Nick Royle

{{Infobox rugby biography

| image =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|09|25|df=y}}

| birth_place =

| height = {{height|m=1.82}}

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

| position = Wing

| ru_currentteam =

| years1 = 2002-03 | clubs1 = Manchester

| years2 = 2003-04 | clubs2 = Liverpool SH

| years3 = 2005-12 | clubs3 = Fylde

| years4 = 2005-12 | clubs4 = Sale Sharks

| years5 = 2012-14 | clubs5 = Vale of Lune

| years6 = 2014- | clubs6 = Caldy

| apps1 = 19 | points1 = 30

| apps2 = 8 | points2 = 20

| apps3 = 123 | points3 = 635

| apps4 = 2 | points4 = 0

| apps5 = 50 | points5 = 280

| apps6 = 140 | points6 = 570

| ru_clubupdate = 12 May 2018

| repyears1 = 2007, 2009

| repyears2 = 2009-12

| repteam1 = England Counties XV

| repteam2 = England Sevens

| repcaps1 = 6

| repcaps2 = 11

| reppoints1 = 25

| reppoints2 = 145

| ru_ntupdate = 12 May 2018

| module = {{infobox rugby league biography | embed = yes

| position = Wing

| year1start = 2003 | year1end = 04

| year2start = 2004 | year2end = 05

| club1 = Widnes Vikings

| club2 = Warrington

| appearances1 =

| points1 =

}}

Nick Royle (born 1983) is a former England Rugby Sevens International rugby union player. He plays as a winger. He is currently playing 15-aside rugby for Caldy in the RFU Championship. As of 2018 he is the most prolific try scorer in National League 2 North with over 190 tries.{{cite web|url=http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/featured-post/25243/former-england-sevens-star-nick-royle-makes-history/|title=Former England Sevens star Nick Royle makes history|publisher=The Rugby Paper|date=27 February 2016 }}{{cite web|url=http://rugby.statbunker.com/alltimestats/AllTimeTryScorers?comp_code=8218483 |title=National Two North All time try scorers |publisher=Rugby Statbunker |date=29 April 2017 }} Royle has also had success with Lancashire in the Bill Beaumont Cup - winning the competition 3 times. As well as playing international sevens, he was selected by the England Counties XV.

Career

In 2002 Royle was playing rugby union for Manchester, then in the second tier of English rugby. He made a number of league and cup appearances for the club, mostly as a substitute, and scored several tries. The next season, he dropped several divisions to National League 2 North (then known as National 3 North) to spend a year playing for Liverpool St Helens, who unfortunately ended up being relegated from the league. During the summer of 2004 he switched to rugby league, playing for Super League sides Widnes Vikings and rivals Warrington Wolves.{{cn|date=September 2020}}

Despite making a number of appearances in the Super League, Royle returned to rugby union for the 2005-06 season and was signed by Premiership side Sale Sharks, who loaned him out to local Lancashire side, Fylde, who were playing in the fourth division. He scored 16 tries for a Fylde side that finished mid table. The following year, Royle's performances continued to improve with Fylde as he finished as the league's top try scorer with 31 tries and his club side finished in 5th place.{{cite web|url=http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/LeadingTopScorers?comp_id=224 |title=National Three North 06/07 Leading try scorers |publisher=Rugby Statbunker|date=28 April 2007}} He also equaled the division's record of seven tries in one game during the 106-0 thrashing of relegated Orrell on 31 March 2007.{{cite web|url=http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/MostTryScorerInMatch?comp_id=224 |title=National 3 North 06/07 Most tries in a match (Player) |publisher=Rugby Statbunker |date=28 April 2007 }} The 2007-08 season with Fylde was less prolific for Royle, although he still managed 20 tries in league and cup competitions and Fylde just missed out on a playoff spot when they finished 3rd. In September 2007 Royle's form saw him picked by the England Counties XV for the FIRA/AER Rugby Festival held in south-west France. He played in all 3 games at the festival scoring 3 tries.{{cite web|url=http://www.rolling-maul.com/england-counties-in-12-try-french-romp_topic205.html |title=England Counties in 12 try French romp |publisher=Rolling Maul|date=7 September 2007}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rolling-maul.com/english-counties-xv_topic216.html |title=English Counties XV |publisher=Rolling Maul|date=11 September 2007}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rolling-maul.com/royles-try-secures-draw-against-french-amateurs_topic224.html |title=Royle's try secures draw against French Amateurs |publisher=Rolling Maul|date=14 September 2007}}

