Paul Prescott

Paul Prescott

Personal information
Full name	Paul James Prescott
Nickname	Precky, Prezza, Mute
Born	(1986-01-01) 1 January 1986 Wigan, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	16 st 5 lb (104 kg)
Playing information
Position	Prop
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2004–2013	Wigan	145	4	0	0	16
2006	Leigh (loan)
	Total	145	4	0	0	16
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2007	Ireland	1	0	0	0	0
As of 21 April 2009
Source: RLP

Paul Prescott (born 1 January 1986) is a former English professional rugby league footballer for Wigan of Super League. An Ireland international representative forward, he has played his entire professional career to date for Wigan, winning the 2011 Challenge Cup with them. He retired from the game on 4 July 2013 because of a recurring back injury.

Playing career

2000s

Prescott played in the Wigan academy setup in 2003 and 2004. His amateur club had been Ince Rose Bridge. He was called into the first team squad in July 2004 after an injury crisis left Wigan with no fit senior prop forwards. This was Prescott’s début from the bench against Castleford. Prescott was given a 2-year full-time contract with Wigan in August 2004. He went on to make 3 appearances in 2004.

Prescott was selected for the Lancashire squad in the 2004 Academy Origin Series and was also selected for the England Academy U-18s tour to Australia but later had to withdraw.

Chairman Maurice Lindsay commented: "Bryn Hargreaves and Paul Prescott have signed for a further two years, and as they are two of the best front row prospects in the country it gives us added satisfaction that they have all come through our Junior Development Scheme."

Prescott suffered a serious knee injury in June 2005 which kept him out of action for a year, he received treatment from specialist doctors at the National Centre for Sports Injury Surgery in Oswestry, Shropshire. He made his return in 2006 but after just four matches he was injured again in a Challenge Cup match with Wakefield Trinity when a collision with one of his team mates, Bryan Fletcher, caused a detached retina. However he did make his comeback later that year.

Prescott was loaned out to National League 1 side Leigh at the end of 2006 to allow Wigan to free up salary cap money and complete the signing of Bradford prop Stuart Fielden. He finished his loan in September 2006 and return to Wigan. In 2007 Prescott managed to establish himself in the Wigan side making 21 appearances scoring 1 try.

Prescott played for the Ireland national rugby league team in 2007, helping them qualify for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

2010s

Prescott played for Wigan from the substitutes' bench in the 2011 Challenge Cup final victory over Leeds.

Retirement

Prescott was forced to announce early retirement from rugby league on 4 July 2013 due to a recurring back problem.

External links

• Official Paul Prescott Profile
• Paul Prescott Wigan Career Page on the Wigan RL Fansite.