Factfile

Position: Prop forward
Date of birth: 18/08/1999
Heritage number: 1092
Previous club: Wigan Academy (Cadishead Rhinos)
Representative honours: Ireland
Wigan Debut: vs Hull FC (H), prop forward (sub) (scored one try), lost 22-23 at the DW Stadium, 25/02/2019

Honours

Challenge Cup: 2022
League Leaders’ Shield: 2020, 2023

Profile

Liam Byrne has excelled in the last few years and has become a consistent starter in Matt Peet’s first team.

• Byrne started his Rugby League career at amateur club Cadishead Rhinos and was given a trial with Wigan, after impressing a local amateur coach at Wigan St. Judes ARLFC who informed the Warriors Academy about him.
• Whilst on trial he caught the train from Salford and cycled to training every morning to make it in on time. At the same time, he played for the Wigan Warriors Education team.
• Stand-out performances for the Under-19s led to him being signed up permanently by the Warriors in 2017.
• He spent two years in the Academy and became a double Under-19s Grand Final winner.
• Was awarded the 2018 Wigan Warriors Official Supporters Club ‘Riversiders’ Player of the Year.
• Previously played for the Wigan Reserves and Championship side Swinton Lions on dual registration.
• After spending pre-season with the first team, Byrne made his Wigan debut at the end of February 2019 and scored his first try for the Club against Hull FC at the DW Stadium.
• Overall, in 2019, he made 14 appearances under Adrian Lam and became a real force in Wigan’s forward pack.
• Internationally, Byrne has Irish heritage and has previously played in the 2018 European Championships and 2022 World Cup. He featured in World Cup qualifier matches for the Irish at the end of 2019 – helping his side to reach the 2021 tournament with a victory over Italy and featured in the first two of Ireland’s group stage matches at RLW21.
• Signed a new four-year deal in January 2020 to remain at the DW Stadium until 2023.
• 2020 proved to be another solid season for the young prop forward, making 11 appearances and scoring one try. Byrne gained the first silverware of his career late in the season, as Wigan lifted the League Leaders’ Shield.
• Byrne became an ever present in 2021 as the prop forward made 25 appearances for the Warriors.
• 2022 saw Byrne play a role on the winning side at the Challenge Cup Final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, winning against the Huddersfield Giants.
• Byrne was one of the most consistent names on the team sheet in 2022, as he made 29 appearances in cherry & white, scoring 1 try.
• In October 2022, Byrne was selected for Ireland for the RLWC2021 and went on to make two appearances in the tournament group stages.