Ian Smales
Ian Smales is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain national [rugby league team|Great Britain], and Yorkshire, and at club level for Featherstone Rovers, Castleford Tigers and Hunslet Hawks, as a, or, consequently he was known as a Utility player.
Playing career
Featherstone Rovers
A former English Schools international at, Smales signed for Featherstone Rovers from Lock Lane amateurs in April 1987.Smales played at in Featherstone Rovers' 14-20 defeat by Bradford Northern in the Yorkshire Cup">Yorkshire rugby league team">Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1989–90 [Rugby Football League season|1989–90 season] at Headingley, Leeds on Sunday 5 November 1989.
Smales played at in Featherstone Rovers' 20-16 victory over Workington Town in the 1992–93 [Rugby League Divisional Premiership|1992–93 Divisional Premiership] Final during the 1992–93 Rugby [Football League season|1992–93 season] at Old Trafford, Manchester on Wednesday 19 May 1993.
Castleford
In 1993, Smales was signed by Castleford for a fee of £115,000.Smales played right- in Castleford's 33-2 victory over Wigan in the 1993–94 [League Cup (rugby league)|1993–94 Regal Trophy] Final during the 1993–94 [Rugby Football League season|1993–94] at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1994. He made 95 appearances for the club.
He briefly returned to Featherstone in 1997, making four further appearances.
Representative honours
Smales was selected for Great Britain while at Featherstone Rovers for the 1990 [Great Britain Lions tour]. He played in seven games during the tour, but was uncapped as he did not appear in any Test matches.Smales won a cap for Yorkshire while at Featherstone Rovers; during the 1991–92 season against Lancashire.