Josh Hodge
{{Short description|English rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Josh Hodge
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Joshua Ashley Hodge
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|05|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Lancaster, England
| height = {{convert|1.89|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{Convert|85|kg|lb stlb|abbr=off}}
| school = Sedbergh School
| university =
| currentclub = Exeter Chiefs
| years1 = 2018–2020
| clubs1 = Newcastle Falcons
| apps1 = 1
| points1 = 5
| years2 = 2020–
| clubs2 = Exeter Chiefs
| apps2 = 77
| points2 = 273
| clubupdate = 31 January 2022
| repyears1 = 2018
| repteam1 = England U18
| repcaps1 = 5
| reppoints1 = 27
| repyears2 = 2019
| repteam2 = England U19
| repcaps2 = 1
| reppoints2 = 16
| repyears3 = 2019–2020
| repteam3 = England U20
| repcaps3 = 11
| reppoints3 = 90
| repyears4 = 2024–
| repteam4 = England A
| repcaps4 = 1
| reppoints4 = 11
| repupdate = 11 March 2024
}}
Josh Hodge (born 23 May 2000) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a full-back or wing for Premiership Rugby club Exeter Chiefs.
Biography
Hodge was raised in South Cumbria where he represented Sedbergh School in the starting XV to win the 2017 Daily Mail Trophy and was Player of the Tournament in the Sedbergh Super 10s competition. He played for the England U18 team during their Six Nations Festival as well as the Falcons' junior academy and was promoted to Newcastle Falcons senior academy squad in the summer of 2018.{{cite news|url=https://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/falcons-pair-named-in-great-britain-u18s-7s-squad/|publisher=Newcastle Falcons|title=Falcons pair named in Great Britain U18s 7s squad|date=3 May 2018|accessdate=21 October 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/england-u18s-pair-sign-senior-academy-contracts/|publisher=Newcastle Falcons|title=England U18s pair sign senior academy contracts|date=2 February 2018|accessdate=21 October 2020}} Hodge made his debut for Newcastle during the 2019–20 RFU Championship, scoring a try against Yorkshire Carnegie to remain leaders in the league.{{cite news|url=https://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/match-reports/yorkshire-carnegie-10-falcons-36/|title=Yorkshire Carnegie 10 Newcastle Falcons 36|publisher=Newcastle Falcons|date=19 January 2020|access-date=11 March 2024}}
Hodge scored sixteen points on his only appearance for the England Under-19 team in their away win over Wales and also scored a try on his debut for the England U20 side in the opening round of the 2019 Six Nations Under 20s Championship defeat against Ireland.{{cite news|url=https://www.wru.wales/2019/04/clinical-england-u19-defeat-wales/|publisher=Welsh Rugby Union|title=Clinical England U19 defeat obdurate Wales|date=7 April 2019|accessdate=11 March 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/report/foleys-last-minute-score-secures-dramatic-irish-victory-in-opening-battle/#report|publisher=Six Nations Rugby|title=Foley's last-minute score secures dramatic Irish victory in opening battle|date=1 February 2019|accessdate=21 October 2020}} Later that year Hodge was top points scorer at the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship, kicking 24 goals from 24 and scoring two tries.{{cite news|url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/news/watch%3A-england-flyer-josh-hodge-scores-an-insane-solo-try/617287|publisher=Ultimate Rugby|title=Watch: England flyer Josh Hodge scores an INSANE solo try|date=22 June 2019|accessdate=21 October 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.world.rugby/news/572024|publisher=World Rugby|title=World Rugby U20 Championship: The story so far|date=22 June 2020|accessdate=21 October 2020}} He also played in the 2020 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.{{cite news|url=https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/england-men-u20s-elite-player-squad-announced-for-2020|publisher=England Rugby|title=England men U20s elite player squad for 2020 announced|date=10 January 2020|accessdate=21 October 2020}}
On 18 June 2020, Hodge left Newcastle to sign for Exeter Chiefs on an undisclosed length deal from the 2020–21 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/53099763|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Josh Hodge: Exeter sign versatile back from Newcastle|date=18 June 2020|accessdate=21 October 2020}} He received his first call-up to train with the England senior squad as an 'apprentice' player during the 2020 Six Nations Championship under coach Eddie Jones.{{cite news|url=https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/35198/apprenticeships-with-the-seniors-is-driving-up-england-u20-standards-says-dickens/|publisher=The Rugby Paper|title=Apprenticeships with the seniors is driving up England U20 standards, says Dickens|date=20 January 2020|accessdate=21 October 2020}} In February 2024 Hodge scored eleven points including a try for England A in a victory over Portugal.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68398976|title=England A 91-5 Portugal|publisher=BBC Sport|date=25 February 2024|access-date=11 March 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.englandrugby.com/england/mens-development/u20s-squad/josh-hodge England Rugby Profile]
- [https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/players/josh-hodge Exeter Chiefs Profile]
- {{ESPNscrum|33112}}
- {{ItsRugby|35836}}
- [https://www.ultimaterugby.com/josh-hodge Ultimate Rugby Profile]
{{Exeter Chiefs squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hodge, Josh}}
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Exeter Chiefs players
Category:Newcastle Falcons players
Category:Rugby union fullbacks