David Hobbs (born 13 September 1958) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and coached in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Featherstone Rovers, Oldham, Bradford Northern and Wakefield Trinity (captain), as a or , and coached at club level for Bradford Northern, Wakefield Trinity and Featherstone Rovers.
David Hobbs was born in Hemsworth, Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.
Hobbs made his début for Featherstone Rovers on Monday 27 March 1978, he later played at and was man of the match winning the Lance Todd trophy in Featherstone Rovers' 14âÂÂ12 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1983 Challenge Cup Final during the 1982âÂÂ83 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 7 May 1983, in front of a crowd of 84,969, in one of the biggest upsets in Wembley history, during his time at Featherstone Rovers, he scored fifty 3-point tries, and sixteen 4-point tries.
Hobbs played at and scored a conversion in Oldham's 6âÂÂ27 defeat by Wigan in the 1986 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1986âÂÂ87 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 19 October 1986.
He was later transferred from Oldham to Bradford Northern.
Hobbs played as an interchange/substitute (replacing Jeff Grayshon) and scored 2-conversions in Bradford Northern's 12âÂÂ12 draw with Castleford in the 1987 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1987âÂÂ88 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 17 October 1987, played at , scored a conversion, and a drop goal in the 11âÂÂ2 victory over Castleford in the 1987 Yorkshire Cup Final replay during the 1987âÂÂ88 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 31 October 1987, played at , was captain, and scored two conversions in the 20âÂÂ14 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1989 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1989âÂÂ90 season at Headingley, Leeds on Sunday 5 November 1989, and played at , was coach, and scored a conversion in the 6âÂÂ28 defeat by Castleford in the 1991 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1991âÂÂ92 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Sunday 20 October 1991.
Hobbs was the coach, played at and scored a conversion in Bradford Northern's 2âÂÂ12 defeat by Warrington in the 1990âÂÂ91 Regal Trophy Final during the 1990âÂÂ91 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 12 January 1991, and was the coach, played at and scored a conversion in the 15âÂÂ8 defeat by Wigan in the 1992âÂÂ93 Regal Trophy Final during the 1992âÂÂ93 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 23 January 1993.
Hobbs also won caps for England while at Featherstone Rovers in 1984 against Wales, and won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone Rovers in 1984 against France (2 matches), Australia, Australia (sub), New Zealand (3 matches), and Papua New Guinea, while at Oldham in 1987 against France (2 matches), and while at Bradford Northern in 1989 against New Zealand, and New Zealand (sub).
Hobbs won a cap for Yorkshire while at Featherstone Rovers; during the 1982âÂÂ83 season as an interchange/substitute against Cumbria.
Hobbs became coach at Bradford Northern until he left for Wakefield Trinity in 1994. He then went to Halifax as Director of Football. His brother, Kevin Hobbs, also played for, and coached Featherstone Rovers in 1999.
In 2005, Hobbs was appointed coach of his first team, Featherstone Rovers halfway through the season after Gary Price (referred to as "Gary H. Price" to avoid confusion with another Gary Price who played for the club) left, however he failed to save Featherstone Rovers from relegation.
David Hobbs is a Featherstone Rovers Hall of Fame inductee.