Tommaso Allan Explained

Tommaso Allan
Birth Date:26 April 1993
Birth Place:Vicenza, Italy
Height:1840NaN0[1]
Weight:870NaN0
School:Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, European School, Culham
Relatives:John Allan (uncle)
Position:Fly-half/ Full-Back
Currentclub:Perpignan
Years1:2013–2016
Clubs1:Perpignan
Apps1:41
Points1:150
Years2:2016–2021
Clubs2:Benetton
Apps2:66
Points2:378
Years3:2021−2023
Clubs3:Harlequins
Apps3:36
Points3:138
Years4:2023−
Clubs4:Perpignan
Apps4:5
Points4:42
Repyears1:2012–2013
Repteam1:Scotland U20
Repcaps1:16
Reppoints1:89
Repyears2:2013–
Repteam2:Italy
Repcaps2:79
Reppoints2:489
Clubupdate:2 Dec 2023
Repupdate:6 Oct 2023

Tommaso Allan (; born 26 April 1993) is an Italian professional rugby union player who primarily plays fly-half for Perpignan of the French Top 14. He has also represented Italy at international level, having made his test debut against Australia during the 2013 Autumn Internationals. Allan has previously played for Harlequins and Benetton, as well as an earlier stint at Perpignan.[2] [3] [4]

Early life & youth rugby

Allan was part of the London Wasps Academy in 2011 before captaining the RGS High Wycombe rugby side. He won the Under-19 Provincial Championship while playing for Western Province in South Africa and at the end of his contract there, he joined Perpignan.

Club career

Allan signed for French Top 14 side Perpignan shortly before the 2013–14 season. Allan made his debut for Perpignan on 8 September 2013 against Racing Métro at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir in the Hauts-de-Seine, Paris. Perpignan lost 19–16,[5] with Allan kicking one conversion (56th minute) and kicking three penalties (3rd minute, 26th minute, 68th minute).

Because of Allan's end-of-year performances, he was called up to the national team. Allan played a total of eight games in the Top 14 and four in the Heineken Cup in his debut season for Perpignan, scoring a total of 27 points in 12 appearances for the side. Perpignan were relegated to the Pro D2 after finishing 13th out of the 14 teams.

In the 2014–15 Pro D2 season, Allan cemented a firm position on the number 10 role for Perpignan. Playing eighteen games, scoring three tries, fourteen penalty goals, scoring a total of 81 points and helping Perpignan to reach promotional play-offs.

Allan returned to his home region of Veneto, Italy, signing for Benetton Treviso before the 2016–17 Pro12 until 2020–21 Pro14 season.[6] [7]

It was announced on 5 May 2021, that Allan had been signed by the English Premiership team Harlequins, to begin his career with them ahead of the 2021/22 season.[3]

International career

On 9 October 2013 Allan was named in the Italian 35-man training squad for the 2013 end-of-year rugby union tests,[8] which led to the Scottish Rugby Union seeking clarity on Allan's intentions for his future.[9] Despite Allan playing for Scotland at Under 17, Under 18 and Under 20 age groups, he was named in Jacques Brunel's final squad.[10] He made his debut coming off the bench to score against Australia.

Allan started the first three of Italy's 2014 Six Nations matches against Wales, France and Scotland.[11]

On 24 August 2015, he was named in the final 31-man squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup[12] and on 18 August 2019, he was named in the final 31-man squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[13]

On 22 August 2023, he was named in the Italy's 33-man squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[14] On 4 February 2024, he became the best Italian points and try scorer in the Six Nations Championship, surpassing Diego Domínguez (rugby union)[15]

Personal life

Allan hails from a rugby family; his Scottish father William Allan and his Italian mother Paola Berlato both played in Italy, while his uncle John Allan earned 9 caps for Scotland and 13 for South Africa.[16] Through his father he was eligible to represent Scotland, but chose to play for Italy at senior level. He went to the European School in Culham, then graduated in economy in London to eventually get a master in marketing and business in Italy.

