Tom Roebuck Explained

Tom Roebuck
Birth Date:7 January 2001
Birth Place:Inverness, Scotland
Height:1.880NaN0
Weight:960NaN0
School:Wirral Grammar School for Boys
Position:Wing, Centre
Currentclub:Sale Sharks
Years1:2018–
Clubs1:Sale Sharks
Apps1:83
Points1:160
Years2:2019
Clubs2:Sale FC
Apps2:1
Points2:0
Years3:2019
Clubs3:Fylde RFC
Apps3:3
Points3:10
Repyears1:2018–2019
Repteam1:England under-18
Repcaps1:6
Reppoints1:20
Repyears2:2020–2021
Repteam2:England under-20
Repcaps2:7
Reppoints2:5
Repyears3:2024-
Repteam3:England
Repcaps3:1
Reppoints3:0
Clubupdate:22 August 2024
Repupdate:22 August 2024

Tom Roebuck (born 7 January 2001) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for Premiership Rugby club Sale Sharks. Born in Scotland, he represents England at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.

Early life

Roebuck was born in Inverness, Scotland. He attended Christleton High School before moving on to Wirral Grammar.[1] He played youth rugby at Chester RUFC.

While at Wirral he played in the 2018 U18 Vase Final at Twickenham stadium. They were defeated by Langley School 48–22, although Roebuck did score a try in his side's defeat.[2]

Club career

As part of Sale Sharks' Under-18 squad Roebuck played in their undefeated tour of Ireland in 2017, beating both Munster and Leinster development sides.[3]

Roebuck made his debut as a senior Sale Sharks player in the opening match of the inaugural Premiership Rugby Cup on the 26 October 2018, a 35–3 defeat to Worcester Warriors.[4] He signed his first senior contract with Sale in November 2018.

He made a handful of appearances for the first team in the 2019–20 season and scored his first senior try for the club in a 17-36 Premiership Rugby Cup victory over Saracens.[5]

Roebuck made 5 Premiership appearances in the 2020–21 season, starting on the wing in 3 matches.

He began to appear for the first team with a much greater regularity during the 2021–22 season under Sale's new DOR Alex Sanderson. During this run of appearances he scored his first try in the European Rugby Champions Cup in a 25–19 defeat to ASM Clermont.[6] Roebuck went on to score a brace of tries in the following match against the Ospreys, securing a 49–10 victory for Sale.[7] Roebuck again scored in the away leg of the Round of 16 against Bristol Bears.[8] Sale would then fall in the quarter finals to Racing 92.[9]

Roebuck scored his first try in Premiership Rugby during Sale's 35–26 win over the league leaders Leicester Tigers,[10] and followed this up by scoring two tries in the next round against Harlequins which ensured a 14–36 victory for Sale at the Stoop.[11] Roebuck started regularly for the club for the remainder of the season and scored a try in Sale's final game against Bristol in a 42-19 win.[12] Sale finished 6th and qualified for the 2022-23 Champions Cup.

International career

Roebuck was first called up for an England age grade training camp in September 2017, at the age of 16.[13] He was subsequently called up to an England Under-17 training camp in February 2018.[14]

In May 2018 Roebuck was called up to the Great Britain Under-18 7s squad for the Youth Olympic Games qualifiers held in Panevezys, Lithuania.[15] They were defeated by Germany in the quarter-finals and eventually finished fifth, failing to progress to the Youth Olympic Games.[16]

Roebuck was first called up to the England Under 18 squad in July 2018 for the Aon U18 International Series in South Africa.[17] He featured in all 3 of England's matches during the tournament: a 41–21 loss to France Under-18,[18] a 26–20 loss to Wales Under-18[19] and a 41–22 loss to South Africa Schools.[20] Roebuck scored two tries in the match against South Africa Schools.

Roebuck was next named in the England Under 18 squad for fixtures against Scotland and France in March 2019.[21] He scored two tries in England's 36–21 win over Scotland.[22]

England Under-18 coach Jim Mallinder named Roebuck as part of his squad for the 2019 U18 Six Nations Festival.[23] Roebuck started on the wing for England's 38–20 win over Wales,[24] while he was not selected for England's win over Ireland[25] [26] or their loss to France.[27]

Roebuck was named as part of an England Under-20 training camp in November 2019.[28] He went on be named as part of England's Elite Player Squad for the 2020 Under-20 Six Nations in January 2020.[29] Roebuck started all 4 of England games which were played before the tournament was ended early by the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, scoring a try.[30] [31]

He was then selected for a friendly against a London Irish XV in March 2021[32] and for a friendly against a Newcastle Falcons XV two weeks later.[33] Alan Dickens, England Under-20 head coach then named Roebuck as part of the squad for the 2021 Under-20 Six Nations Championship.[34] [35] Roebuck made his first appearance off the bench in England's 15–24 victory over Ireland in the 3rd round of the competition.[36] He then started England's wins over Wales and Italy as they secured their grand slam.[37] [38]

