Josh Eaves (born 20 October 1997) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker. As of 2026 he is contracted to the Swinton Lions in the RFL Championship.
Early life and physical profile
- Full name: Joshua Eaves
- Place of birth: England
- Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
- Weight: 12 st 13 lb (82 kg)
Club career
| Years | Club | Appearances* | Tries | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–2021 | St Helens | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| 2018 (loan) | Whitehaven RLFC | 23 | 8 | 32 |
| 2019 (loan) | Leigh Centurions | 8 | 4 | 16 |
| 2021 (loan) | Leigh Centurions | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 (loan) | Wakefield Trinity | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 (loan) | Leigh Centurions | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Newcastle Thunder | 29 | 8 | 32 |
| 2023–2024 | Swinton Lions | 46 | 10 | 40 |
| 2025–2026 | North Wales Crusaders | 31 | 9 | 36 |
| 2026–present | Swinton Lions | – | – | – |
*Appearances refer to league matches recorded up to May 2026; totals amount to 149 appearances and 40 tries (160 points).
Notable events
- Made his Super League debut for St Helens against the London Broncos in July 2019.
- Joined Leigh Centurions on loan in March 2021, returning briefly to St Helens before a short‑term loan to Wakefield Trinity in April 2021.
- Signed permanently with Newcastle Thunder for the 2022 Championship season.
- In September 2022 it was reported that he would rejoin Whitehaven for the following campaign.
- Signed with North Wales Crusaders for the 2025 League 1 season, before returning to Swinton Lions in April 2026.
Playing style
Eaves is primarily deployed as a hooker, responsible for directing play from the dummy half position and contributing both defensively and offensively through tackling and support running. His career statistics reflect a consistent try‑scoring ability for a forward.
References
- Wikipedia entry on Josh Eaves (accessed via Jina AI).
- Club announcements and match reports from St Helens, Leigh Centurions, Wakefield Trinity, Newcastle Thunder, Whitehaven RLFC, North Wales Crusaders, and Swinton Lions.
