English rugby league footballer
Josh Hodson Full name Joshua Hodson Born (2000-06-15 ) 15 June 2000 (age 24)
Newport, Shropshire , EnglandPosition
Centre
As of 5 April 2024
Josh Hodson (born 15 June 2000) is an English professional
rugby league footballer who plays as a
centre for the
Castleford Tigers in the
Super League .
He has previously played for the
London Broncos and the
Batley Bulldogs in the
Championship .
Background
Hodson was born in
Newport, Shropshire , England.
[3]
From the age of 6, Hodson played
rugby union with
Newport RUFC , where he played as a
scrum-half .
[4] In 2010, he began to play junior
rugby league for
Telford Raiders , switching position to
centre .
[4] In 2014, he joined the
Midlands Hurricanes academy based out of
Loughborough College .
[4] Following a successful trial, he signed for the
London Broncos academy, where he climbed through the ranks.
[5]
Playing career
London Broncos
On 23 February 2020, Hodson made his senior debut for the
London Broncos against the
York City Knights in the
Challenge Cup , starting on the
wing .
[6] The following week, he made his first appearance in the
Championship against
Featherstone Rovers .
[7] The league's
COVID-19 abandonment prevented any further appearances in Hodson's debut season, but in October he signed a first-team professional contract with London.
[4]
[5]
Hodson began the
2021 season as a starter for London. On 20 June, he scored his first try for the Broncos against
Whitehaven .
[8] He finished the year having made 17 appearances and scored 4 tries.
[1]
Batley Bulldogs
In October 2021, the
Batley Bulldogs announced the signing of Hodson for 2022, following the arrival of London teammate
James Meadows .
[9] Head coach
Craig Lingard said, "He has got a really bright future in the game and, hopefully, we can help him get to the next level."
[9] Hodson made his first Batley appearance against
Halifax Panthers on 30 January,
[10] and scored his first try for the club against the
Royal Navy in the
Challenge Cup .
[11] He featured in Batley's
Championship play-off final defeat against the
Leigh Centurions .
[12] He made a total 26 appearances and scored 5 tries in the 2022 season.
[1]
In the early rounds of the
2023 Challenge Cup , Hodson scored 4 tries on two occasions, against
Wath Brow Hornets and Hunslet ARLFC.
[13]
[14] His try-scoring form attracted the attention of six
Super League clubs.
[15] Hodson featured in Batley's
1895 Cup final defeat against the
Halifax Panthers at
Wembley .
[16] He finished the season with 19 tries, scored in 29 appearances.
[1]
Castleford Tigers
On 2 October 2023, it was announced that Hodson would join the
Castleford Tigers in the
Super League on a two-year deal.
[17]
[18] This move saw him link up with former coach
Craig Lingard , who had taken on the role of head coach at the Tigers.
[19]
[20] Hodson said, "I'm not going to be holding back and I'll give it everything I've got to take the opportunity with both hands," with Castleford claiming to have beaten two Super League rivals to his signature.
[21]
[22]
After missing the opening rounds with a foot injury,
[23] Hodson made his Castleford debut on 23 March 2024 against his former club
Batley in the
Challenge Cup .
[24] He made his full
Super League debut the following week at
Wheldon Road against the
Leeds Rhinos .
[25]
References
^
a
b
c
d
RL Record Keepers' Club
^
Rugby League Project
^ Thomson, Doug (9 October 2023).
"Josh Hodson completes unique Rugby League journey with Castleford Tigers move" . TotalRL . Retrieved 22 October 2023 .
^
a
b
c
d Elwell, Nick (5 December 2020).
"Josh Hodson riding high as he nets Broncos deal" . Shropshire Star . Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^
a
b
"London Broncos add five academy stars to first team squad" . The RFL . 29 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^
"London Broncos 22 - 24 York City Knights" . Sky Sports . 23 February 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^
"London Broncos 10 - 34 Featherstone Rovers" . Sky Sports . 1 March 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^
"London Broncos v Whitehaven" . BBC Sport . 20 June 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^
a
b McKenna, Ben (20 October 2021).
"Batley Bulldogs head coach details what London Broncos centre Josh Hodson will bring to his side" . Dewsbury Reporter . Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^ Craven, Dave (30 January 2022).
"Batley Bulldogs 30 Halifax Panthers 18: Bulldogs come storming back to win a Championship classic" . The Yorkshire Post . Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^
"Batley Bulldogs 66 - 6 Royal Navy" . Sky Sports . 27 February 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^
"Championship play-off final: Leigh 44-12 Batley Bulldogs - Adrian Lam's Centurions march back to Super League" . BBC Sport . 2 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^ Cheshire, Adam (14 March 2023).
"Craig Lingard praises 'professional' Batley Bulldogs in routine Challenge Cup win" . Dewsbury Reporter . Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^
"Hunslet ARLFC 6 - 80 Batley Bulldogs" . Sky Sports . 2 April 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^ Shaw, Matthew (12 May 2023).
"Batley Bulldogs star set for Super League move with six clubs battling it out" . Yorkshire Live . Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^
"1895 Cup final: Batley Bulldogs 10-12 Halifax Panthers" . BBC Sport . 13 August 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023 .
^
"Hodson is a Tiger" . Castleford Tigers . 2 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^
"Josh Hodson: Castleford Tigers to sign Batley Bulldogs centre from 2024" . BBC Sport . 2 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^ Smith, Peter (2 October 2023).
"Castleford Tigers sign prolific Championship try-scorer Josh Hodson" . Yorkshire Evening Post . Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^ O'Brien, James (2 October 2023).
"Castleford Tigers dip into Championship to sign Batley Bulldogs centre" . The Yorkshire Post . Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^ Olawumi, Ben (2 October 2023).
"Castleford Tigers win the race for highly-rated Championship ace's signature; Vows to 'take the opportunity with both hands' " . Love Rugby League . Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^ Walker, Callum (2 October 2023).
"Coachless Castleford Tigers beat two rival Super League clubs to the signing of Championship and Batley Bulldogs star Josh Hodson" . TotalRL . Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^ Ibbetson, Stephen (4 March 2024).
"Castleford Tigers' Josh Hodson out to prove Super League worth – and that there's rugby league talent everywhere" . Rugby League World . No. 494. Retrieved 24 March 2024 .
^
"Challenge Cup: Batley Bulldogs 14-28 Castleford Tigers: Paul McShane stars as Super League side progress" . BBC Sport . 23 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024 .
^
"Super League: Castleford Tigers 6-26 Leeds Rhinos - Visitors extend Tigers' winless start" . BBC Sport . 28 March 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024 .
External links