Calum Clark
{{short description|England international rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Calum Clark
| image =
| birth_place = Stockton-on-Tees{{cite web |author=Calum Clark |url=http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/rugby/squad_profiles.php?player=61922&includeref=dynamic |title=Calum Clark |publisher=Northamptonsaints.co.uk |accessdate=2012-02-23 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312103624/http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/rugby/squad_profiles.php?player=61922&includeref=dynamic |archivedate=12 March 2012}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = {{convert|1.93|m|ftin|abbr=on}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.rfu.com/squadsandplayers/englandelite/calumclark# |title=Calum Clark - Official RFU England Profile |access-date=10 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509150810/http://www.rfu.com/squadsandplayers/englandelite/calumclark# |archive-date=9 May 2013 |url-status=dead}}
| weight = {{convert|111|kg|stlb+lb|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/northampton_saints.php?section=1 |title=Aviva Premiership Rugby - Northampton Saints |work=web page |publisher=Premier Rugby |accessdate=21 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202052702/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/northampton_saints.php?section=1 |archivedate=2 February 2012}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/Rugby/Profiles/profile.aspx?TeamID=100969&PersonID=139741 |title=Northampton Saints | Rugby | Official Site : Home | News, features & General Information > Rugby > Profiles > profile |access-date=15 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211021119/http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/Rugby/Profiles/profile.aspx?TeamID=100969&PersonID=139741 |archive-date=11 December 2014 |url-status=dead }}
| ru_position = Flanker
| years1 = 2006–2010
| years2 = 2010–2017
| years3 = 2017–2020
| clubs1 = Yorkshire Carnegie
| clubs2 = Northampton Saints
| clubs3 = Saracens
| apps1 = 70
| apps2 = 147
| apps3 = 58
| points1 = 30
| points2 = 50
| points3 = 10
| ru_clubupdate = 4 March 2024
| repupdate = 4 March 2024
| ru_currentclub =
| repteam1 = England U20
| repteam2 = England
| repyears1 = 2009
| repyears2 = 2015
| repcaps1 = 3
| repcaps2 = 1
| reppoints1 = 5
| reppoints2 = 0
| school = Barnard Castle School
| university =
| birth_date={{Birth date and age|1989|06|10|df=yes}}
}}
Calum Clark (born 10 June 1989 in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham) is a former professional rugby union player who played for Yorkshire Carnegie, Northampton Saints and Saracens. His primary position was openside flanker.
Early life and education
Calum Clark is the only son of Jane Clark and David Stevenson Clark, former Deputy Headteacher of Richmond School and Sixth Form College in Richmond, North Yorkshire. David was tragically killed on 21 September 2020 by cows whilst walking his dogs. Calum has two siblings, Hannah and Helen.
He was educated at Barnard Castle school.
Rugby playing career
=Club level=
Clark came through the Leeds Carnegie youth academy, making his debut for the Yorkshire side in 2007.{{Cite web |url=http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/rugby/profiles/profile/Calum-Clark# |title=Calum Clark - Northampton Saints |access-date=21 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529221935/http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/rugby/profiles/profile/Calum-Clark# |archive-date=29 May 2016 |url-status=dead}}
The flanker made 23 appearances in his debut season at Leeds and was called up to the England U20s in 2008. Clark helped the national side to the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship (JWC) final and was back in the side the following season, this time as captain for both the Six Nations tournament and the JWC campaign where he led England to the final again.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rugbynetwork.net/main/s99/st154718.htm|title = News: Calum Clark Signs for Northampton Saints}}
Clark played for the Saints senior side on 30 September 2016 as the Midlands side beat Exeter Chiefs 20-19 and then went on to score his first try of the 2016/17 season against Montpellier Herault Rugby on 16 October.{{Cite web|url=http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/news/latest-headlines/2016/sept-2016/northampton-saints-team-news-for-exeter-clash/|title = Northampton Saints team news for Exeter clash}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/news/latest-headlines/2016/oct-2016/saints-16-montpellier-14-myler-penalty-at-the-death-seals-saints-european-win/|title = SAINTS 16 MONTPELLIER 14 Myler penalty at the death seals Saints European win}}
In 2014 Clark started as Northampton beat Saracens to win the Premiership final.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/27590375|title=Premiership final: Saracens 20-24 Northampton Saints|date=31 May 2014|accessdate=24 March 2019|publisher=BBC}}
On 17 January 2017, it was announced that Clark would make the move to Premiership rivals Saracens on a three-year contract from the 2017-18 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38651930|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Saracens sign Northampton Saints and former England flanker Calum Clark|date=17 January 2017|accessdate=17 March 2017}} He subsequently signed a further one-year contract.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-13|title=Clark signs Saracens extension|url=https://www.saracens.com/clark-signs-saracens-extension/|access-date=2020-07-13|website=Saracens|language=en-GB}}
==Disciplinary record==
In 2012, Clark was banned for 32 weeks, the longest ban in English rugby history at the time,{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/calum-clark-retires-from-playing-to-take-up-unique-new-saracens-role/|title = Calum Clark retires from playing to take up unique new Saracens role}} for deliberately hyper-extending the arm of Leicester Tigers hooker Rob Hawkins causing a fractured elbow.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/17487713|title=Northampton Saints flanker Calum Clark given 32-week ban|date=2012-03-30|newspaper=BBC Sport|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-10-29}} Such an offence could have attracted an entry point of 5 years, however, the disciplinary panel found that whilst the offence itself was intentional, there was no evidence that Clark intended to cause a serious injury.{{Cite web|url=http://www.englandrugby.com/mm/Document/Governance/Disclipine/01/31/05/14/RFUDisciplinaryJudgment-ThursdayMarch29-CalumClark_Neutral.pdf|title=RFU Disciplinary Judgement Calum Clark}}
=International level=
Clark led the England Saxons side in 2014 against Irish Wolfhounds.
Clark was selected for the England 2015 Rugby World Cup training squad.{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrugby.com/news/england-announce-rugby-world-cup-training-group/|title=England announce Rugby World Cup training group|publisher=englandrugby.com|date=20 May 2015|accessdate=1 March 2016|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912144719/http://www.englandrugby.com/news/england-announce-rugby-world-cup-training-group/|url-status=dead}} He made his England debut when he started against France on 15 August 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/33937626|title=England beat France 19-14 in Rugby World Cup warm-up|publisher=BBC Sport|date=15 August 2015 |accessdate=1 March 2016}}
Player support role
In 2021 it was announced that Clark would move to a player psychological support and development role at Saracens. Clark had undertaken post-graduate study in related areas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/calum-clark-retires-from-playing-to-take-up-unique-new-saracens-role/|title = Calum Clark retires from playing to take up unique new Saracens role}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.leedscarnegie.com/ Leeds profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Callum}}
Category:England international rugby union players
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Northampton Saints players
Category:People educated at Barnard Castle School
Category:Rugby union players from Richmond, North Yorkshire