Gareth Simpson

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Gareth Simpson

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Gareth Grant Simpson

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|11|02|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Coventry, England

| height = {{convert|1.78|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|83|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

| position = Scrum-half/Fly-half

| amatyears1 =

| amatteam1 =

| ru_amupdate =

| repteam1 =

| repyears1 =

| repcaps1 =

| reppoints1 =

| ru_ntupdate = 29 November 2024

| years1 = 2019–2022

| years2 = 2019

| years3 = 2022

| years4 = 2023

| years5 = 2023–

| clubs1 = Worcester Warriors

| clubs2 = → Stourbridge

| clubs3 = Saracens

| clubs4 = Western Force

| clubs5 = Saracens

| apps1 = 45

| points1 = 0

| apps2 = 0

| points2 = 0

| apps3 = 0

| points3 = 0

| apps4 = 5

| points4 = 10

| apps5 = 17

| points5 = 5

| ru_clubupdate = 29 November 2024

| ru_currentclub = Saracens

| province1 = Sharks (Currie Cup)

| province2 = Wellington

| provinceyears1 = 2017–2018

| provinceyears2 = 2018

| provinceapps1 =

| provincepoints1 =

| ru_provinceupdate =

| repsevensyears1 =

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| coachteams1 =

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| ru_coachupdate =

}}

Gareth Simpson (born 2 November 1997) is an English born South African rugby union player.

Simpson played in the Currie Cup for Sharks in his native South Africa and also had a stint playing for Wellington in the Mitre 10 Cup in New Zealand before he moved to England. He joined the Worcester Warriors academy in the summer of 2019 having spent the second half of the 2018–19 season on trial at Sixways Stadium.{{cite news|url=https://www.malverngazette.co.uk/sport/warriors/17552106.gareth-simpson-trial-worcester-warriors/|publisher=Malvern Gazette|title=Gareth Simpson on trial with Worcester Warriors|date=4 April 2019|access-date=5 November 2020}} He played regularly for the Cavaliers in the Premiership Rugby Shield and for Stourbridge in National League 2 North.{{cite news|url=https://www.stourbridgerugby.com/teams/14914/player/gareth-simpson-2134176|publisher=Stourbridge Rugby|title=Gareth Simpson Rugby Profile|date=5 November 2020|access-date=5 November 2020}}

Simpson played for the Warriors in the Premiership Rugby Sevens Series at Northampton in September 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.winterfoldhouse.co.uk/news/rugby-7s-players-meet-scrum-half-gareth-simpson-at-worcester-warriors/|publisher=Winterfold House|title=Rugby 7s Players meet Scrum Half Gareth Simpson at Worcester Warriors|date=27 February 2020|access-date=5 November 2020}} He made his senior debut off the bench in the Premiership Rugby Cup 57–23 victory over Leicester Tigers at Sixways the following week.{{cite news|url=https://www.leicestertigers.com/match/premiership-rugby-cup/wor-vs-lei/2019-09-21|publisher=Leicester Tigers|title=Match report - Tigers young guns come up short at Worcester|date=21 September 2019|access-date=5 November 2020}} He scored his first Warriors try when he came on as a replacement in the European Rugby Challenge Cup victory over Enisei-STM in Russia.{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/enisei-stm-vs-worcester/94866|publisher=Sky Sports|title=Enisei STM 14 - 57 Worcester Warriors|date=15 November 2019|access-date=5 November 2020}}

Simpson was included in a Gallagher Premiership squad for the first time when he was an unused replacement against Exeter Chiefs in November 2019{{cite news|url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/match/worcester-warriors-vs-exeter-chiefs-at-sixways-3rd-nov-2019/82489|publisher=Ultimate Rugby|title=Worcester Warriors 20-24 Exeter Chiefs|date=4 November 2019|access-date=5 November 2020}} and made his debut in the competition at Wasps in August 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/53824673|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Premiership: Wasps 32-17 Worcester Warriors|date=21 August 2020|access-date=5 November 2020}}

Having impressed in the first three months of the 2019–20 season, Simpson signed a two-year contract, his first full-time professional deal, thus promoted to the senior squad from the 2020–21 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50731742|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Gareth Simpson: Worcester Warriors' versatile back signs two-year deal|date=19 November 2019|access-date=5 November 2020}}

On 5 October 2022 all Worcester players had their contacts terminated due to the liquidation of the company to which they were contracted.{{Cite web |title=Worcester player and staff contracts terminated after high court ruling {{!}} Worcester {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/oct/05/worcester-player-and-staff-contracts-terminated-after-high-court-ruling-rugby-union |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=amp.theguardian.com}}

After Worcester was liqudated, he spent time with Saracens as injury cover from the start of the 2022–23 season. On 2 April 2023, Simpson would move to Australia to sign for Western Force for the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/sport/23429492.gareth-simpson-scores-first-super-rugby-try-western-force/ |publisher=Worcester News |title=Ex-Worcester scrum-half scores first try in Super Rugby |date=2 April 2023|access-date=29 November 2024}} This is because he would re-join Saracens on a permanent two-year deal back in the Premiership for the 2023–24 season.{{Cite news|url=https://saracens.com/gareth-simpson-to-re-join-saracens-for-23-24-campaign/ |publisher=Saracens |title=Gareth Simpson to re-join Saracens for 23/24 campaign |date=14 February 2023|access-date=29 November 2024}}