Abagi 'Abi' Bienose Ekoku was born on 13 April 1966 and is a former track and field athlete in both discus and shot put, as well as a former professional rugby league footballer.
12 Facts About Abi Ekoku
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Abi Ekoku represented England in the discus and shot put event, at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand.
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Abi Ekoku spent six years as a professional rugby league footballer as a wing.
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Abi Ekoku started his rugby league career with the London Crusaders, playing on a part-time basis whilst lecturing in further education.
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Abi Ekoku was signed by Halifax in July 1995, and played in the inaugural Super League season with the club.
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Abi Ekoku joined the Bradford Bulls in 1997, helping the club win the Super League that year, and played in the 1997 Challenge Cup against St Helens at Wembley.
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Abi Ekoku announced his retirement from playing in 1998 and became chairman of the Rugby League Players' Association.
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Abi Ekoku quit this post in 1999 and had a brief spell as chief executive at the Keighley Cougars before being appointed by the Bradford Bulls in a similar role.
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Abi Ekoku was chief executive at Bradford Bulls from 2000 to 2003 - a period in which the club won the Super League, Challenge Cup and World Club Championship.
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Abi Ekoku returned to the game in 2005 as an anti-doping tutor before being appointed team manager for Great Britain in 2006.
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Abi Ekoku stepped down from this role at the end of 2007.
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Abi Ekoku's brother Efan is a former professional footballer who represented the Nigeria national football team, and as of 2011 is a football pundit with ESPN.