The next couple of seasons would see Royle continue his prolific try scoring with Fylde, during which he was called up for the England Sevens team in 2009, England Counties and the Barbarians.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbynetwork.net/main/s245/st151844.htm |title= England 7s Squad for Dubai & George 2009 Plus Schedules |publisher=Rugby Network |date=23 November 2009 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbynetwork.net/main/s245/st145363.htm|title=England Counties - Will they be BIG in Japan?|publisher=Rugby Network |date=2 June 2009 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/baa-baas-bringing-internationals-blues/story-21731539-detail/story.html|title= Baa Baas bringing internationals to Blues |publisher=Bedfordshire News|date=1 April 2009 }}

Royle was also involved with the Lancashire country side that won the Bill Beaumont Cup in the summer of 2009 - scoring a try in the 32 - 18 win against Gloucestershire at the final at Twickenham.{{cite web |url=http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/heartache-county-twickenham/story-11913477-detail/story.html |title=Heartache for county at Twickenham |publisher=This is Gloucestershire |date=1 June 2009 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/warwickshire-28-lancashire-66-3082786 |title=Warwickshire 28 Lancashire 66 |publisher=Coventry Telegraph |date=11 May 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/nutt-cracker-so-sweet-for-lancs-1-379235 |title=Nutt cracker so sweet for Lancs |publisher=Blackpool Gazette |date=18 May 2009 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/4400610.Lancashire_book_place_at_Twickenham/ |title=Lancashire book place at Twickenham |publisher=Lancashire Telegraph |date=27 May 2009 }} A second county championship win with Lancashire would be repeated in the 2010 Bill Beaumont Cup, as Royle played in the 37-27 victory over Cheshire.{{cite web|url=http://www.fylderugby.co.uk/Latest-News/lancs-close-win-over-cheshire.html?option=com_content&id=2312&lang=en&view=article&option=com_content&id=2312&lang=en&view=article&Itemid=141&catid=1&fontstyle=f-smaller |title=Updated report on Lancs' victory over Cheshire: now with pics |publisher=Fylde Rugby |accessdate=5 January 2017}} He would also be picked by England Counties XV for their 2009 tour of South Korea and Japan - playing all 3 games and scoring 2 tries.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbynetwork.net/main/s245/st145363.htm |title=Record win for England RU Counties XV |publisher=Rugby Network |date=5 June 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbynetwork.net/boards/read/s245.htm?387,10587513,10587513 |title=East Japan 31 England Counties 67|publisher=Everything Rugby |date=8 June 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.everythingrugby.com/rugby-news4831-england-counties-complete-clean-sweep.html |title=England Counties complete clean sweep|publisher=Everything Rugby |date=13 June 2009}}

The 2011-12 season would see Royle be called up once more by the England Sevens team, finishing best try scorer of the Sevens Grand Prix Series with 35 tries.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyworld.com/countries/england-countries/england-sevens-name-new-squad-14974 |title= England Sevens name new squad|publisher=Rugby World |date=30 August 2011 }}

In 2012 Royle decided to leave Fylde on what was initially thought to be a temporary (but financially lucrative) deal to play for the Vale of Lune, a local side which played three divisions below Fylde.{{cite web|url=http://www.fylderugby.co.uk/201210245718/news/latest-news/nick-royle-joins-vale-of-lune.html|title=Nick joins Vale of Lune |publisher=Fylde Rugby |date=24 October 2012 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/royle-leaves-fylde-for-now-1-5060483|title=Royle leaves Fylde... for now|publisher=Blackpool Gazette |date=25 October 2012 }} While at the Vale of Lune, Royle broke the club's season try scoring record of 36 set by former player Mark Nelson (got who was also Royle's coach at Fylde) with 38 league tries during the 2013-14 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/valeoflunerufc/teams/37111/match-centre/1-752384|title=LASSOED AT LEIGH|publisher=Vale of Lune RUFC (Pitchero) |date=8 March 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/valeoflunerufc/news/a-season-of-light-and-shade-1218950.html|title=A SEASON OF LIGHT AND SHADE.|publisher=Vale of Lune RUFC (Pitchero) |date=12 April 2014 }} While at Vale of Lune, Royle was also called up to the Lancashire county rugby side, with whom he helped win the 2013 Bill Beaumont Cup (his third successive cup victory for his county), scoring 2 tries as Lancashire defeated Cornwall at the final held at Twickenham, and finishing the tournaments top try scorer with 5.{{cite web|url=http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/thomas-reign-ends-disappointment-cornwall-beaten/story-19102851-detail/story.html|title=Thomas' reign ends in disappointment as Cornwall are beaten |publisher=Western Morning News |date=27 May 2013 }}

