View source for Keith Senior

{{short description|GB & England international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name           = Keith Senior
|fullname       = Keith Andrew Senior<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=nIu7NZmYGCBn%2B3Wq%2FNvEMg&scan=1|title=Index entry|access-date=18 July 2017|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}</ref>
|image          = Keith Senior.jpg
|image_size     = 
|position       = {{Rlp|CE}}
|birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1976|4|24}}
|birth_place    = [[Huddersfield]], West Yorkshire, England
|height         = {{convert|6|ft|3|in|cm|abbr=on}}<ref name="Senior moment">{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Andy|title=Senior moment for kid dubbed new Meninga|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/feb/28/rugbyleague.leedsrhinos|access-date=3 August 2014|work=[[The Guardian]]|publisher=Guardian News and Media|date=28 February 2008}}</ref>
|weight         = {{convert|15|st|9|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="Senior moment"/>
|club1          = [[Sheffield Eagles]]
|year1start     = 1994
|year1end       = 99
|appearances1   = 140
|tries1         = 56
|goals1         = 0
|fieldgoals1    = 0
|points1        = 224
|club2          = [[Leeds Rhinos]]
|year2start     = 1999
|year2end       = 11
|appearances2   = 365
|tries2         = 171
|goals2         = 0
|fieldgoals2    = 0
|points2        = 684
|teamA          = [[Yorkshire rugby league team|Yorkshire]]
|yearAstart     = 2001
|yearAend       = 03
|appearancesA   = 4
|triesA         = 4
|goalsA         = 0
|fieldgoalsA    = 0
|pointsA        = 16
|teamB          = [[England national rugby league team|England]]
|yearBstart     = 1998<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/dates/19-june-1998/england-vs-wales.html|title=England v Wales (19 Jun 98)|website=rugbyleagueproject.org|access-date=6 Dec 2020}}</ref>
|yearBend       = 08
|appearancesB   = 10
|triesB         = 2
|goalsB         = 0
|fieldgoalsB    = 0
|pointsB        = 8
|teamC          = [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]]
|yearCstart     = 1996
|yearCend       = 07
|appearancesC   = 33
|triesC         = 12
|goalsC         = 0
|fieldgoalsC    = 0
|pointsC        = 48
|retired        = yes
|source         = <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.keithsenior.com/?q=about |title=keithsenior.com |access-date=2 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032354/http://www.keithsenior.com/?q=about |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Profile at loverugbyleague.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Keith-Senior|title=Profile at loverugbyleague.com|publisher=loverugbyleague.com|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/keith-senior/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Senior&submit=Go&c=England|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085005/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Senior&submit=Go&c=England|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2016|title=England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk|publisher=englandrl.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Senior&submit=Go&c=GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420073718/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Senior&submit=Go&c=GB|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 April 2018|title=Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk|publisher=englandrl.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref>
}}

'''Keith Andrew Senior''' (born 24 April 1976) is an English former professional [[rugby league]] footballer who played for the [[Sheffield Eagles]] and the [[Leeds Rhinos]] in the [[Super League]]. A [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] and [[England national rugby league team|England]] international representative {{rlp|ce}}, he is considered one of the greatest players of the [[Super League]] era.<ref>[http://news.coral.co.uk/other/rugby-league/corals-dream-team-super-league-era_60604.html Coral’s Dream Team of the Super League era]</ref><ref>[http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/leeds-rhinos/inside-rl-my-choice-for-greatest-leeds-side-of-all-time-1-5552045 Inside RL: My choice for greatest Leeds side of all time]</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/14026187 Leeds Rhinos boss hails 'greatest signing' Keith Senior]</ref>

During his career he won every honour in the British domestic game and held the records for the most Super League appearances (413) and tries (199), until overtaken by [[Paul Wellens]], and his former [[Leeds Rhinos]] team mate [[Danny McGuire]], respectively, in 2012. He represented both [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] and [[England national rugby league team|England]] at international level, and was named in the 'Rugby League World XIII' on three occasions.<ref name="Profile at loverugbyleague.com"/><ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/><ref name="England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk"/><ref name="Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk"/>

==Background==
Senior was born in [[Huddersfield]], [[West Yorkshire]], England.

