John Bentley (born 5 September 1966) is an English former dual-code international rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. Nicknamed 'Bentos', he played club rugby union as a wing for Otley, Sale, Newcastle and Rotherham. Internationally he won 4 caps for England and toured with the British and Irish Lions in 1997, winning 2 test caps.
In rugby league he played at club level for Leeds, Halifax (two spells), Balmain Tigers and Huddersfield Giants as a . He won 5 international caps for England, and 2 for Great Britain.
Background
Bentley was born in Dewsbury, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. He currently lives in nearby Mirfield with his wife Sandy and three children. He is currently involved with Leeds Tykes community rugby programme and matchday entertainment. He is an Honorary President of the Yorkshire region of the rugby charity Wooden Spoon improving the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in Britain and Ireland, and hosts and coaches at rugby union camps across England with Sale Sharks, Newcastle Falcons, and Leeds Carnegie.
Career
Originally a rugby union player, he made his England début against Ireland in 1988 aged 21 and played on the summer tour against Australia.
After training as a policeman he switched codes from rugby union, which was then an amateur game, to rugby league, where he became a professional. He played for Leeds, before moving on to Halifax, as well as enjoying a short spell in Australia with Balmain Tigers. He played for Great Britain, and for England in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup
When rugby union became openly professional in 1995, Bentley returned to the code, signing for Newcastle Falcons in 1996. He made 3 appearances as they won their first and so far only Premiership title in 1998. He was selected for the 1997 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, where he played in the second and third Tests. After the tour he played twice more for England at rugby union before switching back to rugby league with Huddersfield Giants.