Danny Tickle

England international rugby league footballer

Danny Tickle (born 10 March 1983) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who plays in the for Workington Town in Betfred League 1, Tickle is also a noted goal kicker. During his career Tickle played for several clubs including Halifax, Wigan Warriors, Hull F. C., Widnes Vikings, Castleford Tigers, Leigh Centurions and Hull Kingston Rovers.

Tickle was born in Golborne, Greater Manchester, England. He learned rugby league at local amateur club, Golborne Parkside.

At the start of his career he played for two seasons at Halifax in the Super League. Tickle then went on to sign for the Wigan Warriors for a fee of £100,000, despite interest from other Super League sides that included St Helens.

Tickle played for the Wigan Warriors at , scoring a try in the 2003 Super League Grand Final, which ended in a 25–12 victory to the Bradford Bulls. He performed well enough to earn a new two year contract in July 2004. The following season, Tickle was outstanding in an injury hit Wigan squad. He went onto pick up the Wigan Supporters' 'Player of the Year Award'. He was released at the end of the 2006 season.

During his time at Hull F. C., Tickle enjoyed an incredible début season with the West Hull outfit in 2007, picking up the Players,' Supporters' and Coaches' 'Player of the Year Awards. Whilst also finishing as the club's top points scorer in both the 2007 and 2008 Super League seasons. Tickle played for Hull F. C. in the 2008 Challenge Cup Final, in a 28–16 defeat by St. Helens. Tickle also represented the club in the 2013 Challenge Cup Final.

Tickle was linked with a move to the Widnes Vikings for the 2013 Super League season, but the move never came to fruition. Until 12 months later however, Tickle joined the Widnes club for the 2014 season onwards. In November 2015, Tickle was assaulted outside a nightclub in Ashton in Makerfield. Tickle suffered a fractured skull as a result of the incident, and it was initially believed that the injury would bring his playing career to an end. He was released by Widnes in March 2016.

After his release from the Widnes outfit, he was signed in April 2016 by the Castleford Tigers on a short term contract, before being released three months later so he could sign for the Leigh Centurions.

Tickle represented Leigh for two seasons, helping the club win promotion to the Super League in 2016. Tickle unfortunately suffered relegation from the Super League with Leigh in the 2017 season, due to losing the Million Pound Game against the Catalans Dragons.

In 2018, it was revealed that Tickle had signed a one year contract to play for Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League. Tickle scored a try on his Hull Kingston Rovers début against the Catalans Dragons. The game took place on 15 February 2018, Hull Kingston Rovers won the game 23–4 at Craven Park. Following only one year as a player at Hull Kingston Rovers, Tickle took the decision to join Workington Town ahead of the start of the 2019 rugby league season.

On 11 December 2018, it was announced that Tickle had signed a one year deal with League 1 outfit Workington Town, to play for the club on a part time basis. Workington Town Head Coach Leon Pryce said, “Danny is a fantastic addition to the squad.”

“He has many years' experience in the Super League and he is a top professional.”

“Playing at the highest level will be of benefit to the squad in what is a tough league.”

Tickle made his début for Workington Town on 17 February 2019, in a 28–32 victory over Oldham. A week later on 24 February 2019, Tickle scored his first try for Workington Town in a 48–18 victory over the Crusaders.

Tickle represented England A in the 2003 European Nations Cup, recording three appearances, scoring two tries and kicking 23 goals, posting 54 points in total. He also earned one cap for the senior England team, appearing against Wales in 2009.