==Playing career==
[[File:Keith Senior Leeds Rhinos.jpg|right|thumb|Senior post match against the [[South Sydney Rabbitohs]]]]

===Sheffield Eagles===
Senior began his career at the Sheffield Eagles. He was signed from Huddersfield YMCA [[Rugby Union]] team by Gary Hetherington in 1994. Senior played in the very first [[Super League]] match in 1996, a 30–24 defeat by [[Paris Saint-Germain Rugby League|Paris Saint-Germain]]. Senior played at {{rlp|ce}} in Sheffield Eagles' 17–8 victory over [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] in the [[1998 Challenge Cup]] Final during [[Super League III]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], [[London]] on Saturday 2 May 1998. Senior made his [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] début in 1996, scoring a try after coming off the bench in the 72–4 win over [[Fiji national rugby league team|Fiji]]. He was also his club's top try scorer with 17 tries that season. He bettered that tally in 1998, when he scored 19 tries as the Eagles shocked the [[Rugby league]] world, beating the [[Wigan Warriors]] 17–8 in the [[Challenge Cup]] Final at the old [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]]. He also made his first start for [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] in 1998, against [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]].

Senior made 140 appearances for the Eagles and scored 56 tries during his six seasons at the club. Notably, two of those tries came against his future employer, the [[Leeds Rhinos]].

===Leeds Rhinos===
Senior signed for the [[Leeds Rhinos|Rhinos]] on the final day of the 1999 Super League regular season. He made his début for the club on the same day, against the [[London Broncos#2006–2011: Harlequins Rugby League|London Broncos]]. After a quiet start to his Rhinos career, Senior burst into life in 2000 finishing the season as joint top try scorer with 18, including four in a single match against the then [[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax Blue Sox]].

Senior represented [[England national rugby league team|England]] at the [[2000 Rugby League World Cup]].

Senior also represented [[Yorkshire rugby league team|Yorkshire]] in the now defunct [[Rugby league War of the Roses|'War of the Roses' Origin Series]], against cross-Pennine rivals Lancashire. Senior played in three consecutive defeats in 2001 and 2002, twice at [[Headingley Stadium|Headingley]], scoring two tries. In 2003 Yorkshire beat Lancashire. Senior scored two tries in the 56–6 victory at [[Odsal Stadium]]. In 2003 Senior was named the Leeds Rhinos Players' Player of the Year.

In 2004 Senior made 30 appearances and scored 13 tries as the Rhinos ended their 32-year wait for the Championship, beating the [[Bradford Bulls]] 16–8 in the [[2004 Super League Grand Final]]. By this time Senior held the record of playing the most Super League rounds of any player, with 223 out of a possible 237.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} Senior was selected in the [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain team]] to compete in the end of season [[2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations]] tournament. In the final against [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]] he played at centre in the Lions' 44–4 loss. On 23 December 2004 the [[Rugby Football League]] fined Senior along with Leeds' teammate [[Ryan Bailey (rugby league)|Ryan Bailey]] £1,500 each after they tested positive to the banned stimulant [[ephedrine]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Fisher|first=Michael|title=More education crucial as trio fail drugs test|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/2393352/More-education-crucial-as-trio-fail-drugs-test.html|access-date=8 September 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=24 December 2004}}</ref>
[[File:Keith Senior Leeds.jpg|left|thumb|Senior playing for Leeds in 2007]]
As [[Super League IX]] champions, the Rhinos faced [[2004 NRL season]] premiers, the [[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs]] in the [[2005 World Club Challenge]]. Senior played at centre in Leeds' 39–32 victory. In 2005 Senior became only the 20th player in the club's history to score 100 tries in his career.
Senior played for the Rhinos in the [[2005 Challenge Cup]] Final at centre in their loss against [[Hull F.C.|Hull FC]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Hull stun Leeds in Challenge Cup|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/challenge_cup/4169230.stm|access-date=17 August 2013|newspaper=[[BBC News]]|date=27 August 2005}}</ref>

In January 2007 Senior celebrated his Testimonial match for the Rhinos with a 50–0 thrashing of his home town club, the [[Huddersfield Giants]]. Senior scored a late try in the match. Also in 2007 Senior played in all three Test matches during the 3–0 series whitewash over [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]]. The third and final Test of the series was the last time [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] would play as a team.{{citation needed|date=November 2011}}

Senior was an integral part of the Rhinos squad that won the [[Super League Grand Final]] for three consecutive seasons in [[2007 Super League Grand Final|2007]], [[2008 Super League Grand Final|2008]] and [[2009 Super League Grand Final|2009]], all against [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]]. Senior was selected for the [[England national rugby league team|England squad]] to compete in the [[2008 Rugby League World Cup]] tournament in Australia. [[2008 Rugby League World Cup Group A|Group A]]'s first match against [[Papua New Guinea national rugby league team|Papua New Guinea]] he played at centre in England's victory. During the 2009 season, Senior became the first player to reach 500 Super League appearances.

