Ben Jeffries facts for kids
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Personal information
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 4 September 1980 Forster, New South Wales, Australia |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Playing information
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 176 cm (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 82 kg (12 st 13 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Stand-off, Scrum-half | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Coaching information
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ben Jeffries, born on September 4, 1980, is an Australian rugby league coach and a former professional player. He is currently the head coach for the Newcastle Knights NRL Women's Premiership team. He also coaches the PNG Orchids and the Indigenous Women's All Stars.
During his playing career, Ben mostly played as a stand-off (stand-off) or scrum-half (halfback). He spent most of his time playing for Wakefield Trinity and the Bradford Bulls in the Super League. Before that, he started his career in Australia with the St George Illawarra Dragons and Wests Tigers in the NRL.
Ben Jeffries' Playing Career
Ben Jeffries had an exciting career playing rugby league. He played for several teams in both Australia and England.
Early Days in Rugby League
Ben Jeffries was born in Forster, Australia. He grew up there and went to Forster High School. In 1998, he was chosen to play for the Australian Schoolboys team. This was a big achievement for a young player. After school, he was signed by the Newcastle Knights.
Starting in the NRL: St George Illawarra Dragons
In 2000, Ben joined the St George Illawarra Dragons. He had spent two seasons playing in the Knights' junior teams. In 2001, he played his very first game in the NRL. This was in a match against the New Zealand Warriors. It was his only game for the Dragons.
Playing for the Wests Tigers
Later in 2001, Ben moved to the Wests Tigers. He played nine games for them that year. In 2002, he played even more, appearing in 18 games. He often started as the halfback for the team.
Moving to England: Wakefield Trinity
In 2003, Ben Jeffries moved to England to play in the Super League. He joined Wakefield Trinity. In his first season, he played 27 games. The next year, 2004, was a great one for him. He played 33 games and scored 24 tries. He helped lead Wakefield to the finals.
In 2005, Ben continued to play well. He scored 20 tries in 27 games, becoming Wakefield's top try scorer. Because of his success, he signed a new three-year contract with the club. After playing 143 games for Wakefield, he decided to join the Bradford Bulls in 2007.
Time with the Bradford Bulls
In 2007, Ben played 27 games for the Bradford Bulls. The team made it to the finals that year. He played for Bradford for two seasons. In 2009, he signed a deal to go back to Wakefield Trinity.
Return to Wakefield Trinity
Ben returned to Wakefield Trinity in 2010. He played 22 games in his first season back. In 2011, after playing five games for Wakefield, he rejoined the Bradford Bulls.
Second Stint at Bradford Bulls
After coming back to the Bradford Bulls in 2011, Ben played in every game for the rest of that season. He often played as the five-eighth. In 2012, he continued to play regularly for the team.
On September 5, 2012, Ben announced he was leaving the Bradford Bulls. He decided to go back to Australia to play part-time. At that time, Ben Jeffries was the only Australian player to have played 10 years in a row in the Super League. This shows how dedicated he was to the sport.
Playing for Northern Pride
In 2014, Ben signed with the Northern Pride team in Cairns. This team plays in the Queensland Cup. Sadly, he got an arm injury in his very first game and couldn't play for the rest of that season.
Ben Jeffries' Coaching Career
After his playing days, Ben Jeffries moved into coaching. He has coached many different teams, especially in women's rugby league.
- In 2014, he worked as an assistant coach for the Newcastle Knights junior team.
- He also joined the Northern Pride as a coach. He helped with strength and conditioning. He also coached the hookers and halves for their junior teams.
- In 2015, Ben started working for the NRL (National Rugby League). He was a Development Manager in Townsville.
- In 2016, he coached the Townsville women's team. He also coached the NQ Marlins under-14 girls' team. Later that year, he became the head coach of the Queensland Murri women's team.
- In 2017, he became an assistant coach for the North Queensland Cowboys under-20 team. He also helped coach the Queensland women's team.
- In 2018, he was an assistant coach for the Townsville Blackhawks. He was also the head coach for the QAS women's under-18 squad.
- In late 2018, Ben was named the Elite Pathways coach for the North Queensland Cowboys. This means he helped develop young talented players.
- From 2020 to 2023, Ben coached the Indigenous Women's All Stars.
- In 2022, he coached the PNG Orchids at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.
- In 2022, he was announced as the very first head coach for the North Queensland Cowboys NRLW team. He coached them in 2023.
- As of 2024, he is the head coach of the Newcastle Knights Women team.
