Ollie Thorley
{{Short description|England international rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Ollie Thorley
| image = File:Ollie Thorley.jpg
| caption = Thorley playing for Gloucester, 2017
| birth_name = Oliver Andrew Thorley
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|09|11|df=yes}}
| birth_place = London, United Kingdom
| height = {{convert|1.85|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|99|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
| school = Cheltenham College
| relatives = Martin Britt (uncle)
| repyears1 = 2015–2016
| repyears2 = 2015–2016
| repyears3 = 2020–
| repteam1 = England U18s
| repteam2 = England U20s
| repteam3 = England
| repcaps1 =
| repcaps2 = 8
| repcaps3 = 1
| reppoints1 =
| reppoints2 = 0
| reppoints3 = 0
| repsevensyears1 =
| amatteam1 =
| years1 = 2015–
| clubs1 = Gloucester
| points1 = 165
| apps1 = 89
| ru_currentclub =
| province1 =
| provinceyears1 =
| coachteams1 =
| coachyears1 =
| amatyears1 =
| ru_amupdate =
| ru_ntupdate =
| ru_clubupdate = 7 February 2022
| provinceapps1 =
| provincepoints1 =
| ru_provinceupdate =
| ru_sevensnationalcaps =
| ru_sevensnationalpoints =
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}}
Ollie Thorley (born 11 September 1996) is an English rugby union player who plays for Gloucester in the Premiership Rugby.
Club career
Thorley made his professional debut at age 17, becoming the youngest player to play for Gloucester in the professional era when he played the full 80 minutes, partnered with World Cup winner Mike Tindall in an Anglo-Welsh Cup match against Northampton Saints in November 2013.{{cite news|url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/match/northampton-saints-vs-gloucester-rugby-at-franklins-gardens-9th-nov-2013/1955/lineup|publisher=Ultimate Rugby|title=Northampton 33-6 Gloucester|date=9 November 2013|access-date=29 October 2020}}
Ollie became the club's youngest first team try scorer when he crossed against Ospreys in March 2015 in the Anglo-Welsh Cup and he marked his debut in the Aviva Premiership, from off the bench, with the game's only try against the Exeter Chiefs in April 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.in/rugby/lineups?gameId=235783&league=236461|publisher=ESPN|title=Gloucester 32-25 Ospreys|date=31 January 2015|access-date=29 October 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36027889|publisher=Ultimate Rugby|title=Gloucester 16-9 Exeter Chiefs|date=15 April 2016|access-date=29 October 2020}}
In November 2017, he was awarded Try of the week for his week 8 try against Saracens.{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWGsA9Nfd1M&index=18&list=PL10-iuZDt9bToG4pK0pmRbB4kg6bHo4SH |title= Citizen Try of the Week - (Round 8 Winner) |website= YouTube.com }}
Following a spate of tries and Man of the Match presentations, Thorley was awarded the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Player of the Month for November 2018.{{cite news|url=https://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/news/ollie-thorley-named-gallagher-premiership-rugby-player-of-the-month-for-november-24452|publisher=Gloucester Rugby|title=Ollie Thorley named Gallagher Premiership Rugby Player of the Month for November|date=12 December 2018|access-date=29 October 2020}}
Ollie won the RPA Young Player of the Year Award for the 2018/2019 season and the Premiership Rugby Try of the Season Award.{{cite news|url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/gloucester-star-ollie-thorley-nominated-2850782|publisher=Gloucestershire Live|title=Gloucester star Ollie Thorley nominated for another award|date=9 May 2019|access-date=29 October 2020}}
In the 2019/2020 season, Ollie Thorley was named the Gallagher Premiership top try scorer with a total of 11 tries. This was also the most number of tries scored by a Gloucester player in a Premiership season. In the same season Ollie Thorley also became one of only 3 players to have scored four first-half tries in a Gallagher Premiership game as Gloucester beat Leicester 46–30 at Kingsholm.{{cite news|url=https://rugbyonslaught.com/new-england-video-showcases-the-unbelievable-speed-of-rising-star-ollie-thorley/|publisher=Rugby On Slaught|title=New England video showcases the unbelievable speed of rising star, Ollie Thorley|date=28 October 2020|access-date=29 October 2020}}
International career
Thorley was selected for the England U18s for the summer tour in South Africa after winning the FIRA/AER European Championship in April 2016 beating Ireland 30–14 in Poland.{{cite news|url=http://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/news/10180.php#.V4pykTVwvYg|publisher=Gloucester Rugby|title=Ollie Thorley England U18s selection|date=6 June 2014|access-date=16 July 2016}}
He was also selected for the England U20s, winning every cap and part of winning the 2016 IRB Junior World Championship defeating Ireland 45–19 at City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester{{cite news|url=http://www.planetrugby.com/news/england-thump-ireland-to-claim-u20-championship-crown/|publisher=Planet Rugby|title=Thorley's England U20s selection|date=27 June 2016|access-date=16 July 2016}}
Thorley was selected for the Senior England squad for the first time when Eddie Jones announced his 2019 Six Nations squad after a string of impressive performances for his club, Gloucester.{{cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/47522804| title=Six Nations: England lock Maro Itoje ruled out of Scotland game |date=11 March 2019}} He was called up again for the 2020 Six Nations Championship.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51173798 |publisher=BBC Sport|title=Six Nations 2020: England call up eight uncapped players |date=20 January 2020 |access-date=20 January 2020}}
On 31 October 2020 he made his England debut from the bench in England's delayed final Six Nations match against Italy, to become the 2020 Six Nations champions.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54763235 Italy 5-34 England: Visitors' victory proves enough to win Six Nations title, BBC News]
Personal life
Thorley attended St Paul's Cathedral School until the age of seven, whereupon his family moved out of London and to the Cotswolds. He then attended Cheltenham College Junior School and Cheltenham College, respectively - the latter of which he was Deputy Head Boy. He captained the CC 1st XV in Upper Sixth, and the Athletics Team.
Upon moving to the Cotswolds, Thorley also played club rugby for Stow on the Wold RFC before being spotted as a rising star.
Thorley is the great nephew of Martin Britt, a former football player who played as a striker for West Ham United and Blackburn Rovers from 1961 to 1968. His aunt is the TV presenter and model Eku Edewor.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/person/ollie-thorley Gloucester Rugby Profile]
- [http://www.englandrugby.com/england/england-20s/squads/ollie-thorley/# England Profile]
{{Gloucester Rugby squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thorley, Ollie}}
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Gloucester Rugby players
Category:Rugby union players from London