Paul McShane has had a long and successful career in Super League. McShane has been one of the best English hookers of his longevity and consistency have made him a favourite for Castleford Tigers fans, where he has spent the biggest part of his career. A star-studded line-up, including Sam Burgess is set to take the field for his testimonial match.
McShane started his professional career with the Leeds Rhinos, making his debut in 2009, and several of the Rhinos’ biggest names from the Golden Generation will appear, alongside important names from his time at Castleford. Stars such as Denny Solomona, Sam Burgess and Danny McGuire will all take to the field in honour of McShane.
The game will see the Paul McShane All-Stars take on a Rugby League All-Stars side in just over three weeks. Whilst the Rugby League All Stars side is yet to be announced, there could be some big names in there based on the Paul McShane All Stars side.
Alongside Burgess, McGuire and Solomona, McShane’s side also includes ex-Castleford player, Jake Webster, former Leeds stars Brett Delaney, Ryan Bailey and Kylie Leuluai.
McShane has been the mainstay of Castleford’s side since joining in 2015 and was a crucial part of their resurgence in the late 2010s. McShane was ever present in the 2016 season for the Tigers and was a crucial part of the 2017 side which famously won the 2017 League Leaders’ Shield. He was part of the side which lost in the Grand Final against former side Leeds that year.
He player 63 times for Leeds between 2009 and 2013, scoring 14 tries. He played from the bench in the side which beat Manly Sea Eagles in the 2012 World Club Challenge.
McShane was unfortunate not to win more England caps during his career. He was named as part of the England performance squad in 2017 and was part of Shaun Wane’s first England squad in March 2020, which was part of the build-up to the proposed Ashes series that year. However, the series was cancelled due to the pandemic, meaning recognition eluded him again.
He eventually made his England debut against the Combined Nations All Stars in 2021, before earning a second cap in the game against France later that year
