Iestyn Harris's Abercarn-born grandfather Norman Harris played for; Abercarn RFC, Ebbw Vale RFC, Pontypool RFC and Newbridge RFC before heading north to win eight Welsh caps under league rules.
26 Facts About Iestyn Harris
2.
Iestyn is married to Becky Harris and has a daughter Catrin and son Cameron.
3.
Iestyn Harris was made captain of Leeds Rhinos in his first full season at the club at the age of twenty-one, and became the first Leeds captain in a decade to lift silverware when Leeds Rhinos claimed the 1999 Challenge Cup.
4.
Iestyn Harris initially played at fullback before being switched to stand-off.
5.
Iestyn Harris captained Leeds Rhinos from fullback in their 1998 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Wigan Warriors.
6.
Iestyn Harris played in the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia, where Wales lost in the quarter-finals to eventual winners, England, despite leading the game for 60 minutes.
7.
Iestyn Harris won 25 Wales caps as a union player but made it clear that he wanted to return to League.
8.
In 2004, Iestyn Harris returned to rugby league, citing family reasons.
9.
Iestyn Harris joined Bradford Bulls after a contractual fight with former club Leeds.
10.
Iestyn Harris played for the Bradford Bulls at stand-off in their 2004 Super League Grand Final loss against the Leeds Rhinos.
11.
Iestyn Harris was selected in the Great Britain team to compete in the end of season 2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament.
12.
Iestyn Harris was part of the 2005 Bradford Bulls squad that became the first side in the history of Super League to win the Grand Final when finishing third in the final league ladder.
13.
Iestyn Harris played for the Bradford Bulls at stand-off, kicking a goal in their 2005 Super League Grand Final victory against Leeds Rhinos.
14.
Iestyn Harris was Bradford Bulls' captain for one year in 2006 taking over from Leeds-bound Jamie Peacock.
15.
On 10 May 2006, Iestyn Harris announced he would be retiring from playing international rugby league with Great Britain, just a week after being named in a 36-strong training squad for a June 2006 Test against New Zealand.
16.
Iestyn Harris, who won the last of his 15 Great Britain caps against Australia in November 2005, said he wanted to concentrate on his club career.
17.
Iestyn Harris was forced to pull out through injury hours before kick-off.
18.
Iestyn Harris had been linked to a player-coach role with Crusaders, but he decided to sign for National League One club Featherstone Rovers instead.
19.
Iestyn Harris signed a 2-year deal at Featherstone Rovers, as well as playing, he took his first steps into coaching and working in the marketing department of the club, he made his debut for Featherstone Rovers on Sunday 15 February 2009, he ultimately made a lot of debt for Bradford Bulls, and he played his last match for Featherstone Rovers during the 2009 season.
20.
On 22 September 2009, Iestyn Harris was appointed Wales's rugby league head coach, succeeding John Dixon.
21.
Iestyn Harris coached Wales in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup held in their own country and fellow British nation England.
22.
On 9 April 2014, Iestyn Harris resigned from the Wales post, after taking up the head coaching role at the Super League club, the Salford Red Devils.
23.
On 14 October 2009, Iestyn Harris was announced as assistant coach to Brian Noble at Wales-based Crusaders Rugby League, alongside Jon Sharp.
24.
In 2011, Iestyn Harris became the assistant coach at former club Wigan.
25.
In 2014, it was announced by Marwan Koukash that Iestyn Harris would take over from Brian Noble as head coach at Salford Red Devils.
26.
Iestyn Harris regularly provides expert TV and radio analysis including BBC's Super League Show, and contributes to BBC Radio Five Live's rugby league coverage.