Richard Capstick
{{short description|English rugby union backrow}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Richard Capstick
| image =
| birth_name = Richard Paul Capstick
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|2|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Taunton, Somerset, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = {{convert|6|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|17|st|7|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
| school =
| university = University of Exeter
| relatives =
| position = Back row
| currentclub = Exeter Chiefs
| years1 = 2018–Present
| clubs1 = Exeter Chiefs
| apps1 = 88
| points1 = 40
| clubupdate = 31 March 2025
| repyears1 = 2017–2018
| repteam1 = England U18
| repcaps1 = 8
| reppoints1 = 0
| repyears2 = 2019–2020
| repteam2 = England U20
| repcaps2 = 12
| reppoints2 = 10
| repyears3 = 2025–
| repteam3 = England A
| repcaps3 = 1
| reppoints3 = 0
| repupdate = 23 February 2025
}}
Richard Paul Capstick (born 13 February 2000){{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/301099.html|website=ESPN|accessdate=21 July 2019|title=Richard Capstick ESPN profile}} is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a backrow for Premiership Rugby club Exeter Chiefs.
Career
Capstick began playing rugby in his native Somerset for Taunton and local school Heathfield Community School.{{cite web |url=https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/sport/17402355.rugby-tauntons-richard-capstick-looks-ahead-to-under-20-six-nations/|title=RUGBY: Taunton's Richard Capstick looks ahead to Under-20 Six Nations|last=Browne|first=Richard|work=Somerset County Gazette|date=1 February 2019|access-date=21 July 2019}} He joined Exeter Chiefs academy at 14 and played for England's under 18s at the age of sixteen. Capstick was a member of the England under-20 squad that finished fifth at the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48725050|date=22 June 2019|accessdate=31 March 2025|publisher=BBC Sport|title= World Rugby U20 Championship: England U20 45-26 Wales U20}}
Capstick made his debut for Exeter's first team as an 18-year-old, against Bath in the 2018–19 Premiership Rugby Cup.{{cite news|url=https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/dreams-come-true-for-capstick|work=Exeter Chiefs|date=13 November 2018|accessdate=21 July 2019|title=Dreams come true for Capstick}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cvgww9r97jxo|date=27 February 2025|accessdate=31 March 2025|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Capstick extends Exeter Chiefs contract}} He became Exeter Chiefs youngest ever try scorer when he scored his first Premiership try at the age of 19.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} He was the first Premiership forward born in the 21st century.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} Capstick started the 2020–21 Premiership Rugby final which Exeter lost against Harlequins to finish league runners up.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57608106|title=Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 38-40 Harlequins - Louis Lynagh's late double clinches title|first=Brent|last=Pilnick|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 June 2021|access-date=31 March 2025}}
In February 2025 Capstick played for England A in a victory over Ireland Wolfhounds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c15q99p0wvyo|title=Van Poortvliet stars as England A beat Ireland|publisher=BBC Sport|date=23 February 2025|access-date=31 March 2025}} The following month saw him feature for Exeter in the 2024–25 Premiership Rugby Cup final which they lost against Bath to finish runners up.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c3rnzw04rdzo|title=Bath win Premiership Cup to end trophy drought|first=Chris|last=Harby|publisher=BBC Sport|date=16 March 2025|accessdate=31 March 2025}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Exeter Chiefs squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Capstick, Richard}}
Category:Alumni of the University of Exeter
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Exeter Chiefs players
Category:Rugby union players from Taunton
Category:21st-century English sportsmen
Category:People educated at Heathfield Community School
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