Hugh Tizard
{{Short description|English rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Hugh Tizard
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Hugh Peter Tizard
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|3|31|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Guildford, England
| height = {{convert|1.96|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|120|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
| school = Guildford County School, Cranleigh School
| position = Second row
| amatyears1 = –
| amatteam1 = Guildfordians RFC
| amatapps1 = –
| amatpoints1 = –
| currentclub = Saracens
| years1 = 2019–2022
| clubs1 = Harlequins
| apps1 = 45
| points1 = 15
| years2 = 2019–2020
| clubs2 = →London Scottish
| apps2 = 6
| points2 = 0
| years3 = 2022–
| clubs3 = Saracens
| apps3 = 55
| points3 = 5
| clubupdate = 3 December 2024
| repteam1 = England U20
| repyears1 = 2020
| repcaps1 = 4
| reppoints1 = 0
| repteam2 = England A
| repyears2 = 2024
| repcaps2 = 1
| reppoints2 = 0
| repupdate = 3 December 2024
}}
Hugh Peter Tizard is an English professional rugby union player, currently playing as a lock for Saracens, which competes in Premiership Rugby, the top-level competition of English rugby.{{cite web |url=https://www.saracens.com/squads/hugh-tizard/ |title=Hugh Tizard |work=Saracens |access-date=25 September 2022}} He previously played for Harlequins, another London-based top-flight club.{{cite web |url=https://www.quins.co.uk/profile/hugh-tizard |title=Hugh Tizard |work=Harlequins |access-date=27 April 2022}}
Club career
From the age of seven, Tizard began playing rugby at Guildfordians RFC, before joining the youth system at Harlequins when he was 16 years old, in addition to earning a scholarship to attend Cranleigh School.{{cite web |url=https://www.englandrugby.com/england/mens-development/u20s-squad/hugh-tizard |title=Hugh Tizard |work=England Rugby |access-date=27 April 2022}} He made his senior debut in October 2019, aged 19, during the pool stage of the 2019–20 Premiership Rugby Cup, then spent the rest of that season on loan at RFU Championship side London Scottish.{{cite web |url=https://www.itsrugby.co.uk/players/hugh-tizard-45566.html |title=Hugh Tizard – Player statistics |work=It's Rugby |access-date=27 April 2022}}
Tizard became a regular player in the Harlequins first team over the course of the 2021–22 season, with 16 starts across all competitions.{{cite web |url=https://all.rugby/player/hugh-tizard |title=Hugh Tizard: profile and stats |work=All.Rugby |access-date=27 April 2022}} His first ever try for the club was during a defeat to future team Saracens in October 2021.{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/harlequins-vs-saracens/98448 |title=Harlequins 22-29 Saracens: Sarries strike late to beat Quins |work=Sky Sports |date=31 October 2021 |access-date=25 September 2022}} Following this breakthrough campaign, he was short-listed for the Premiership Discovery of the Season Award, while also being nominated for the club's internal Academy Player of the Year Award.{{cite news |url=https://www.quins.co.uk/article/tizard-nominated-for-land-rover-discovery-of-the-season-award |title=Tizard nominated for Land Rover Discovery of the Season Award |work=Harlequins |date=1 June 2022 |access-date=25 September 2022}}
In January 2022, it was confirmed that Tizard had signed with Saracens ahead of the 2022–23 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.saracens.com/hugh-tizard-signs-for-saracens |title=Hugh Tizard signs for Saracens |work=Saracens |date=14 January 2022 |access-date=27 April 2022}} He explained that his decision was influenced by his ambition to play for England, and his desire to play alongside British & Irish Lions international and World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Maro Itoje.{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/hugh-tizard-i-loved-my-time-at-harlequins-but-i-signed-for-saracens-to-get-closer-to-maro-itoje-jx9cpbklv |title=Hugh Tizard: I loved my time at Harlequins, but I signed for Saracens to get closer to Maro Itoje |work=The Times |date=16 September 2022 |access-date=25 September 2022}}