Royle returned to national rugby with Caldy for the 2014-15 season, playing in National League 2 North (tier 4). Royle finished the 2015-16 season as the division's top try scorer with 25 tries, also becoming the divisions all-time top try scorer.{{cite web|url=http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/LeadingTopScorers?comp_id=498 |title=National Two North 15/16 Leading top scorers |publisher=Rugby Statbunker|date=7 May 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://rugby.statbunker.com/alltimestats/AllTimeTryScorers?comp_code=8218483 |title=National Two North All time try scorers |publisher=Rugby Statbunker |date=7 May 2016 }} The 2016-17 season was an extremely successful one for Royle and his club, as he contributed 32 tries to finish once again as the top try scorer in the division for a record breaking 3rd time, and Caldy were promoted to National League 1 as champions - the highest level the club has reached.{{cite news|title=National League North|work=The RUGBYPaper|issue=450|publisher=Rugby Paper Ltd|date=30 April 2017|pages=30–31 & 37}}{{cite news|title=Caldy land title after stunning fightback|work=The RUGBYPaper|issue=447|publisher=Rugby Paper Ltd|date=9 April 2017|pages=32}} The next season he scored 19 tries in National League 1 as Caldy finished their first season in the new division in a respectable 11th place. Although he had a good second season individually, his tries (20 in all) were not enough to keep Caldy up and they were relegated at the end of 2018-19.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

Season-by-season playing stats

=Club=

Season !Club !Competition !Appearances !Tries !Drop Goals !Conversions !Penalties !Total Points
class="wikitable sortable"
rowspan=2 align=left \|2002-03 \|rowspan=2 align=left \|Manchester \|National Division One \|17 \|4 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|20
Powergen Cup \|2 \|2 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|10
2003-04 \|Liverpool St Helens \|National Division 3 North \|8 \|4 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|20
2004 \|Widnes Vikings \|Super League \|13 \|9 \|? \|? \|? \|?
2005 \|Warrington Wolves \|Super League \|? \|? \|? \|? \|? \|?
rowspan=2 align=left \|2005-06 \|rowspan=7 align=left \|Fylde \|National Division 3 North \|18 \|16 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|80
EDF Energy Trophy \|1 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0
rowspan=2 align=left \|2006-07 \|National Division 3 North \|22 \|31 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|155
EDF Energy Trophy \|1 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0
rowspan=2 align=left \|2007-08 \|National Division 3 North \|23 \|14 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|70
EDF Energy Trophy \|2 \|6 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|30
rowspan=2 align=left \|2008-09 \|National Division 3 North \|17 \|24 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|120
Sale Sharks \|EDF Cup \|2 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0
2009-10 \|rowspan=4 align=left \|Fylde \|National League 2 North \|16 \|11 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|55
2010-11 \|National League 2 North \|18 \|24 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|120
2011-12 \|National League 1 \|4 \|1 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|5
2012-13 \|National League 1 \|1 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0
2012-13{{#tag:ref\|*For the 2012-13 season Royle's appearance and try statistics may also include cup games (Staffordshire Trophy) as well as league.{{cite web\|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/valeoflunerufc/news/nick-royle-1115430.html\| title=In addition to his exploits on the field, 25 league tries so far this season......\|publisher=Vale of Lune RUFC (Pitchero) \|date=12 December 2013}}\|group=a \|name=Vale of Lune}} \|rowspan=2 align=left \|Vale of Lune \|North Division 1 West \|21 \|18 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|90
2013-14 \|North Division 1 West \|29 \|38 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|190
2014-15	rowspan=6 align=left \|Caldy	National League 2 North	30	12	0	0	0	90
2015-16	National League 2 North	30	25	0	0	0	125
2016-17	National League 2 North	30	32	0	0	0	160
2017-18	National League 1	29	19	0	0	0	95
2018-19	National League 1	29	20	0	0	0	100
2019-20	National League 2 North

{{cite web | url=https://rugby.statbunker.com/players/GetHistoryStats?player_id=9361&comps_type=-1&dates=-1 | title=Nicholas Royle Record by competition | publisher=Rugby Statbunker | accessdate=27 April 2019}}

