Wigan Cassidy was born in
Wigan,
Lancashire, and started his career out at his hometown club,
Wigan, and progressed through the academy ranks to make his senior début at the age of 18. Cassidy was a
substitute in
Wigan's 2–33 defeat by
Castleford in the
1993–94 Regal Trophy Final during the
1993–94 season at
Elland Road,
Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1994, played at in the 40–10 victory over
Warrington in the
1994–95 Regal Trophy Final during the
1994–95 season at
Alfred McAlpine Stadium,
Huddersfield on Saturday 28 January 1995, and played at in the 25–16 victory over
St. Helens in the
1995–96 Regal Trophy Final during the
1994–95 season at
Alfred McAlpine Stadium,
Huddersfield on Saturday 13 January 1996. After the
1993–94 Rugby Football League season Cassidy travelled with defending champions
Wigan to
Brisbane, playing from the interchange bench in their
1994 World Club Challenge victory over Australian premiers,
Brisbane Broncos. From the introduction of the
Super League in 1996, Cassidy made 62 consecutive league appearances for Wigan until he received a suspension in August 1998. He returned from suspension to play for Wigan as a substitute in their
1998 Super League Grand Final victory over
Leeds Rhinos. Cassidy played for the
Wigan Warriors as a in their
2000 Super League Grand Final loss against
St. Helens. Cassidy served a total of 14 years at the Wigan club, enjoying a testimonial in 2000. Cassidy played for the
Wigan Warriors as a in their
2001 Super League Grand Final loss to the
Bradford Bulls. Cassidy played for the
Wigan Warriors as a in the
2003 Super League Grand Final which was lost to the
Bradford Bulls. Cassidy was named in the Wigan team of the decade and was acknowledged as one of the game's best utility players.
Widnes Cassidy joined
Widnes in 2005, earning the 'Player of the Year' award in his first season at the
Halton Stadium. He could not, however save them from relegation from
Super League in 2005's
Super League X. Cassidy represented the Irish side on numerous occasions over several years. Cassidy finished his playing career with Cumbrian side
Barrow Raiders, helping the club win promotion from
National League Two in 2008.
International career Cassidy was part of the
England squad at the
1995 Rugby League World Cup. He was selected to play for
England in the
1995 World Cup Final on the reserve bench but
Australia won the match and retained the Cup. In the 1997 post season, Cassidy was selected to play for
Great Britain as a in the first game of the
Super League Test series against
Australia. Cassidy later switched allegiance through ancestry to play for
Ireland. He was ruled out of the
2000 Rugby League World Cup through injury. He was named in the
Ireland squad for the
2008 Rugby League World Cup. ==References==