Graham Kitchener

{{Short description|English rugby union player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2016}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Graham Kitchener

| image =Graham Kitchener (cropped).jpg

| birth_date ={{birth date and age|1989|9|29|df=y}}

| birth_place = Bromley, Greater London, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{convert|1.98|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|121|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}} {{cite web|url=http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/leicester_tigers.php?section=1 |title=Aviva Premiership Rugby - Gloucester Rugby |work=web page |publisher=Premier Rugby |access-date=3 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616063525/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/leicester_tigers.php?section=1 |archive-date=16 June 2012 |df=dmy-all }}

| ru_position = Lock

| ru_currentteam = Worcester Warriors

| years1 = 2008–2011

| clubs1 = Worcester Warriors

| apps1 = 61

| points1 = 25

| years2 = 2011–2019

| clubs2 = Leicester Tigers

| apps2 = 175

| points2 = 65

| years3 = 2019–2022

| clubs3 = Worcester Warriors

| apps3 = 46

| points3 = 0

| totalyears= 2008–

| totalapps = 282

| totalpoints = 90

| clubupdate = 19 May 2019

| repyears1 = 2008–2009

| repyears2 = 2011

| repteam1 = England Under-20

| repteam2 = England Saxons

| repcaps1 =

| repcaps2 =

| reppoints1 =

| reppoints2 =

| relatives = Andrew Kitchener (brother)

| school = Adams' Grammar School

| university = Birmingham University

}}

Graham Kitchener (born 29 September 1989 in Bromley) is an English rugby union player. His position is lock.

He has represented England at Under 16, 18 and Under 20 level, and played a part in the Under 20s 6 nations grand slam in 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2008/0314/ireland_u20.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217203505/http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2008/0314/ireland_u20.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-17 |title=England U-20 43–14 Ireland U-20 |publisher=RTÉ |date=2008-03-14 |access-date=2009-06-30 }} He was also a crucial member of the 2009 Under 20 squad, reaching the final of the JWC.{{cite web|url=http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/RFUHome.England_Detail/StoryID/22967 |title=England lose out to New Zealand in Junior final |publisher=RFU |date=2009-06-21 |access-date=2009-06-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624145403/http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/RFUHome.England_Detail/StoryID/22967 |archive-date=24 June 2009 |df=dmy-all }}

Kitchener attended Adams' Grammar School in Newport like fellow professional rugby player Peter Short of Bath Rugby.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester/content/articles/2007/11/01/kitchener_feature.shtml|title=Kitchener Lords it at Sixways|publisher=BBC|date=2007-11-01|access-date=2009-06-30}}

A talented all round athlete, he spent 3 years playing football for Wolverhampton Wanderers Academy before deciding to focus on rugby.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} He was a schoolboy cricketer for Shropshire{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} and was the Midlands Under 17 Shot Put champion,{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} before finishing 6th in the English Schools championships. He combines his commitments as a professional rugby player with a full-time degree at University of Birmingham{{citation needed|date=June 2011}}

A graduate of the academy system at Aviva Premiership club Worcester Warriors, Graham Kitchener left the Warriors to join Leicester Tigers for the 2011-12 season. Kitchener started the 2013 Premiership final and scored a try as Leicester defeated Northampton Saints.{{cite news

|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/22656677

|title=Aviva Premiership final: Leicester 37-17 Northampton

|publisher=BBC

|date=25 May 2013 |access-date=9 February 2020}}

He played for the England Saxons through 2011, including their successful Churchill Cup campaign.

Kitchener was selected for the England squad to face the Barbarians in the summer of 2014.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/27467022|title=Mike Brown: Harlequins full-back one of 21 added by England|publisher=BBC Sport|date=19 May 2014 |access-date=1 March 2016}}

He was called up to the senior England squad for the 2015 Six Nations Championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.englandrugby.com/news/easter-and-cipriani-included-england-training-squad/|title=Easter and Cipriani included in England training squad|publisher=englandrugby.com |date=21 January 2015 |access-date=20 April 2017}}

On 4 February 2019, Graham would re-sign for his old club Worcester Warriors, effectively leaving Leicester from the 2019-20 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12547/11628029/graham-kitchener-re-signs-for-worcester-warriors-from-leicester-tigers|publisher=Sky Sports|title=Graham Kitchener re-signs for Worcester Warriors from Leicester Tigers|date=4 February 2019|accessdate=19 May 2021}}

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}}