= County or representative=

Season !Side !Competition !Appearances !Tries !Drop Goals !Conversions !Penalties !Total Points
class="wikitable sortable"
2006-07	Lancashire	Bill Beaumont Cup	1{{#tag:ref\|Played at least 1 game (final) in 2007 Bill Beaumont Cup. Likely to have played in the other 3 games but this is not certain as little information online.{{cite web\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/content/articles/2007/05/29/devon_rugby_victory_twickenham_2007_feature.shtml \|title=Devon win county trophy \|publisher=Northampton Chronicle & Echo \|date=29 May 2007 }}\|group=a}}	?	0	0	0	?
rowspan=2\| 2007-08	England Counties XV	FIRA/AER Rugby Festival, France	3	3	0	0	0	15
Lancashire	Bill Beaumont Cup	1{{#tag:ref\|Played at least 1 game in 2008 Bill Beaumont Cup scoring a try.{{cite web\|url=http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/lancashire-35-warwickshire-25-3097121 \|title=Lancashire 35 Warwickshire 25 \|publisher=Coventry Telegraph \|date=5 May 2008 }} Likely to have played in the other 2 group games but this is not clear due to poor press coverage of competition that year.\|group=a}}	1	0	0	0	5
rowspan=3\| 2008-09	Barbarians{{cite web\|url=http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/19-tries-as-barbarians-triumph-in-mobbs-match-1-888248 \|title=19 tries as Barbarians triumph in Mobbs match \|publisher=BBC Devon \|date=29 May 2008 }}	Test	1	2	0	0	0	10
Lancashire	Bill Beaumont Cup	4	7	0	0	0	35
England Counties XV	Tour of Korea and Japan	3	2	0	0	0	10
2009-10	Lancashire	Bill Beaumont Cup	2{{#tag:ref\|Played at least 2 games during 2010 Bill Beaumont Cup. May have played the 2 other games but not clear from press sources. What is clear is that he did not get any tries during the tournament.{{cite web\|url=http://www.fylderugby.co.uk/186/detail/2312.html \|title=Updated report on Lancs' victory over Cheshire: now with pics\|publisher=Fylde Rugby \|accessdate=7 March 2017 }}{{cite web\|url=http://www.fylderugby.co.uk/186/detail/2312.html \| title=Lancs progress with help of Fylde players \|publisher=Fylde Rugby \|accessdate=7 March 2017 }}{{cite web \|url=http://www.fylderugby.co.uk/188/detail/2334.html \|title=Lancashire qualify for another Twickenham Final \|publisher=Fylde Rugby \|accessdate=7 March 2017 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309070901/http://www.fylderugby.co.uk/188/detail/2334.html \|archive-date=9 March 2017 \|url-status=dead }}\|group=a}}	0	0	0	0	0
2011-12	Lancashire	Bill Beaumont Cup	1	0	0	0	0	0
2012-13	Lancashire	Bill Beaumont Cup	4	5	0	0	0	25
2014-15	Cheshire	Bill Beaumont Cup	3	1	0	0	0	5

Honours and records

National League 2 North

Tier 4 (North) all-time top try scorer (161 tries)
Tier 4 (North) most tries in a match: 7 (tied)

Fylde

National Division 3 North top try scorer: 2006-07 (31 tries)
National League 2 North champions: 2010-11

Vale of Lune

North Division 1 West top try scorer: 2013-14 (38 tries)
Most league tries in a season (38 tries)

Caldy

National League 2 North top try scorer: 2015-16 (25 tries)
National League 2 North champions (2): 2016-17, 2019-20
National League 2 North top try scorer: 2016-17 (32 tries)

Lancashire

Bill Beaumount Cup winner (3): 2009, 2010, 2013
Bill Beaumount Cup runner up: 2012{{cite web|url=http://www.tringrugby.com/news/tringrugby-helps-hertfordshire-to-cup-win-592684.html |title=TringRugby Helps Hertfordshire to Cup Win! |publisher=Tring Rugby (Pitchero) |accessdate=5 January 2017 }}
Bill Beaumount Cup top try scorer: 2013 (5 tries)

International/Representative

Selected for England Counties XV: 2009
Selected for Barbarians: 2009
Selected for England Sevens: 2009, 2011

Notes

References

External links

[http://www.salesharks.com/player_info?id=160 Sale Sharks profile]
[http://www.rfu.com/SquadsAndPlayers/EnglandSevens/NickRoyle.aspx RFU England Sevens Profile]
[http://www.fylderugby.co.uk/Senior-Squad-09/10/nick-royle.html Fylde Rugby Profile]
[https://rugby.statbunker.com/players/getPlayerDetails?player_id=9361 Season by Season Playing Record]

Category:1983 births

Category:Living people

Category:English rugby union players

Category:Sale Sharks players

Category:Male rugby sevens players

Category:Fylde Rugby Club players

Category:Rugby union players from Widnes

Category:Lancashire County RFU players