Richie Gray (rugby union, born 1989) explained

Richie Gray
Fullname:Richard James Gray
Birth Date:24 August 1989
Birth Place:Rutherglen, Scotland
Height:2.080NaN0
Weight:1260NaN0
School:Kelvinside Academy
Relatives:Jonny Gray (brother)
Position:Lock
Currentclub:Glasgow Warriors
Years1:2008–2012
Clubs1:Glasgow Warriors
Apps1:55
Points1:20
Years2:2012–2013
Clubs2:Sale Sharks
Apps2:16
Points2:5
Years3:2013–2016
Clubs3:Castres
Apps3:65
Points3:10
Years4:2016–2020
Clubs4:Toulouse
Apps4:66
Points4:10
Years5:2020–
Clubs5:Glasgow Warriors
Apps5:55
Points5:5
Repyears1:2008–2009
Repteam1:Scotland U20
Repcaps1:12
Reppoints1:0
Repyears2:2010–
Repteam2:Scotland
Repcaps2:79
Reppoints2:15
Repyears3:2013
Repteam3:British & Irish Lions
Repcaps3:1
Reppoints3:0
Clubupdate:25 June 2023
Repupdate:4 February 2024

Richard James Gray (born 24 August 1989) is a Scottish professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for United Rugby Championship club Glasgow Warriors and the Scotland national team.

Club career

Gray played for provincial sides Glasgow Hawks and West of Scotland. He began his professional career at Glasgow Warriors in 2008, and was named in the Pro12 Dream Team at the end of the 2010/11 season. It was announced in November 2011 that Gray would be leaving Glasgow Warriors at the end of the 2011–12 season, having agreed to sign for the Sale Sharks.[1] In May 2013 it was announced that he would leave Sharks and had signed a three-year deal with French team Castres Olympique.[2]

On 24 November 2015, Gray agreed a four-year deal with Top 14 rivals Toulouse from the 2016–17 season.[3]

It was announced on 16 January 2020 that Gray would be returning to his original Glaswegian club, Glasgow Warriors, on a two-year deal from the 2020–21 season.[4]

International career

A former Kelvinside Academy student, Gray has represented Scotland at every age group from under-17 through to the senior sides, winning his first cap as an international as a substitute in the 2010 Six Nations Championship match against France.[5] His first international start came against New Zealand during the 2010 Autumn test series.[6] He scored his first international try in a Six Nations game against Ireland in March 2012, where he smashed through Tommy Bowe and dummied a great pass against Rob Kearney. Gray's 2013 Six Nations got off to a good start with Scotland beating Italy and Ireland, but during the match against Wales at Murrayfield, Edinburgh, he was injured and taken off the field. It was later revealed that he pulled a hamstring and was taken off the pitch as a precaution.[7]

Gray was selected for the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, being the tallest on the tour. He played against Combined Country, Brumbies, Reds and Rebels, and went on to play a part in the final test against Australia, being part of a winning Lions series team.[8]

In 2023 Gray was selected in Scotland's 33 player squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.[9]

Career statistics

International analysis by opposition

OppositionPlayedWinLossDrawTriesPointsWin %
2 1 1 0 1 5
4 2 2 0 0 0
1 1 0 0 0 0
8 2 6 0 0 0
2 2 0 0 0 0
11 2 9 0 0 0
2 2 0 0 0 0
9 4 5 0 2 10
8 7 1 0 0 0
4 4 0 0 0 0
4 0 4 0 0 0
1 1 0 0 0 0
3 3 0 0 0 0
4 1 3 0 0 0
3 2 1 0 0 0
2 2 0 0 0 0
9 2 7 0 0 0
Career78 38 40 0 3 15

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Scotland second-row Richie Gray to join Sale Sharks . . 8 November 2011 . 25 February 2017.
  2. Web site: Site officiel CASTRES OLYMPIQUE . Castres-olympique.com . 2013-06-03.
  3. News: Richie Gray: Scotland lock agrees deal with Toulouse . BBC Sport. Clive . Lewis . 24 November 2015. 5 January 2016.
  4. Web site: Richie Gray to return to Glasgow Warriors.
  5. News: The end of the private school rugger boy? How the win over Argentina showed the changing face of Scottish rugby. 27 February 2017. Daily Record. 10 November 2014.
  6. News: Six Nations 2011: Scotland's Richie Gray used Guscott flak to drive him on . Paul . Rees . 11 February 2011. The Guardian . 25 February 2011.
  7. News: BBC Sport – Scotland's Richie Gray out for two months with hamstring injury . BBC . 2013-03-11 . 2013-06-03.
  8. News: Lions 2013: Scotland lock Richie Gray aims to reign again as he returns to scene of the sublime with tourists. 27 February 2017. The Telegraph. 10 June 2013.
  9. Web site: Scotland squad named for Rugby World Cup 2023 . 16 August 2023 . Scottish Rugby Union.