Phil Christophers

{{short description|English rugby union player}}

{{About|the German rugby union player|the Canadian politician|Philip Christophers}}

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

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

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Phil Christophers

| image =

| birth_name = Philip Derek Christophers

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1980|6|16}}

| birth_place = Heidelberg, Germany

| height = 180 cm

| weight = 94 kg

| school = Lancaster Royal Grammar School

| university = Loughborough University

| ru_currentposition =

| ru_currentteam = retired

| position = Wing

| amatyears1 =

| amatteam1 = RG Heidelberg

| amatteam2 = Loughborough Students RUFC

| years1 = 2000

| years2 = 2001-2003

| years3 = 2003-2005

| years4 = 2005-2010

| years5 = 2012-2013

| clubs1 = CA Brive

| clubs2 = Bristol Shoguns

| clubs3 = Leeds Tykes

| clubs4 = Castres Olympique

| clubs5 = Aix en Provence

| apps1 = 28

| apps2 = 52

| points1 = 45

| points2 = 55

| repyears1 = 2002-2003

| repteam1 = England

| repcaps1 = 3

| reppoints1 = 5

| repsevensyears1 =

| repsevenscomp1 =

}}

Philip Derek Christophers (born 16 June 1980 in Heidelberg) is a former rugby union footballer, who played on the wing for Castres and, briefly, England.

Christophers was born and raised in Germany with an English father and a German mother. At 16 he moved to England to attend the sixth form at Lancaster Royal Grammar School, where he represented England at under-16 and under-18 level, and sat next to Anthony in his form class and next to Andy in maths. He studied Geography at Loughborough University, for whom he played in a BUSA final. In 2000, he took a year out of his studies playing for Brive and represented England under-21s. On graduation, in 2001, he signed full-time with Bristol Shoguns.

During the 2002/03, season Christophers was a regular for Bristol Shoguns and a bit-part player for England. However, when Bristol Shoguns were relegated at end of that season, he signed for Leeds Tykes.

Christophers scored a try on his England debut against Argentina.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/2060216.stm|title=Argentina beaten by England youngsters |date=22 June 2002|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|accessdate=20 March 2016}} In his third and final appearance for England, he came on as a replacement in the 2003 Six Nations Championship match against Wales. However just after coming on he was sin-binned.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/2790907.stm

|title=England ease past battling Welsh

|publisher=BBC

|date=22 February 2003 |accessdate=7 February 2018}} England went on to win the Grand Slam.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/2892271.stm

|title=Awesome England clinch Grand Slam

|publisher=BBC

|date=30 March 2003 |accessdate=8 February 2018}}

During the 2003/04 season at Leeds, he was named both the Players Player of the Year and Supporters Player of the Year. He toured New Zealand and Australia with England, but did not play.

At the end of the 2004-05 season, Leeds won the Powergen Cup where he was a starter.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/4445363.stm

|title=Bath 12-20 Leeds

|publisher=BBC

|date=16 April 2005 |accessdate=14 July 2013}}

At the end of the 2004/05 season, he decided to join Castres Olympiques in the Top 14 in France. He played for Castres from 2005-10. Without a club from July 2010 until the end of June 2011, he played two years for Aix en Provence in the Pro D2 before ending his professional career in the summer of 2013.