Statistics

List of international test tries

As of 3 February 2024[17]

TryOpposing teamLocationVenueCompetitionDateResultScore
1Turin, ItalyStadio Olimpico di Torino2013 end-of-year rugby union internationals9 November 2013Loss20 – 50
2Rome, ItalyStadio Olimpico2014 Six Nations22 February 2014Loss20 – 21
3Exeter, EnglandSandy Park2015 Rugby World Cup11 October 2015Win32 – 22
4Padova, ItalyStadio Euganeo2016 end-of-year rugby union international26 November 2016Loss17 – 19
5Dublin, IrelandAviva Stadium2018 Six Nations10 February 2018Loss56 – 19
6Rome, ItalyStadio Olimpico17 March 2018Loss27 – 29
7
8Florence, ItalyStadio Artemio Franchi2018 end-of-year rugby union internationals10 November 2018Win28 – 17
9London, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2019 Six Nations9 March 2019Loss57 – 14
10San Benedetto del Tronto, ItalyStadio Riviera delle Palme2019 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches17 August 2019Win85 – 15
11Osaka, JapanHanazono Rugby Stadium2019 Rugby World Cup22 September 2019Win47 – 22
12London, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2021 Six Nations13 February 2021Loss41 – 18
13Bucharest, RomaniaStadionul Arcul de Triumf2022 July Internationals1 July 2022Win13 – 45
14Edinburgh, ScotlandMurrayfield Stadium2023 Six Nations18 March 2023 Loss26 – 14
15Rome, ItalyStadio Olimpico2023 Six Nations4 February 2024Loss24 - 27

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tommaso Allan player profile. rugbyworldcup.com. 7 October 2023.
  2. News: Tommy Allan: 'Unusual' Italy fly-half charts voyage of discovery. BBC Sport. 28 August 2015. 4 August 2018 .
  3. News: Harlequins sign Tommaso Allan. Harlequins. 5 May 2021. 5 May 2021.
  4. Web site: 10 December 2022 . Italy flyhalf Tommy Allan signs for Perpignan . 7 September 2023 . amp.rugbypass.com . en.
  5. Web site: Racing Métro – Perpignan. Top 14. 8 September 2013. 5 August 2018. fr .
  6. Web site: Dopo Cinque Stagioni Tommaso Allan Passa Agli Harlequins. 5 May 2021.
  7. News: Il Benetton Rugby saluta 10 Leoni e 4 componenti dello staff. Benetton Rugby. 30 May 2021. 31 May 2021. Italian.
  8. News: Italy call-up Scotland U-20 fly-half. ESPN. 9 October 2013 .
  9. News: Scotland seek clarity on Tommaso Allan after Italy call-up. BBC Sport. 9 October 2013 .
  10. News: Italia, geldenhuys rientra in gruppo in vista dei cariparma test match. Italian Rugby Federation. 19 October 2013. it .
  11. News: Scotland leave it late to beat Italy in Rome with Weir drop goal. RTÉ Sport. 22 February 2014.
  12. http://www.federugby.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8440:rugby-world-cup-scelti-i-31-azzurri-per-inghilterra-2015&catid=252:slide&Itemid=811&jjj=1440428664935 Rugby World Cup, Scelti i 31 Azzurri per Inghilterra 2015
  13. Web site: Italrugby, Conor O'shea Annuncia I 31 Giocatori Convocati per Il Mondiale.
  14. Web site: ITALIA, I 33 AZZURRI PER LA RUGBY WORLD CUP "FRANCIA 2023. Federazione Italiana Rugby . 22 August 2023 . it.
  15. News: England come from behind to edge out Italy in Rome . BBC Sport .
  16. http://www.scottishrugby.org/scotland-u20/player/tommaso-allan Tommaso Allan SRU Profile
  17. Web site: Tommaso Allan . 3 June 2022 . ESPN scrum.