Ian Smales

Ian Smales ((1968-09-26)26 September 1968) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain (non-Test matches), and Yorkshire, and at club level for Lock Lane ARLFC [1], Featherstone Rovers, Castleford Tigers and Hunslet Hawks, as a wing, centre, stand-off, second-row, or loose forward, i.e. number 2 or 5, 3 or 4, 6, 11 or 12, or 13, consequently he was known as a Utility player.

International honours

Ian Smales was selected for Great Britain while at Featherstone Rovers for the 1990 Great Britain Lions tour, he played left-second-row, i.e number 11, in Great Britain's 22-10 victory over Kiwi Colts at Addington Showgrounds, Christchurch on Wednesday 13 June 1990, played right-second-row, i.e number 12, in the 10-18 defeat by Canterbury at Davies Park, Huntly on Wednesday 20 June 1990, played left-second-row, i.e number 11, in the 20-32 defeat by Wellington at Porirua Park, Porirua on Wednesday 27 June 1990, and played hooker in the 24-0 victory over Taranaki at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth on Wednesday 4 July 1990.

County honours

Ian Smales won a cap for Yorkshire while at Featherstone Rovers; during the 1991–92 season against Lancashire.

Division Two Premiership Final appearances

Ian Smales played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in Featherstone Rovers' 20-16 victory over Workington Town in the Division Two Premiership Final during the 1992–93 season at Old Trafford, Manchester on Wednesday 19 May 1993.

County Cup Final appearances

Ian Smalesplayed stand-off, in Featherstone Rovers' 14-20 defeat by Bradford Northern in the 1989 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1989–90 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Sunday 5 November 1989.

Regal Trophy Final appearances

Ian Smales played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in Castleford Tigers' 33-2 victory over Wigan in the 1993–94 Regal Trophy Final during the 1993–94 at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1994.

Contemporaneous Article Extract

"Ian Smales Utility player. An English Schools international at loose forward, Smales signed for Featherstone Rovers from Lock Lane amateurs in April 1987. Can play centre, wing, stand-off, and in the back row of the pack, and this versatility earned him a place in the 1990 Lions touring team to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand."

Ian Smales still attends Featherstone Rovers games, and now works as a Sport & Active Lifestyles’ Health & Fitness Officer, for Wakefield District Council. He is married to Keely Smales, and has a daughter; Alice Smales, and a son; Eli Smales.

Ian Smales is the son of the rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s, and coached in the 1970s and 1980s; Tommy Smales.