Steve Redfern

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Steve Redfern
Birth nameStephen Paul Redfern
Date of birth (1957-10-26) 26 October 1957 (age 64)
Place of birthLeicester, England
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight19 st (120 kg)
Notable relative(s)Stuart Redfern
Rugby league career
Position(s) Prop
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1985–1987 Sheffield Eagles ()
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1976-1984 Leicester Tigers ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1984 England 1

Stephen Paul Redfern (born 26 October 1957)[1] is an English former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played one test for England in 1984, and between 1976 and 1984 played club rugby for Leicester Tigers. His position was tighthead prop. He then played professional rugby league for Sheffield Eagles.

Early years[]

Redfern was born in Leicester, Leicestershire, England. Redfern joined Leicester Tigers from school, and played for the youth team. He made his Leicester début against Nottingham in 1976. He made over 247 appearances for the club.

He wore the letter C shirt as part of the Leicester front row along with the Leicester and England captain Peter Wheeler, and England prop Robin Cowling. He also played over 100 games with his brother Stuart who replaced Cowling at prop when he retired.

Redfern played in five John Player Cup finals, losing the first one to Gloucester, then winning against Moseley, London Irish and Gosforth.

International career[]

Redfern was selected for England under 23s in his first year of eligibility, and gained a place in the England under 23 team that toured Canada at the end of the 1977 season. He made his full England début on 14 February 1984 against Ireland at Twickenham,[1] having played various England games for which they did not award caps. He remained a part of the England set up, and played for England 'B' and for the full England team, until he left to go to Rugby league in 1985 with Sheffield Eagles.

He played for the Midlands Rugby team against the All Blacks, and Australia in the 1978/1979 season.

Rugby League[]

His time as a professional rugby league player at Sheffield Eagles was cut short by injury, and Redfern retired from the game.

He did go on to play Amateur Rugby League for Leicester RLFC, playing prop for several seasons circa 1988.

Coaching record[]

Redfern spent several years fighting with the RFU to be reinstated to Rugby Union. Redfern was allowed to come back to Rugby Union as a coach, starting with the local Leicestershire team Wigston. He later coached the Swedish club Pingvin in 1990/92 and led them to a win in the Swedish Championships.

He returned from Sweden in 1993 to take over the Nuneaton rugby club. While at Nuneaton he became involved in coaching the west Midlands women's team, then moving on to the Midlands team. His success with them led to a position with the national set up, at first working with the England A team, and then the senior squad. Redfern worked with the team through the six national and European championships.

In 1993, while still working in the women's game, Redfern moved back to his first junior club, Coalville in Leicestershire, as head of rugby.

In 2006 Redfern left Coalville and worked with the Sheffield club before returning to Leicestershire to spend time working as an adviser to several clubs, including the Leicestershire under 18 squad.

In 2007 he went to Italian club Rugby Feltre as director of rugby.[2]

In 2009 Redfern was voted onto the Leicester Tigers walk of legends.[3][4]

In 2009, after the promotion of Asd Rugby Feltre, he moved to Berliner Rugby Club as director of rugby.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Steve Redfern ESPN profile". ESPN. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  2. ^ ASD rugby Feltre team 2008/09
  3. ^ "Redfern springs surprise winning place". Leicester Mercury.
  4. ^ Walk of legends front row completed - Leicester Tigers
  5. ^ [1]
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