Phil Cantillon

Phil Cantillon

Personal information
Born	(1976-06-02) 2 June 1976 (age 40) Wigan, England
Playing information
Position	Hooker
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1992–95 Wigan 1995–97 Keighley Cougars 75 34 0 136 1997–98 Leeds Rhinos 23 11 0 0 44 1999–04 Widnes Vikings 159 117 0 0 468 2004 Halifax 29 14 0 0 36 2005–06 Rochdale Hornets 58 29 0 0 116 2007 Blackpool Panthers – Player coach 31 21 0 0 84 Total 375 226 0 0 884 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1992–95 Great Britain 7 6 0 0 24 1996–03 England 8 4 0 0 16 2003–06 Ireland 7 10 0 0 40
Source: RLP Profile

Phil Cantillon (born 2 June 1976) is an England and Ireland dual international former rugby league footballer who played professionally from 1992 to 2007. He successfully captained Ireland and gained legendary and iconic status through breaking numerous try scoring world records at club and international level. He is recognised as the most prolific and greatest try scoring forward in the history of the game with over 250 first grade tries

Cantillon signed for his hometown club Wigan in 1992 and represented Great Britain Academy from 1992–95, captaining the international team on the Australian tour in 1994 and playing in the end of year Premiership cup finals at Old Trafford in 1994 and 1995.

With the launch of Super League in 1995 and the move from winter to summer sport, Great Britain coach Phil Larder signed Cantillon for the then star studded Keighley Cougars – becoming an immediate star with his no nonsense style and try scoring ability. He scored a hat trick on his début against Wakefield, gaining star status and quickly gaining full international honours by the end of the year.

Cantillon went on to play for England in the 1996 Super League World Nines in Fiji under Phil Larder eventually losing to Australia and scored a memorable full-length solo try in the 1996 Premiership Final at Old Trafford before moving to Leeds two years later, losing to Wigan in the Inaugural Super League Grand Final in 1998. He then signed for Widnes Vikings for the start of the 1999 season.

The hooker and utility star became a firm favourite of the fans with cult figure status gained with spectator chants of "Oh ah Cantillon" in place at grounds everywhere. His electrifying burst of speed, leadership and superb balance served him well during a long and illustrious career, which saw him successfully captain Ireland Rugby League and break many try scoring records including world records, at club and international level. In doing so, Cantillon is recognised has an iconic and greatest try scoring forward to have ever played the game. He also scored one of fastest tries in the history of the game in 2000, scoring after a staggering 18 seconds of play. He was named in the top five best hookers in the world during 1999–2004 .

He was credited for the evolution of the modern day hooker role during the nineties and noughties through his captaincy,support play, evasive running, try scoring ability and defensive qualities.

Cantillon played for Widnes where he ran up a remarkable tally of 117 tries in five (5) years, playing over 100 consecutive games. Cantillon took out the Tom Bergin Trophy as man of the match in the 2001 Grand Final victory following another world class performance. Cantillon is placed ninth in the all-time list of club try scorers which features many legends from the Widnes cup kings and world champions era of dominance, with the highest ever for a forward. Cantillon was also selected for England for the World Sevens in Australia in 2003, taking them to the final loss against Parramatta Eels with two (2) tries in a man of the match performance in both the semi-final against Manly and France in the quarter finals. "