He was called up to the senior England squad for a training camp in October 2022.[39]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2018-11-27 . SHARKS SECURE SIGNATURES OF 4 PROMISING YOUNGSTERS . 2022-03-09 . Sale Sharks . en.
  2. Web site: Lakey . Chris . 2018-03-16 . Langley School rampant at Twickenham as they clinch U18 Schools Vase victory . 2022-03-09 . Eastern Daily Press . en-UK.
  3. Web site: 2017-08-15 . Sharks U18's Celebrate Double Irish Success . 2022-03-09 . Sale Sharks . en.
  4. News: Worcester hammer Sale in Cup opener . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2022-03-09.
  5. Web site: Match Report - Saracens 17 Sale Sharks 36 . 2022-03-09 . Sale Sharks . en.
  6. News: Sale suffer narrow defeat at Clermont . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2022-03-10.
  7. Web site: Heineken Champions Cup (Sky Sports) . 2022-03-10 . SkySports . en.
  8. Web site: Green . Olly . Bristol welcome Sale in finely poised second leg . 2022-08-24 . European Professional Club Rugby . en-GB.
  9. Web site: Racing 92 vs Sale Sharks 21/22 Report . 2022-08-24 . Sale Sharks . en-US.
  10. News: Sharks fight back to stun leaders Tigers . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2022-03-10.
  11. News: Sale cruise to win at Harlequins . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2022-03-10.
  12. News: Sale dominate Bristol in final day win . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2022-08-24.
  13. Web site: 2017-09-11 . 15 Sale Sharks Academy Under 18s Make The England Squad For An Upcoming Training Camp. . 2022-03-09 . Sale Sharks . en.
  14. Web site: 2018-02-13 . 12 Sale Sharks Academy Players Selected For England! . 2022-03-09 . Sale Sharks . en.
  15. Web site: Falcons pair named in Great Britain U18s 7s squad . 2022-03-09 . www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk . en.
  16. Web site: May 2018 . The TRU Team Monday 7 . Team GB U18 finish fifth at Youth Olympic Games qualifiers in Lithuania . 2022-03-09 . Talking Rugby Union.
  17. Web site: England U18s squad named for Aon U18 International Series . 2022-03-09 . Premiership Rugby . en-US.
  18. Web site: England defeated by France in U18 International Series opener . 2022-03-09 . Premiership Rugby . en-US.
  19. Web site: England U18 defeated by Wales in U18 International Series . 2022-03-09 . Premiership Rugby . en-US.
  20. Web site: 20 August 2018 . ENGLAND U18S DEFEATED BY SOUTH AFRICA SCHOOLS IN U18 INTERNATIONAL SERIES . 9 March 2022 . Northumberland Rugby.
  21. Web site: 2019-03-13 . EIGHT SHARKS NAMED ENGLAND IN U20S AND U18S SQUADS TO PLAY SCOTLAND . 2022-03-09 . Sale Sharks . en.
  22. Web site: MATCH REPORT England U18 v Scotland U18 . 2022-03-09 . Scottish Rugby Union . en.
  23. Web site: 2019-04-08 . Hosts England reveal U18 Six Nations Festival squad . 2022-03-09 . Six Nations Rugby . en-GB.
  24. Web site: 2019-04-15 . ENGLAND DEFEAT WALES AT U18 SIX NATIONS FESTIVAL . 2022-03-09 . Sale Sharks . en.
  25. Web site: 2019-04-16 . U18 Six Nations Festival Guide: Round 2 rolls into view . 2022-03-09 . Six Nations Rugby . en-GB.
  26. Web site: 2019-04-17 . England unblemished after battling Ireland victory . 2022-03-09 . Six Nations Rugby . en-GB.
  27. Web site: 2019-04-22 . Review: U18 Six Nations Festival . 2022-03-09 . Six Nations Rugby . en-GB.
  28. Web site: England men U20s squad for November training camp . 2022-03-09 . Gloucester Rugby . en.
  29. Web site: January 2020 . The TRU Team Saturday 4 . England announce U20s Elite Player Squad for 2020 campaign . 2022-03-09 . Talking Rugby Union.
  30. Web site: 2020-01-30 . Connor Doherty & Tom Roebuck Called Up For England's U20s Six Nations Opener . 2022-03-09 . Sale Sharks . en.
  31. Web site: RFU . 2022-03-09 . www.englandrugby.com.
  32. Web site: England U20: Squad for Saturday's friendly that's shrouded in secrecy – NextGenXV . 2022-03-09 . nextgenxv.com.
  33. Web site: England U20: Exclusive – squad for Saturday's cloak & dagger fixture – NextGenXV . 2022-03-09 . nextgenxv.com.
  34. Web site: 2021-01-01 . England announce men's U20 Elite Player Squad for 2021 . 2022-03-09 . Six Nations Rugby . en-GB.
  35. Web site: 2021-06-11 . Raffi Quirke & Tom Roebuck named in England U20 Squad . 2022-03-09 . Sale Sharks . en.
  36. Web site: Preview: Ireland Under-20s v England Under-20s . 2022-03-09 . Six Nations Rugby . en-GB.
  37. Web site: Preview: Wales Under-20s v England Under-20s . 2022-03-09 . Six Nations Rugby . en-GB.
  38. Web site: England seal Grand Slam glory with Italy win . 2022-03-09 . Six Nations Rugby . en-GB.
  39. News: 24 October 2022 . Owen Farrell: Saracens fly-half one of three withdrawals from England training camp in Jersey. . 24 October 2022.