Quick Facts
Biography
Ian Kirke is a former English professional rugby league footballer of the 2000s and 2010s. He played the majority of his career for Leeds Rhinos in the Super League, for whom he made over 200 appearances and won the Super League Grand Final on five occasions. He also played in Super League for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats of Super League, and for York City Knights in National League Two.
Playing career
He made his Leeds debut on 5 March 2006 when Leeds played Castleford. During the close to season 2006 he had surgery on both his shoulders to fix a long term injury. Attended Hornsea School and Language College.
After spells in both halves of Hull and Dewsbury, Kirke's breakthrough came at York as he quietly set about laying the foundations for their National League Two triumph. Tony Rea took him on loan to London Broncos and Leeds acted on the hint and snapped him. His father, Bob Kirke, used to play for Hull KR and is now a year 3 teacher at Hornsea Community Primary School.
He played in the 2008 Super League Grand Final victory over St. Helens.
In July 2011, Kirke was given a new two-year contract at Leeds. Later that year he played from the substitute bench for Leeds in the 2011 Challenge Cup final which was lost to Wigan.