Liam Watts

Liam Watts (born 8 July 1990) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a forward for the Goole Vikings in the RFL Championship. He is an England Knights international.

He has previously played for Hull Kingston Rovers and Hull FC in the Super League. He has spent time on loan at Gateshead Thunder and Doncaster RLFC in the RFL Championship.

Background Watts was born in Featherstone,

Hull Kingston Rovers He made his Hull Kingston Rovers debut in a Challenge Cup fourth round tie in April 2008, and signed a two-year contract until the end of the 2010 season in June 2008.

After a fine season in 2010 in which Watts played 26 of 27 Super League matches, he was called up to the England training squad for the Four Nations Championship in September 2010, and awarded the 2010 Albert Goldthorpe Rookie of the Year Medal.

Gateshead Thunder (loan) In 2009 he spent time on loan from Hull KR at Gateshead Thunder in League 1.

Hull FC Watts requested to be released from his contract with Hull Kingston Rovers in June 2012, and joined Hull F.C. on a three-and-a-half-year contract. Hull coach Peter Gentle said: "Liam is certainly a promising player for the future and we are looking forward to helping him realise his potential". He signed a new three-year contract in July 2014, and a further two-year contract in March 2017.

He won the Challenge Cup with Hull in 2016 and 2017 at Wembley Stadium.

Doncaster (loan) He spent time on loan from Hull, playing for Doncaster in 2014.

Castleford Tigers Watts signed for Castleford Tigers on a three-year deal in March 2018. He made 23 appearances in his first year.

Watts had an outstanding personal season in 2019, playing in all but 2 of Castleford's games and earning a place in the Super League Dream Team. At the club's end of season awards, he was named Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year, and won the inaugural Immortals Award voted for by Castleford legends. He was also named as the Castleford Tigers Supporters Club player of the year.

In July 2019, he signed a three-year extension until the end of the 2023 season.

On 17 July 2021, he played for Castleford in their 2021 Challenge Cup final loss against St Helens.

Watts played 20 games for Castleford in the 2023 season as the club finished 11th on the table and narrowly avoided relegation.

In the opening match of the 2024 season, Watts was controversially sent off for a high tackle on Wigan's Tyler Dupree, under new laws introduced to Super League.

On 27 February 2025, Castleford announced that Watts had left the club by mutual agreement.

Hull FC On 3 March 2025 it was reported that he had re-joined Hull FC

On 23 September 2025 it was announced that he had left Hull FC

Goole Vikings On 5 January 2026 it was reported that he had signed for Goole Vikings in the RFL Championship

International career England Knights Watts played for the England Knights in 2011.

England Good performances for Castleford saw Watts called up for the England Performance squad in March 2019.

England 9s He was selected in England 9s squad for the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s.

Club statistics

+ Appearances and points in all competitions by year Club Season Tier Castleford Tigers 2007 Super League 1 1 0 0 4 2018 Super League 23 0 0 0 0 2019 Super League 30 4 0 0 16 2020 Super League 13 1 0 0 4 2021 Super League 18 2 0 0 8 2022 Super League 20 2 0 0 8 2023 Super League 20 0 0 0 0 2024 Super League 22 0 0 0 0 2025 Super League 1 0 0 0 0 Total 148 10 0 0 40 Hull Kingston Rovers 2008 Super League 5 1 0 0 4 2009 Super League 1 0 0 0 0 2010 Super League 27 3 0 0 12 2011 Super League 20 2 0 0 8 2012 Super League 10 1 0 0 4 Total 63 7 0 0 28 → Gateshead Thunder (loan) 2009 Championship 12 1 0 0 4 Hull FC 2012 Super League 12 1 0 0 4 2013 Super League 28 0 0 0 0 2014 Super League 20 2 0 0 8 2015 Super League 30 1 0 0 4 2016 Super League 31 3 0 0 12 2017 Super League 28 4 0 0 16 2018 Super League 3 0 0 0 0 2025 Super League 8 0 0 0 0 Total 152 11 0 0 44 → Doncaster (loan) 2014 Championship 3 1 0 0 4 Goole Vikings 2026 Championship 0 0 0 0 0 Career total 378 30 0 0 120