21s), and Wales, and at club level for Leeds where he signed a record schoolboy contract and made his first team debut at the age of 17, Castleford Tigers, Hull FC, Sheffield Eagles and York Wasps.<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/>
==Background== Stephens was born in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England, and he is the son of Gary Stephens,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Robinson|first1=John|title=RL bid to keep Lydon at 'home'|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/RL+bid+to+keep+Lydon+at+%60home%27.-a061145826|website=The People|accessdate=26 January 2015|location=London|date=9 February 1997}}</ref> former rugby league international footballer of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Gareth Stephens is also the cousin of Dean Hanson,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dean Hanson - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/dean-hanson/summary.html|access-date=2020-08-11|website=rugbyleagueproject.org}}</ref> the rugby league {{rlp|pr|sr}}, or {{rlp|lf}} of the 1980s and 1990s for Halifax and the Illawarra Steelers.
==Playing career== ===Club career=== Stephens started his career at Leeds, making his début in September 1991.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Whalley|first1=John|title=Rugby League: Saints keep unbeaten run|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=23 September 1991|location=London|page=39}}</ref> He was signed by Castleford for £65000 in July 1994.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fitzpatrick|first1=Paul|title=Castleford invest in future by signing Stephens and Goddard|work=The Guardian|date=12 July 1994|location=London|page=15}}</ref> He went on to play for Hull FC, Sheffield Eagles, Halifax Blue Sox and York Wasps.<ref>{{cite web|title=Extended Shay Stay For Gareth|url=http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/extended-shay-stay-for-gareth-1-1991810|website=Halifax Courier|accessdate=26 January 2015|date=8 March 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Backs to the future|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/7953172.print|website=Telegraph & Argus|publisher=Newsquest Media Group|accessdate=26 January 2015|date=26 August 2000}}</ref>
===International honours=== Stephens won caps at Great Britain academy and U21 level along with four caps for Wales between 1995 and 1998, including at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup.<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929104732/http://www2.hunterlink.net.au/~maajjs/res/wcup1995.htm World Cup 1995 details] * {{cite web|url=http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/playerprofile.php?pid=250|title=Gareth Stephens|website=thecastlefordtigers.co.uk|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227102904/http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/playerprofile.php?pid=250|archivedate=27 February 2012}}
{{Wales squad 1995 Rugby League World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Gareth}} Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century English sportsmen Category:Castleford Tigers players Category:English people of Welsh descent Category:English rugby league players Category:Great Britain under-21 national rugby league team players Category:Halifax Panthers players Category:Hull F.C. players Category:Leeds Rhinos players Category:Rugby league five-eighths Category:Rugby league halfbacks Category:Rugby league players from Pontefract Category:Sheffield Eagles players Category:Wales national rugby league team players Category:Welsh rugby league players Category:Workington Town players Category:York Wasps players