Alec Hepburn
{{Short description|Scotland international rugby union player}}
{{Expand French|topic=bio|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Alec Hepburn
| image =
| birth_name = Alec William Hepburn
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|3|30|df=y}}
| birth_place = Perth, Australia
| height = {{convert|1.85|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|114|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}
| school = Gillotts School
Henley College
| position = Loosehead Prop
| ru_currentposition = Loosehead Prop
| ru_currentteam = Scarlets
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Henley Hawks
| years1 = 2013–2014
| years2 = 2015–2024
| years3 = 2024–
| clubs1 = London Welsh
| clubs2 = Exeter Chiefs
| clubs3 = Scarlets
| apps1 = 17
| apps2 = 180
| apps3 = 22
| points1 = 0
| points2 = 35
| points3 = 5
| ru_clubupdate = 16 July 2024
| repyears1 = 2012–2013
| repyears2 = 2016
| repyears3 = 2018
| repyears4 = 2024–
| repteam1 = England U20
| repteam2 = England A
| repteam3 = England
| repteam4 = Scotland
| repcaps1 = 15
| repcaps2 = 2
| repcaps3 = 6
| repcaps4 = 4
| reppoints1 = 0
| reppoints2 = 5
| reppoints3 = 0
| reppoints4 = 0
| ru_ntupdate = 9 March 2024
}}
Alec William Hepburn (born 30 March 1993) is an Australian born, professional rugby union player who plays as a loosehead prop for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets and Scotland.
Early life
Hepburn was born in Perth, Australia to a Scottish born father.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68021807|title=Alec Hepburn: Scotland call-up surprised Exeter boss Rob Baxter|first=Brent|last=Pilnick|website=BBC Sport|date=19 January 2024|accessdate=25 January 2024}} When he was a child, his family moved to Hopetoun, a small town on the south coast of Western Australia.{{Cite web|url=https://tunein.com/podcasts/Rugby/The-England-Rugby-Podcast-O2-Inside-Line-p1094733/|title=Listen to The England Rugby Podcast: O2 Inside Line on TuneIn|website=TuneIn|language=en-us|access-date=27 November 2018}} In 2006 at the age of thirteen he moved with his father to England where he attended Gillotts School and excelled at rugby union after taking up the sport.{{Cite news |last=Morgan|first=Charlie|date=3 March 2018|title=Alec Hepburn hitting all the right notes with England and Exeter Chiefs|work=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2018/03/03/alec-hepburn-hitting-right-notes-england-exeter-chiefs/|url-access=subscription|access-date=25 January 2024}}
Club career
Hepburn played for local club Henley Hawks and then joined the academy of Wasps RFC. He spent the 2013–14 RFU Championship campaign on loan at London Welsh.{{cite news|url=http://www.witneygazette.co.uk/news/10797561.RUGBY_UNION__Hepburn_given_first_league_start_in_crunch/|publisher=Witney Gazette |title=Hepburn given first league start in crunch|date=9 November 2013 |accessdate=2 February 2018}} In 2014 Hepburn requested that Wasps coach Dai Young release him from his club contract and he returned to his native Perth in an attempt to pursue a Super Rugby career. He joined local team Cottesloe and also represented Perth Spirit in the National Rugby Championship.
In January 2015, Hepburn joined Exeter Chiefs.{{cite news|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/premiership-2014-15/rugby/story/253053.html|publisher=ESPN Scrum |title=Exeter bolster front-row resources|date=15 January 2015 |accessdate=2 February 2018}} He was part of the side that lost to Saracens in the final of the 2015–16 Premiership.{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/report?gameId=267975&league=267979|publisher=ESPN Scrum |title=Saracens beat Exeter in Premiership final to seal double|date=28 May 2016 |accessdate=2 February 2018}} The following season saw Exeter win their first league title although he was absent from the final due to injury.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40018239|title=Premiership final: Wasps 20-23 Exeter Chiefs (aet)|first=James|last=Law|website=BBC Sport|date=27 May 2017|accessdate=2 February 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/hepburn-added-injury-list|publisher=Exeter Chiefs official website |title=Hepburn added to injury list|date=18 January 2017 |accessdate=2 February 2018}}
Hepburn started in the 2020 European Rugby Champions Cup final as Exeter overcame Racing 92 to become champions of Europe for the first time in their history.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54569008|title=Champions Cup: Exeter beat Racing 92 31-27 to lift first Champions Cup title|first=Mike|last=Henson|website=BBC Sport|date=17 October 2020|accessdate=25 January 2024}} The following weekend saw him also start in the Premiership final as Wasps were defeated to complete a League and European double.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54661068|title=Premiership Final: Exeter beat Wasps 19-13 to secure historic double|first=Brent|last=Pilnick|website=BBC Sport|date=24 October 2020|accessdate=25 January 2024}}
After almost a decade at Exeter it was announced that Hepburn would join Scarlets for the 2024–25 United Rugby Championship.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c103e72l2y2o|title=Scarlets sign Scotland prop Hepburn from Exeter|website=BBC Sport|date=25 April 2024|accessdate=16 July 2024}}
International career
=England=
