FAMILIAR FACES: PAUL MARCH

As the Giants face Wakefield Trinity tomorrow, we look at a player who has played for both clubs with distinction - Paul March

By Alex Robinson

As Huddersfield Giants prepare to lock horns with Wakefield Trinity on Friday 5^th April, we take an in-depth look at familiar face who has played for both clubs.

We take a closer look at a player who made his rugby league debut at Wakefield Trinity and a player who was influential at the Giants between 2002-06 – Paul March.

We look at March who had a good 17-year career playing more than 200 games for Wakefield Trinity, Huddersfield Giants, York City Knights, Hunslet Hawks and Keighley Cougars before moving into full-time coaching.

In 1998, Wakefield Trinity, under coach Andy Kelly at who is now Huddersfield’s Head of Youth, earned their place in the top flight after a victory over Featherstone Rovers in the Division One Grand Final. March wasn’t selected for the game, but his performances helped Wakefield survive relegation in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Before leaving in 2002, March who played at halfback, hooker or loose forward helped Trinity to their first-ever SL play-off position having finished in 6^th place. March left in 2002 to join Huddersfield Giants who were relegated from Super League to the Championship.

March was instrumental in getting the club promoted at the first time of asking, as the Giants went unbeaten for the entire season in 2002, drawing only one game and winning a record-equalling 29 games. Huddersfield beat Leigh Centurions 38-16 in the NFP Grand Final in which March played at hooker which helped the Giants clinch promotion back to Super League. March would play for the Giants for a further four years, making over 80 appearances. He played much of the 2006 season at stand-off after Chris Thorman was out injured with an arm injury. However, March injured his cruciate ligament and was ruled out for the season. He was released from his contract at Giants and re-signed for Wakefield Trinity for the 2007 season.

He left Trinity after one season and joined York City Knights in 2008 as player-coach. He played 16 games for York in the 2009 season scoring 11 tries before moving to Hunslet Hawks midway though the 2009 season to once again be player-coach. He played 50 games for the Hawks scoring 25 tries for the club before moving to Keighley Cougars in 2012.

In four years for the club March made 78 appearances scoring 18 tries before putting his boots up and making the full transition into coaching in 2015. March won the League One Cup as coach of the Cougars in 2016. After being player-coach for three of his last clubs, it was no surprise to see March go into full time coaching. March became Featherstone Rovers Reserves Head Coach and Assistant First Coach working under new Rovers Coach Ryan Car in 2019.