In 2009 [[Arriva Yorkshire]] asked local members of the public to nominate the thirteen best ever Rugby League players to have played in West Yorkshire as the 'Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team'.<br>
Senior made the final thirteen, along with Rugby League greats [[Trevor Foster]] [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]], [[Neil Fox (rugby league)|Neil Fox]] [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]], [[Albert Goldthorpe]], [[Alan Hardisty]], [[Lewis Jones (rugby, born 1931)|Lewis Jones]], [[Stan Kielty]], [[Roger Millward]] [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]], [[Mal Reilly|Malcolm Reilly]], [[Garry Schofield]], [[David Topliss]], [[Dave Valentine]] and [[Adrian Vowles]].<br> A ceremony was held in August 2009 at [[The Jungle (Wheldon Road)|The Jungle]], the home of the [[Castleford Tigers]]. A fleet of new buses were named after all the players. He also announced his retirement from representative rugby in 2009.

He played in the [[2009 Super League Grand Final]] victory over [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] at [[Old Trafford]].<ref name="sky-gf-report">{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Rugby-League-Super-League-Leeds-Rhinos-St-Helens-Old-Trafford-Grand-Final/Article/200910215403491|title=Rhinos Take Super League Title|date=2009-10-11|publisher=Sky News|access-date=22 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Burke|first=David|title=Smith's Crisp|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/more-sport/2009/10/11/smith-s-crisp-115875-21738035|access-date=22 November 2019|newspaper=The Daily Mirror|date=11 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=AFP|title=Leeds makes it Super League hat-trick|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-10-11/leeds-makes-it-super-league-hat-trick/1098564|access-date=22 November 2019|newspaper=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] News|date=11 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=AAP|author-link=Australian Associated Press|title=Leeds claim third successive Grand Final|url=http://www.nrl.com/NewsViews/LatestNews/NewsArticle/tabid/10874/newsId/57077/Default.aspx|access-date=22 November 2019|newspaper=[[National Rugby League|nrl]].com|date=11 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003225647/http://www.nrl.com/NewsViews/LatestNews/NewsArticle/tabid/10874/newsId/57077/Default.aspx|archive-date=3 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Linfoot|first=Ben|title=Grand Final: Leeds Rhinos 18 St Helens 10|url=http://www.skysports.com/rugbyleague/match_commentary/0,19936,11070_3204177,00.html|access-date=22 November 2019|newspaper=Sky Sports|date=10 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=|title=Potter refuses to blame video ref|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/2009/10/12/potter-refuses-to-blame-video-ref-100252-24906251|access-date=22 November 2019|newspaper=[[Liverpool Echo]]|date=12 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Fletcher|first=Paul|title=St Helens 10-18 Leeds Rhinos|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/8290503.stm|access-date=22 November 2019|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=10 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Third time unlucky as Saints fail to halt Rhinos' charge to title|url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/2009/10/12/third-time-unlucky-as-saints-fail-to-halt-rhinos-charge-to-title-92534-24906166|access-date=22 November 2019|newspaper=Liverpool Daily Post|date=12 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sinfield hails winning culture|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/latest/2009/10/11/sinfield-hails-winning-culture-115875-21738669|access-date=22 November 2019|newspaper=The Daily Mirror|date=11 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Stewart|first=Rob|title=Lee Smith targets place in England rugby union team after Grand Final victory|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/6299292/Lee-Smith-targets-place-in-England-rugby-union-team-after-Grand-Final-victory.html|access-date=22 November 2019|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=12 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sinfield hails historic title win|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/leeds/8301354.stm|access-date=22 November 2019|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=11 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Leeds Rhinos fans in homecoming welcome|url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/central-leeds/video_leeds_rhinos_fans_in_homecoming_welcome_1_2230845|access-date=22 November 2019|newspaper=[[Yorkshire Evening Post]]|date=12 October 2009}}</ref>