Hepburn qualified to represent England on residency grounds having moved to the country at the age of thirteen.{{cite news |url=https://www.theoffsideline.com/10-takeaways-gregor-townsends-2024-six-nations-squad-announcement/|title=10 takeaways from Gregor Townsend’s 2024 Six Nations squad announcement|first=David|last=Barnes|website=The Offside Line|date=16 January 2024|accessdate=18 January 2024}} He was a member of the England under-20 squad that won the 2012 Six Nations.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/17137583|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Under 20s Six Nations: England U20 40-9 Wales U20|date=24 February 2012|accessdate=25 January 2024}} The following year saw him start for the team that defeated Wales U20 in the final of the 2013 Junior World Cup as England became youth world champions for the first time.{{cite web|title=Junior World Championship: Wales U20 15-23 England U20|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/23010922|first=James|last=Standley|accessdate=2 February 2018|website=BBC Sport|date=23 June 2013}} In the summer of 2016 Hepburn scored a try for England A in a tour game against South Africa A.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36503809|publisher=BBC Sport |title=England Saxons beat South Africa A in opening tour match|date=10 June 2016 |accessdate=2 February 2018}}
In January 2018 Hepburn was named in the senior England squad by coach Eddie Jones for the 2018 Six Nations Championship.{{cite web|title=Six Nations 2018: England name eight uncapped players in squad for Italy|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/42731062|first=Chris|last=Jones|accessdate=24 January 2018|website=BBC Sport|date=18 January 2018}} On 4 February 2018 he made his Test debut coming on as a replacement for Mako Vunipola in the opening round against Italy.{{cite web|title=England up and running in Six Nations with seven-try win in Italy|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/feb/04/italy-england-six-nations-match-report|first=Robert|last=Kitson|accessdate=25 January 2024|website=The Guardian|date=4 February 2018}} He also featured as a substitute in their next game against Wales.{{cite web|title=Six Nations: England 12-6 Wales|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42987882|first=Tom|last=Fordyce|accessdate=25 January 2024|website=BBC Sport|date=10 February 2018}}
Hepburn was a member of the 2018 tour of South Africa but did not play in any of the games featuring only as an unused substitute in the Dead rubber third test as England lost the series 2-1.{{cite web|title=England beat South Africa 25-10 in third Test but lose series 2-1|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/44562819|first=James|last=Standley|accessdate=25 January 2024|website=BBC Sport|date=23 June 2018}} Later that year he started in an Autumn international match against South Africa.{{cite web|title=England 12-11 South Africa: Eddie Jones' side battle to victory at Twickenham|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46084726|first=Tom|last=Fordyce|accessdate=25 January 2024|website=BBC Sport|date=3 November 2018}} He also played in the following games against New Zealand and Japan.{{cite web|title=England 15-16 New Zealand: All Blacks fight back to win at Twickenham|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46165213|first=Tom|last=Fordyce|accessdate=25 January 2024|website=BBC Sport|date=10 November 2018}}{{cite web|title=England 35-15 Japan: Eddie Jones' side hold off spirited visitors|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46248420|first=Tom|last=Fordyce|accessdate=25 January 2024|website=BBC Sport|date=17 November 2018}} Their final fixture of the year on 24 November 2018 saw Hepburn make his sixth and last appearance for England in a victory over the nation of his birth Australia.{{cite web|title=England 37-18 Australia: May, Daly, Cokanasiga and Farrell all cross|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46293309|first=Tom|last=Fordyce|accessdate=25 January 2024|website=BBC Sport|date=24 November 2018}}
=Scotland=
In January 2024 Hepburn was named in the Scotland squad for the 2024 Six Nations Championship.{{cite web|title=Six Nations 2024: Scotland squad includes Alec Hepburn and Arron Reed|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67992495|first=Chris|last=Bertram|accessdate=25 January 2024|website=BBC Sport|date=16 January 2024}} He qualifies through his Scottish born father. On 3 February 2024 he made his debut for Scotland as a second-half substitute in their opening round victory against Wales at the Millennium Stadium.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68191642|title=Six Nations 2024: Wales 26-27 Scotland - Scots survive stunning comeback|first=Gareth|last=Griffiths|website=BBC Sport|date=3 February 2024|accessdate=16 July 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/alec-hepburn-hope-england-father-proud-england-scotland-debut-wales-mpqk68r0h|url-access=subscription|title=Alec Hepburn: I hope my father is proud of Scotland debut|first=Mark|last=Palmer|website=The Times|date=6 February 2024|accessdate=16 July 2024}}
Honours
Exeter
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.scarlets.wales/person/alec-hepburn/ Scarlets Profile]
- {{Sport links}}
{{Scarlets squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hepburn, Alec}}
Category:English rugby union players
Category:England international rugby union players
Category:Exeter Chiefs players
Category:London Welsh RFC players