Brian ‘Nobby’ D. Noble (born 1961) is an English former rugby league footballer. He is also the former coach of the Great Britain National Rugby League team. He was also the captain of the 1984 Great Britain touring team to Australia. He is the only man to coach a club to three Super League Grand Final victories.

Playing career

Brian Noble’s early rugby league career was as a member of the Police Boys’ Clubs before he signed for Bradford Northern (now Bradford Bulls). His début came in the 1978-1979 season and was the beginning of almost 15 years and over 400 games with the club, concluding in the centenary season of 1995-96 following a spell at Wakefield Trinity.
Brian combined his professional career with his job as a policeman, and captained Great Britain on the Lions’ tour of Australasia in 1984. He played in all seven tests on the tour, including the test in Papua New Guinea.

Coaching career

Bradford Bulls

A Bradford stalwart as a player, coaching always seemed to be the natural progression for Brian Noble. After 6 years of serving in the backroom staff at the club following his retirement, he finally got his big shot when appointed as Bradford head coach in November 2000. After initial confusion regarding Chairman Chris Caisley’s appointment – the tabloids reported that the new coach was Radio 4 comedian Ross Noble! – Brian was a hugely popular choice to succeed departing coach Matthew Elliott.
In July 2002, Brian Noble received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bradford for his achievements as a rugby league player both at national level, with Bradford Northern and in recognition of his contributions to the Bradford Bulls as first team coach.
Whilst head coach of Bradford Bulls, ‘Nobby’ guided the Bulls to two Minor Premiership titles, victory in three Grand Finals in 2001, 2003 and 2005, the Rugby League Challenge Cup in 2003 and to three World Club Championships in 2002, 2004 and 2006. He was named Super League coach of the year in 2003 and succeeded David Waite as Great Britain coach following the 2003 Ashes series.

Wigan Warriors

On 20 April 2006 Brian took up the position of Head Coach at Wigan Warriors; nine days after the sacking of Ian Millward. Brian took over at the club during a relegation battle which at one point looked as though Wigan would lose, however he has been credited for keeping the Warriors in the Super League following a number of impressive performances.

Crusaders RL

After much media speculation about his future, in part through long standing knee problems and the departure of John Dixon in September 2009, on 14 October 2009, Noble was confirmed as the new head coach of the Welsh side Crusaders.[6] Jon Sharp was first-team coach, and Iestyn Harris, who is also Wales coach, was an assistant. In the 2010 season Noble managed to gain 13 wins which was a vast improvement on the season before and took them into the play offs for the 1st time. The most notable win was probably at the home of 3 time consecutive engage Super League Champions Leeds Rhinos in June where they came out on top 32-26. In November 2010, Noble confirmed his departure from Crusaders Rugby

League after one season in charge.

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