He played in the [[2010 Challenge Cup Final]] defeat by the [[Warrington Wolves]] at [[Wembley Stadium]].<ref name="Leeds 6-30 Warrington">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/8938067.stm|title=Leeds 6–30 Warrington|publisher=BBC|date=28 August 2010|access-date=22 November 2019|first=Ged|last=Scott}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/aug/28/leeds-rhinos-warrington-wolves-challenge-cup-final |location=London |work=The Guardian |title=Chris Hicks hat-trick leads Warrington to Challenge Cup triumph over Leeds |first=Andy |last=Wilson |date=28 August 2010 |access-date=22 November 2019<!--DASHBot--> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831105934/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/aug/28/leeds-rhinos-warrington-wolves-challenge-cup-final |archive-date=31 August 2010 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref>

At the end of the 2010 season Senior was named in the [[Super League Dream Team]] for the fifth time in his career.

===Crusaders RL===
On 7 July 2011 it was announced Senior was to join the [[Crusaders Rugby League|Crusaders]] on a 2-year deal from 2012 making 2011's [[Super League XVI]] his last season for the Leeds Rhinos.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crusadersrfl.com/article.php?id=5286 |title=Senior signs for the Crusaders |year=2011 |work=web page |publisher=Crusaders Rugby League |access-date=7 July 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228064223/http://www.crusadersrfl.com/article.php?id=5286 |archive-date=28 December 2011 }}</ref>

However, on 26 July 2011 the Crusaders withdrew from the [[Super League]]. Keith Senior retired as a professional [[rugby league]] footballer shortly afterwards.

==Coaching career==
On 6 March 2015 it was announced Senior had signed a 3-year contract with [[Sheffield Eagles]]. The role will consist of First Team Coaching along with work with the community and aspects commercial side of the club.

==Post playing career==

===Leeds Rugby Foundation===
When his contract with the [[Crusaders Rugby League|Crusaders]] didn't work out, in May 2011, Senior started work with the Leeds Rugby Foundation.<ref>[http://www.leedsrhinosfoundation.org Leeds Rugby Foundation]</ref> He was involved with charity work and helped the Leeds Rugby Community at a Grass Roots Level. He left to join [[Sheffield Eagles]] as a coach in 2015.

===RugbyAM===
In December 2013, Senior started Co Presenting RugbyAM,<ref>[http://rugbyam.co.uk RugbyAM]</ref> a television programme which was broadcast on [[Made in Leeds]]. He works on the programme with presenter Alex Simmons and fellow co-presenter [[Jamie Jones-Buchanan]]. The programme interviews Rugby League players (past & present) and reports of all aspects of the game of Rugby League.

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20161020035639/http://www.sheffieldeagles.com/Teams/Coach?PersonId=142156 Sheffield Eagles profile]
*(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20090721033155/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/static/in_depth/rugby_league/2001/ashes/gb/senior.stm 2001 Ashes profile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150416182042/http://www.leedsrhinosfoundation.org/news/21069.php#.VS-4FJO5K8A Leeds Rugby Foundation website]
* [http://rugbyam.co.uk RugbyAM Website]

{{Sheffield Eagles - 1998 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Leeds Rhinos squads
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|list1= 
{{Leeds Rhinos - 2004 Super League Grand Final winners}}
{{Leeds Rhinos - 2005 World Club Challenge winners}}
{{Leeds Rhinos - 2007 Super League Grand Final winners}}
{{Leeds Rhinos - 2008 World Club Challenge winners}}
{{Leeds Rhinos - 2008 Super League Grand Final winners}}
{{Leeds Rhinos - 2009 Super League Grand Final winners}}
}}
{{England 2000 Rugby League World Cup Squad}}
{{Great Britain squad – 1996 Tour}}
{{Great Britain 2004 Rugby League Tri Nations squad}}
{{Great Britain 2005 Rugby League Tri Nations squad}}
{{Great Britain 2006 Rugby League Tri Nations squad}}
{{England 2008 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{navboxes|title=Super League Dream Team|list1=
{{2002 Super League Dream Team}}
{{2003 Super League Dream Team}}
{{2004 Super League Dream Team}}
{{2009 Super League Dream Team}}
{{2010 Super League Dream Team}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Senior, Keith}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:England national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:English rugby league coaches]]
[[Category:English rugby league players]]
[[Category:Great Britain national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Leeds Rhinos players]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from Huddersfield]]
[[Category:Rugby league centres]]
[[Category:Rugby league wingers]]
[[Category:Sheffield Eagles (1984) players]]
[[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]]
[[Category:Yorkshire rugby league team players]]