Archie McParland
| Date of birth | 17 February 2005[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Birkenhead | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 89 kg (14 st 0 lb; 196 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Packwood Haugh Oundle School Stowe School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Archie McParland (born 17 February 2005) is an English rugby union player who plays as a scrum half for Northampton Saints.
The scrum-half became Saints’ youngest player in the professional era (at 17 years and 222 days old) when he made his professional debut against London Irish in the Premiership Rugby Cup while still in Saints’ Under-18s set-up – before signing his first professional contract with the Club ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Originally joining Saints’ Academy set-up as a fly-half, Archie McParland converted to No.9 in his Under-15s season and has kicked on ever since – being capped by England at Under-18s, Under-19s and Under-20s
Early life
[edit]Born in Birkenhead, he attended boarding school in Shropshire and then at Oundle School in Northamptonshire and then Stowe School. He joined the Northampton Saints academy at U13 level. Initially a fly-half he switched to scrum half in 2020.[3]
Career
[edit]He became the youngest player in the professional era to play for the Northampton Saints first-team when he played at the age of 17 years and 222 days old against London Irish in the Premiership Rugby Cup in September 2022.[4] In March 2023, he was promoted to the senior academy at Northampton.[5]
The following season he scored a hat trick of tries in the competition in an 82-12 win over Doncaster Knights.[6] He made his Premiership Rugby debut in October 2023 against Sale Sharks.[7] He spent time on loan at Bedford Blues in the Rugby Championship during the 2023-24 season.[8]
International career
[edit]In 2023, he played for the England U18.[9] He played as part the England national under-20 rugby union team which won the 2024 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[10][11] In November 2024, he was called-up to the England A national rugby union team.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "A.McParland". itsrugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ "A.McParland". All.Rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Heagney, Liam (7 February 2024). "Archie McParland: 'Competing with Alex Mitchell is quite nice'". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Sansom, Tom (27 February 2024). "England U20s: Archie McParland – Northampton Saints' Youngest Ever Player Is Igniting the U20 Six Nations". Ruck. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Vickers, Tom (13 March 2023). "Saints confirm six talented youngsters will join Senior Academy". Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ "Archie McParland: Northampton coach predicts big future for teenage scrum-half". BBC Sport. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Vickers, Tom (15 October 2023). "Saints left to rue missed opportunity as Sale grind out win in Premiership opener". Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Jaycock, Ben (10 December 2023). "Young Guns: Northampton scrum-half Archie McParland". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Vickers, Tom (28 February 2023). "Saints trio selected by England Under-18s as coach Parkin also gets the call". Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ "Under-20 Six Nations: England come from behind to beat France and clinch title". BBC Sport. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Kelleher, Will (14 March 2024). "'They're all freaks' – the England pack driving towards Under-20 title". The Times. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Morgan, Charlie (6 November 2024). "Gabriel Ibitoye called up to England A squad for Australia fixture". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 November 2024.