Tom Stephenson (rugby union) explained

Tom Stephenson
Birth Name:Thomas Frederick Stephenson
Birth Date:5 May 1994
Birth Place:Oxford, England
Height:1.78m (05.84feet)
Weight:900NaN0[1]
Ru Position:Centre
Ru Clubyears:2012–2018
2018–2020
2020–
Ru Proclubs:Northampton
London Irish
Rosslyn Park
Ru Clubcaps:54
Ru Clubpoints:(36)
Ru Clubupdate:27 July 2020
Ru Currentclub:Rosslyn Park

Tom Stephenson (born 5 May 1992) is an English rugby union player who plays for Rosslyn Park in National League 1.

Career

Stephenson is a former Moulton College student, and one of the most exciting prospects to emerge from the Saints Academy in recent years. Playing a year above age for England Under-18's, Stephenson captained the side as they returned home from the FIRA/AER tournament in Madrid as champions.[2]

He made his first senior appearance for Northampton Saints in 2012 against Harlequins and became a staple member of the senior team for the 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons. The 2013/14 saw Stephenson come off the bench in both the European Rugby Challenge Cup final and the Aviva Premiership final. Northampton won both games recording their first ever double winning season.[3] [4] Having already travelled with England Under-20s in 2012/13, Stephenson then went to New Zealand, picking up a Junior World Championship winners' medal for the second year on the bounce.[5] [6]

His run in the senior team has been marred by injuries in recent seasons, Stephenson only featured in two games for the Saints in 2015/16 due to injury[7] and sat out the entire 2016/17 season after a double leg break during a pre-season friendly against Rotherham Titans.[8]

It was announced on 30 May 2017 that Stephenson would join fellow Saints teammate Tom Collins in travelling to Australia for the summer to progress his rugby after returning from injury late in the season.[9] The pair linked up with Randwick in Sydney.

On 27 March 2018 it was confirmed that Stephenson would be leaving his childhood club Northampton Saints after 5 years.[10] He joined London Irish where he remained until July 2020.[11]

He signed for National League 1 side Rosslyn Park ahead of the 2020–21 season.[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: TOM STEPHENSON. 2014-12-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20141213065109/www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/Rugby/Profiles/profile.aspx?TeamID=100969&PersonID=164215. 2014-12-13.
  2. Web site: Tom Stephenson.
  3. News: Bath 16-30 Northampton. BBC Sport.
  4. News: Saracens 20-24 Northampton. BBC Sport.
  5. Web site: Weekend Review: Issue 10 – England U20 – Class of 2013 a true success story. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170811104216/www.fifteenrugby.com/weekend-review-issue-10-england-u20-class-of-2013-a-true-success-story/. 2017-08-11.
  6. Web site: England U20 squad named for Junior World Championship | the Rugby Blog.
  7. News: Stephenson positive about injury return. BBC Sport.
  8. Web site: Northampton centre Tom Stephenson breaks leg in friendly.
  9. Web site: Two Toms heading down under.
  10. News: Stephenson and Nutley to leave Saints. BBC Sport.
  11. Web site: 2020-07-04. Thank you to the leavers 4th July 2020 News. 2020-07-04. London Irish. en.
  12. Web site: 2020-07-27. Rosslyn Park New Player & Coaches Announcements 2020/21. 2020-07-29. Rosslyn Park FC. en-GB.