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Luke Gale: Ex-England and Castleford return to retirement to take up Wakefield academy job

VaselineJuly 29, 2024

0 2 minutes read

Luke Gale: Ex-England and Castleford return to retirement to take up Wakefield academy job

Image source, Rex Features

Image caption, Luke Gale played Super League rugby for six clubs – Harlequins, Bradford Bulls, Castleford, Leeds, Hull and Wakefield

10 minutes ago

Former Castleford halfback Luke Gale will retire from football at the end of this season to become head coach of Wakefield Trinity’s youth academy.

The 36-year-old former England player, who travelled extensively and was voted Man Of Steel in 2015, hopes to lead Wakefield back into Super League action in September with his rugby league swansong.

“I’ve been a professional footballer for 17-18 years and have had the pleasure of playing for some great clubs, with some great guys,” said Gale.

“I’ve created some special memories along the way, but I believe now is the right time to move on to the next chapter. I still love the game, but the game doesn’t love me as much anymore.

“The game is getting harder and harder and I’m getting older and it’s not getting any easier. I felt it was the right time to stop. Getting out of bed on Monday morning is getting harder and harder.

“I’ve spoken to my family and had a good talk with Daryl. This announcement has been coming for about six weeks.

“I am really looking forward to continuing my next adventure in rugby league and becoming Head Coach of the Youth Academy here at Wakefield next season.”

Gale, who started his career at Leeds and has nine England caps, has now made almost 400 appearances for eight different clubs, six of them in the Super League.

He made his debut on loan at Doncaster, where he was voted National League Two Young Player of the Year in 2008, scoring 24 goals.

Gale then played two seasons with Harlequins and Bradford Bulls before moving to Castleford, where he played his best rugby and enjoyed his greatest success.

It was at Cas that he first linked up with Powell, won the Man of Steel award, scored 978 points between 2015 and 2019, helped the Tigers to the League Leaders’ Shield and their first Grand Final, and earned his first international call-up in the 2016 Four Nations before playing in the narrow 2017 Rugby League World Cup final, where they lost 6-0 to Australia.

After leaving The Jungle, he spent a season with Leeds and then Hull before joining Keighley and then Wakefield for the 2023 season.

But he played a part in Trinity’s 2024 revival under Powell, and he’s keen to leave on a fitting high note.

VaselineJuly 29, 2024

0 2 minutes read