Alex Cuthbert

{{short description|Wales & British Lions international rugby union player}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Alex Cuthbert

| image = Alex Cuthbert 19 March 2012 (cropped).jpg

| fullname = Alexander Charles Gordon Cuthbert

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1990|4|5}}

| birth_place = Gloucester, England

| height = {{convert|1.99|m|ftin|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/players/alex-cuthbert|title=Exter Chiefs Player List|access-date=25 September 2019}}

| weight = {{convert|106|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

| school = Newent Community School
Hartpury College

| university = UWIC

| position = Wing

| currentclub = Ospreys

| youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Hartpury College

| years1 = 2011 |clubs1 = Cardiff |apps1 = 5 |points1 = 15

| years2 = 2008–2011 |clubs2 = UWIC |apps2 = ? |points2 = ?

| years3 = 2011–2018 |clubs3 = Cardiff Blues |apps3 = 120 |points3 = 250

| years4 = 2018–2021 |clubs4 = Exeter Chiefs |apps4 = 29 |points4 = 35

| years5 = 2021–2024 |clubs5 = Ospreys |apps5 = 2 |points5 = 0

| repyears1 = 2009–2011 |repteam1 = Wales Sevens |repcaps1 = ? |reppoints1 = ?

| repyears2 = 2011–2023 |repteam2 = Wales

|repcaps2 = 57 |reppoints2 = 85

| repyears3 = 2013 |repteam3 = British & Irish Lions |repcaps3 = 1 |reppoints3 = 5

| clubupdate = 2 December 2019

| repupdate = 18 March 2023

}}

Alex Cuthbert (born 5 April 1990) is an English-born Welsh rugby union player. Born and raised in Gloucester, he plays on the wing for the Ospreys and the Wales national team.

Early life

Born in Gloucester, Cuthbert went to Newent Community School. He gained a diploma at Hartpury College before studying at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Playing career

Cuthbert first played rugby during his years studying at Newent Community School playing club rugby for Hucclecote RFC and Westbury-on-Severn RFC. He later moved to Hartpury College where he was a member of Hartpury College R.F.C., coached by Allan Lewis in a team that included Jonny May on the opposite wing.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26463101|title=Six Nations 2014: Jonny May relishes Alex Cuthbert reunion|publisher=BBC Sport|date=6 March 2014|access-date=6 March 2014}} He then moved to study at UWIC, where he played for both the college and Cardiff RFC.

Cuthbert came to wider attention in 2011 with the Cardiff Blues. As an attacking threat he underlined his credentials during the region's Heineken Cup campaign - scoring a brace as they secured a quarter-final berth with victory over Racing Metro.

=International career=

==Wales==

Although born and raised in England, Cuthbert qualifies for Wales as his mother was born in Wrexham.{{Cite web |url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/9401170.Cuthbert_gives_fans_a_glimpse_of_the_future/ |title=Cuthbert gives fans a glimpse of the future |work=South Wales Argus |last=Davies |first=Iwan |date=5 December 2011 |access-date=12 February 2012 }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/farmers-son-alex-cuthbert-loving-2036243 |title=Farmer's son Alex Cuthbert loving life in Wales' Six Nations limelight |work=WalesOnline |last=Parfitt |first=Delme |date=18 February 2012 |access-date=29 May 2013 }}

He was noticed by Wales rugby sevens team coach Paul John.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17120949|title=Six Nations: England-born Cuthbert seeks Wales glory|first=Gareth|last=Roberts|publisher=BBC Wales|date=23 February 2012|access-date=23 February 2012}} As a result, Cuthbert played for them in the 2009-2010 and the 2010-2011 IRB Sevens World Series, and in the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Wales' senior management were also quick to take notice of Cuthbert's emergence, and he made his debut in the 12/11 international against Australia.{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/15809004.stm |title=Warren Gatland gambles on fitness doubts for Australia Test |work=BBC Sport |date=21 November 2011 |access-date=12 February 2012 }} There he replaced George North in the second-half, but it was the slot vacated by the retired Shane Williams that became his for the opening game of the 2012 Six Nations. At around 6'5, unusually tall for a winger, he represented a change of style from Williams' dancing feet and low centre of gravity, but his domestic form, pace and finishing prowess stacked up for Warren Gatland.