Tizard made his competitive debut for Saracens against former club Harlequins in September 2022,{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/rugby/hugh-tizard-saracens-harlequins-premiership-b1026060.html |title='You can't write it': Hugh Tizard goes from friend to foe as Saracens signing plots Harlequins downfall |work=Evening Standard |date=16 September 2022 |access-date=25 September 2022}} playing the full 80 minutes of the match to aid his new team towards a 30–27 win.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/62927697 |title=Premiership: Harlequins 27-30 Saracens - Sarries win dramatic derby |work=BBC Sport |date=17 September 2022 |access-date=25 September 2022}} Throughout the season, he established himself as a first-choice player, starting the majority of their Premiership games, as well as all of their fixtures in the 2022–23 European Champions Cup. On 27 May 2023, Tizard won his first Premiership title, as he started in the final and helped Saracens to achieve a 35–25 victory over Sale Sharks.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65727086 |title=Premiership final: Saracens 35-25 Sale - Sarries win sixth title in Twickenham thriller |work=BBC Sport |date=27 May 2023 |access-date=7 June 2023}} For his contribution that season, he was chosen by his teammates as the club's Young Player of the Season,{{cite tweet |author=Saracens Rugby Club |author-link=Saracens F.C. |user=Saracens |number=1653006663727607808 |title=Young Player of the Season: An outstanding debut campaign from Hugh Tizard – and many more to come |date=1 May 2023 |access-date=3 December 2024}} and was also included in the RPA's 15 Under 23 Team of the Season.{{cite tweet | author=Rugby Players' Association | author-link=Rugby Players' Association | user=theRPA | number=1658915067507744814 | title=Here is the #15Under23 Team of the Season, as selected by the RPA Players' Board! | date=17 May 2023 | access-date=3 December 2024}}
International career
Tizard has represented England at age-grade level, playing for the U20s. He featured in all four of the team's matches during the truncated 2020 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.
In September 2022, Tizard received his first call-up to the England senior squad, ahead of the 2022 Autumn Nations Series, although he has not yet made his test debut.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/09/26/england-rugby-squad-live-announcement-2022-latest-updates/ | title=England squad omissions feel significant as Eddie Jones takes a punt on Saracens lock Hugh Tizard |work=The Telegraph |date=26 September 2022 |access-date=30 June 2023}}
In November 2024, Tizard was called up to the England A squad, for a match against Australia A, as part of the 2024 Autumn Nations Series.{{cite news |url=https://www.englandrugby.com/follow/news-media/england-name-team-face-australia |title=England A name team to face Australia A |work=England Rugby |date=15 November 2024 |access-date=3 December 2024}} He played all 80 minutes of the fixture, helping England A to record a 37–18 victory.{{cite news |url=https://www.cityam.com/england-a-beat-australia-a-at-twickenham-stoop/ |title=England A beat Australia A at Twickenham Stoop |work=City A.M. |date=17 November 2024 |access-date=3 December 2024}}
Personal life
Tizard grew up in Guildford, Surrey. He is a supporter of Premier League football club Liverpool
During his childhood, Tizard's favourite Premiership Rugby team was Wasps, and he regularly attended matches when the club was based at Adams Park in High Wycombe.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2022/05/17/hugh-tizard-george-hammond-harlequins-yin-yang-lock-partners/ |title=Hugh Tizard and George Hammond - Harlequins' yin and yang lock partners heading for greater things |work=The Telegraph |date=17 May 2022 |access-date=30 June 2023}} He cites England second-row forward Joe Launchbury as the biggest influence early on on his own career.{{cite news |url=https://saracens.com/the-interview-hugh-tizard/ |title=The Interview {{!}} Hugh Tizard |work=Saracens |date=30 January 2024 |access-date=3 December 2024}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Saracens F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tizard, Hugh}}
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Harlequin F.C. players
Category:London Scottish F.C. players