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Fletcher Rooney
Personal information
Full nameFletcher Rooney
Born (2006-01-12) 12 January 2006 (age 18)
West Yorkshire, England
Playing information
PositionFullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2023– Castleford Tigers 4 2 0 0 8
Source: [1][2]
As of 19 September 2024

Fletcher Rooney (born 12 January 2006) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League.

Background

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Rooney was born in West Yorkshire, England. He is the son of former England international rugby league footballer Jamie Rooney.[3]

Rooney played junior rugby league for Featherstone Lions and Lock Lane ARLFC. He joined the Castleford Tigers development system at scholarship level.[4] He overcame an ACL injury at the age of 14.[3]

In September 2022, Rooney progressed to Castleford's academy squad.[5] During the 2023 academy season, he made 11 appearances and scored 10 tries and 1 goal, as well as a further 5 appearances and 1 try at Reserves level, and was named Academy Player of the Year.[6]

Rooney represented Yorkshire in their Academy Origin fixture against Lancashire on 19 August 2023.[7] He played as a centre in the 44–16 defeat at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium.[8][9]

Playing career

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In September 2023, Rooney was introduced into first-team training with the Castleford senior squad, and was assigned squad number 47.[10] On 22 September, aged 17, he made his Super League debut for the Castleford Tigers against the Leeds Rhinos in the final round of the season.[11][12] His performance in defeat earned praise from head coaches Danny Ward and Rohan Smith[13] as well as the travelling fans.[14] Rooney said of his debut, "All my life I've been working towards that moment, it was a big thing for me and my family."[15] He became the first 2006-born player to feature in the Super League.[16]

In October 2023, Rooney was included in Castleford's listed first-team squad ahead of the 2024 season,[17][18] one of only two fullbacks alongside Luke Hooley.[19][20] He would be following a hybrid programme between the academy and first-team environments to support his development.[21] In December 2023, it was announced that Rooney had signed his first professional contract with Castleford, agreeing a three-year deal.[22][23] He required surgery for an ankle injury suffered in January,[24] which prevented him filling in for the injured Hooley before the signing of Tex Hoy.[3] On 1 August, playing as a winger, Rooney made his second senior appearance and scored his first Super League try in Castleford's home loss against Leigh.[25][26]

Statistics

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Appearances and points in all competitions by year
Club Season Tier App T G DG Pts
Castleford Tigers 2023 Super League 1 0 0 0 0
2024 Super League 3 2 0 0 8
Career total 4 2 0 0 8
As of match played 19 September 2024

References

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  1. ^ RL Record Keepers' Club
  2. ^ Rugby League Project
  3. ^ a b c Heppenstall, Ross (30 July 2024). "NextGen: Meet the son of a Super League icon tipped to become a Castleford Tigers star". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  4. ^ Harber, Tony (18 December 2023). "Castleford Tigers delighted that promising young full-back Fletcher Rooney has committed to the club". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Tigers stepping up our youth ranks". Castleford Tigers Foundation. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Tigers host end of season dinner". Castleford Tigers. 17 September 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Academy Origin III: Squads named for series decider". The RFL. 10 August 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Academy Origin III: Lancashire 44 Yorkshire 16". The RFL. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Rooney reflects on Yorkshire experience". Castleford Tigers. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Tigers select squad for Wigan". Castleford Tigers. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Super League: Leeds Rhinos 46-0 Castleford Tigers - Hosts put big losses behind them with win". BBC Sport. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  12. ^ "'Emphatic' Leeds Rhinos on right end of a rout as Castleford Tigers collapse". The Yorkshire Post. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  13. ^ Cook, Sam (30 November 2023). "Predicting five breakout stars of the 2024 Super League season". Serious About Rugby League. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  14. ^ Cook, Sam (23 September 2023). ""Joke of a club" – Furious Castleford Tigers fans call for change after Leeds Rhinos defeat". Serious About Rugby League. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  15. ^ Darbyshire, Drew (12 December 2023). "Castleford Tigers tie down young gun to long-term contract as full-back lays out 2024 ambitions". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  16. ^ Ibbetson, Stephen (18 December 2023). "Fletcher Rooney joins Castleford Tigers squad keen to turn focus on youth". TotalRL. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Full 2024 first team squad". Castleford Tigers. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  18. ^ Walker, Callum (23 October 2023). "Castleford Tigers reveal 30-man squad for Super League 2024". TotalRL. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  19. ^ Walker, Callum (11 January 2024). "Castleford Tigers fans' fears eased after rising star suffers training injury". TotalRL. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  20. ^ Darbyshire, Drew (18 January 2024). "Super League: A young gun from every club to keep an eye out for in 2024". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  21. ^ Walker, Callum (12 December 2023). "Castleford Tigers hand long-term deal to highly-rated youngster ahead of 2024 Super League season". TotalRL. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  22. ^ "Rooney signs until 2026". Castleford Tigers. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  23. ^ Shaw, Matthew (12 December 2023). "Castleford Tigers tie down rising talent to first professional contract". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Medical update". Castleford Tigers. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  25. ^ "Leigh boost play-off hopes as they beat Castleford". BBC Sport. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  26. ^ Harber, Tony (6 August 2024). "Hometown boys like Fletcher Rooney are key to Castleford Tigers' plans going forward". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
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