Cuthbert featured in the starting line-up in all five games of Wales' 2012 Six Nations Championship. He scored the opening try for Wales during their 27–13 victory over Scotland, then scored the second try of Wales' convincing 24–3 win over Italy in the penultimate round of the tournament. He was awarded man of the match for this performance. Cuthbert scored the only try in the final game of Wales' Six Nations campaign of 2012, against France, helping them to win the Grand Slam for the third time in eight seasons.{{cite news

|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/mar/17/rhys-priestland-wales-france-six-nations?intcmp=239

|title=Wales 16-9 France

|date=17 March 2012

|publisher=Guardian (London)

|access-date=4 April 2012

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111220141/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/mar/17/rhys-priestland-wales-france-six-nations?intcmp=239

|archive-date=11 November 2013

|url-status=live

}}

In the Autumn internationals of 2012 against Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia, Cuthbert was selected to play in each game. During the game against New Zealand, he scored the second Welsh try.

He scored two tries for Wales against England in the title decider of the 2013 Six Nations Championship.

==British & Irish Lions==

Cuthbert was selected for the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, playing and scoring a try in the First Test, which the Lions won.

= International tries =

== Wales ==

Try	Opponent	Location	Venue	Competition	Date	Result
class="wikitable sortable"
1	{{ru\|SCO}}	Cardiff, Wales	Millennium Stadium	2012 Six Nations	{{dts\|format=dmy\|2012\|February\|12}}	Win
2	{{ru\|ITA}}	Cardiff, Wales	Millennium Stadium	2012 Six Nations	{{dts\|format=dmy\|2012\|March\|10}}	Win
3	{{ru\|FRA}}	Cardiff, Wales	Millennium Stadium	2012 Six Nations	{{dts\|format=dmy\|2012\|March\|17}}	Win
4	{{ru\|AUS}}	Brisbane, Australia	Lang Park	2012 Australian Tour	{{dts\|format=dmy\|2012\|June\|16}}	Loss
5	{{ru\|NZ}}	Cardiff, Wales	Millennium Stadium	2012 Autumn Internationals	{{dts\|format=dmy\|2012\|November\|24}}	Loss
6	{{ru\|IRE}}	Cardiff, Wales	Millennium Stadium	2013 Six Nations	{{dts\|format=dmy\|2013\|February\|2}}	Loss
7	{{ru\|ITA}}	Rome, Italy	Stadio Olimpico	2013 Six Nations	{{dts\|format=dmy\|2013\|February\|23}}	Win
8 \| rowspan=2\|{{ru\|ENG}} \| rowspan=2\|Cardiff, Wales \| rowspan=2\|Millennium Stadium \| rowspan=2\|2013 Six Nations \| rowspan=2\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|2013\|March\|16}} \| rowspan=2\|Win
9
10	{{ru\|ITA}}	Cardiff, Wales	Millennium Stadium	2014 Six Nations	{{dts\|format=dmy\|2014\|February\|1}}	Win
11	{{ru\|SA}}	Durban, South Africa	Kings Park Stadium	2014 South African Tour	{{dts\|format=dmy\|2014\|June\|14}}	Loss
12	{{ru\|SA}}	Nelspruit, South Africa	Mbombela Stadium	2014 South African Tour	{{dts\|format=dmy\|2014\|June\|21}}	Loss
13	{{ru\|AUS}}	Cardiff, Wales	Millennium Stadium	2014 Autumn Internationals	{{dts\|format=dmy\|2014\|November\|8}}	Loss
14	{{ru\|FIJ}}	Cardiff, Wales	Millennium Stadium	2014 Autumn Internationals	{{dts\|format=dmy\|2014\|November\|15}}	Win
15	{{ru\|IRE}}	Cardiff, Wales	Millennium Stadium	2015 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches	{{dts\|format=dmy\|2015\|August\|8}}	Loss
16	{{ru\|TON}}	Auckland, New Zealand	Eden Park	2017 Summer Internationals	{{dts\|format=dmy\|2017\|June\|16}}	Win
17	{{ru\|FIJ}}	Cardiff, Wales	Millennium Stadium	2021 Autumn Internationals	{{dts\|format=dmy\|2021\|November\|14}}	Win

== British & Irish Lions ==

Try	Opponent	Location	Venue	Competition	Date	Result
class="wikitable sortable"
1	{{ru\|AUS}}	Brisbane, Australia	Lang Park	2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia	{{dts\|format=dmy\|2013\|June\|22}}	Win

Personal life

Cuthbert has discussed the impact of adverse social media at times in his career.

References

External links

{{Sport links}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140222163119/http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/matchcentre/squads_wales_player_archive.php?player=102697&includeref=dynamic Profile] at WRU.co.uk
[http://www.lionsrugby.com/history/players.php?player=104016&includeref=dynamic Profile] at lionsrugby.com

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Category:1990 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of Hartpury College

Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales

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Category:Commonwealth Games rugby sevens players for Wales

Category:English people of Welsh descent

Category:English rugby union players