Watson congratulated for reaching 500 milestone

Wales Rugby League have congratulated their longest serving professional player, Ian Watson, for reaching 500 professional career games.

Watson, 37, whose family hail from North Wales, is the joint record caps holder for the Dragons with 30, and he played his 470th club game against Gateshead in the Tetley’s Challenge Cup last Sunday.

The Swinton player-coach is now in his third stint with the Lions, and has played 225 games for them between 1998-2000, 2005-2006 and 2010 to date.

He played Super League for Workington in 1996 (5 games) and for Salford (41 games) in 1997, and he played 24 more times for the Reds in other league and cup games in 1995-96.

The scrum-half also turned out in the Championships for Widnes (41 games, 2001 and 2006), Rochdale (32 games, 2003), Oldham (20 games, 2004), Halifax (30 games, 2007) and Leigh (52 games, 2008-2009). 

“I’m delighted to have reached my 500th game,” said Watson. “Not many players get to this many professional games in their career and it’s a landmark that I wanted to reach.

“I’ve a lot of good memories in my career especially playing for Wales where we’ve won European Cups, against Australia in a World Cup semi-final when we were beating them for an hour and also playing against New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium. 

“There are lots of club successes in there as well, but winning what is now the Championship and then playing in a Premiership final for Salford at Old Trafford in 1996 is a particular highlight.”

Wales Rugby League chairman Brian Juliff said: “Everyone at Wales Rugby League would like to congratulate Ian Watson for reaching such a fantastic milestone.

“Ian has been one of Wales‘ most dedicated players and 500 professional games, including a 16-year international career is something that surely has to be recognised.

“We’d like to wish Ian all the best for the future. I’m not sure how many more games he’ll manage to squeeze in but I’m sure he’ll have a successful coaching career ahead of him for club and maybe even country. All the best to him.”