Tom Croft: Difference between revisions
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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Croft's best position is blindside flanker <!-- not "position of choice" learn how to write English-->, but he can fill in at openside flanker (where he has the pace but is slightly too tall), and lock (where he is tall enough but not really heavy enough in the scrum). |
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His position of choice is as a [[Rugby union positions#6. Blindside flanker & 7. Openside flanker|Flanker]] but he can also operate as a [[Rugby union positions#4. & 5. Lock|Lock]]. He is known for his speed and, unusually for a forward, he is one of the quickest players in the [[Leicester Tigers|Tigers]] squad. <ref name="Six Nations player watch - Tom Croft">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7174629.stm|title=Six Nations player watch - Tom Croft|publisher=BBC|date=2008-01-07|accessdate=2008-01-09}}</ref> |
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The young back rower is equally comfortable in the [[Rugby_union_positions#Backs|backline]], at the bottom of a [[Playing_rugby_union#Ruck|ruck]] or jumping at three in the [[Line-out|line]]. According to [[Dean Richards (rugby player)|Dean Richards]] he has everything, former [[All Black]] [[Aaron Mauger]] says he is the quickest [[Flanker (rugby union)|back-row forward]] he has ever seen and [[Martin Corry]] believes [[England national rugby union team|England]] have never had a player blessed with his abundant abilities. <ref name="Crafty Croft ready for step up">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7202349.stm|title=Crafty Croft ready for step up|publisher=BBC|date=2008-01-22|accessdate=2008-01-25}}</ref> |
The young back rower is equally comfortable in the [[Rugby_union_positions#Backs|backline]], at the bottom of a [[Playing_rugby_union#Ruck|ruck]] or jumping at three in the [[Line-out|line]]. According to [[Dean Richards (rugby player)|Dean Richards]] he has everything, former [[All Black]] [[Aaron Mauger]] says he is the quickest [[Flanker (rugby union)|back-row forward]] he has ever seen and [[Martin Corry]] believes [[England national rugby union team|England]] have never had a player blessed with his abundant abilities. <ref name="Crafty Croft ready for step up">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7202349.stm|title=Crafty Croft ready for step up|publisher=BBC|date=2008-01-22|accessdate=2008-01-25}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 19:31, 15 October 2008
| Full name | Thomas Croft | ||||||||
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| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 16 st 4 lb (103 kg) | ||||||||
| School | Park House School Oakham School | ||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||
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Tom Croft born 7 November 1985 in Basingstoke, England is a rugby union player for Leicester Tigers in the Guinness Premiership.
Background
Croft's best position is blindside flanker , but he can fill in at openside flanker (where he has the pace but is slightly too tall), and lock (where he is tall enough but not really heavy enough in the scrum).
The young back rower is equally comfortable in the backline, at the bottom of a ruck or jumping at three in the line. According to Dean Richards he has everything, former All Black Aaron Mauger says he is the quickest back-row forward he has ever seen and Martin Corry believes England have never had a player blessed with his abundant abilities. [1]
Tom Croft went to Oakham School in Rutland where many good sportsmen have come from such as Lewis Moody, Matt Smith, Stuart Broad and many others. Croft is one of a talented list of young English flankers that includes the likes Tom Rees, James Haskell, Luke Narraway and Magnus Lund. Combined with the established players such Joe Worsley, Lewis Moody and Nick Easter England may face a back-row selection headache for many years to come. [2]
International career
He was called up to the England squad for the 2008 Six Nations Championship. [3] [4] He has already been selected for the England Saxons and England Sevens sides. [5]
He gained his first England cap in the 2008 RBS Six Nations Championship match against France in Paris.[6]
References
- ^ "Crafty Croft ready for step up". BBC. 2008-01-22. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
- ^ "England facing back-row dilemma". BBC. 2008-01-24. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
- ^ "Vainikolo named in England squad". BBC. 2008-01-09. Retrieved 2008-01-09.
- ^ "Vainikolo - named in England squad". Sportinglife. 2008-01-09. Retrieved 2008-01-09.
- ^ "England sevens squad is unveiled". BBC. 2006-09-04. Retrieved 2008-01-09.
- ^ "Wigglesworth handed England call". BBC. 2008-02-19. Retrieved 2008-02-19.