Legend Kopczak retires from rugby league
Craig Kopczak, a prop forward for Oldham Roughyeds and former Wales captain, has announced his immediate retirement from rugby league after a 19-year career. His career highlights include winning the League Leaders' Shield with Huddersfield in 2013, the 1895 Cup with Featherstone Rovers in 2021, and captaining Wales at the 2013 World Cup. Kopczak cited physical limitations as the reason for his retirement and expressed pride in his achievements and gratitude to his family and clubs. Oldham's chairman praised Kopczak's contributions and character.
Craig Kopczak has announced his immediate retirement from rugby league, ending a 19-year professional career that saw him captain Wales and achieve the rare feat of topping all three divisions of the British game.
The 38-year-old prop forward, who helped Oldham earn promotion to the Championship in 2024, informed the club of his decision after sitting out the 2025 season. Kopczak’s career spanned 436 games and 50 tries across club and international competition.
“Sadly I am announcing my retirement with immediate effect,” Kopczak told Roughyeds TV. “It is a decision I have been thinking about for a while now and my body has had enough. The time has come, as upsetting as it is. I have no doubts.”
The former Wales captain began his career with Bradford Bulls in 2006, making 123 appearances for the club before moving to Huddersfield, where he won the League Leaders’ Shield in 2013. He later represented Salford and Wakefield in Super League before spending three successful seasons at Featherstone Rovers, winning the 1895 Cup in 2021 and another League Leaders’ Shield in 2023.
Kopczak, who skippered Wales at the 2013 World Cup, leaves the sport as one of an elite group to have won league titles in the top three tiers of British rugby league.
Oldham chairman Bill Quinn praised the veteran forward: “He is a great guy, a lovely man and as soon as we met him I felt that. You can tell that he will always give his all, but he also knows when the time is right to stop.”
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