Sam Cross

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Sam Cross

| image =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|8|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = Abergavenny, Wales

| height = 190 cm

| weight = {{cvt|103|kg|lb stlb}}

| position = Flanker
Number 8

| ru_currentteam =

| years1 = 2012–2013

| years2 = 2013–2014

| years3 = 2014–2016

| years4 = 2017–2023

| years5 = 2023–2024

| years6 = 2024–

| clubs1 = Ebbw Vale

| clubs2 = Cardiff Metropolitan University

| clubs3 = Newport

| clubs4 = Ospreys

| clubs5 = Newcastle Falcons

| clubs6 = Tarbes

| apps1 =

| apps2 =

| apps3 =

| apps4 = 72

| apps5 = 19

| points1 =

| points2 =

| points3 =

| points4 = 25

| points5 = 0

| ru_clubupdate =

| provinceyears1 =

| province1 =

| provinceapps1 =

| provincepoints1 =

| ru_provinceupdate =

| repyears1 = 2017

| repyears2 = 2023

| repteam1 = Wales

| repteam2 = Barbarians

| repcaps1 = 2

| reppoints1 = 0

| ru_ntupdate = 12 September 2024

| repsevensyears1 =

| repsevensteam1 = Wales

| ru_sevensnationalcaps =

| ru_sevensnationalpoints =

| ru_sevensupdate =

| medals = {{MedalSport|Men's rugby sevens}}

{{MedalCountry|{{GBR2}}}}

}}

Sam Cross (born 26 August 1992) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Tarbes in the Nationale competition. He previously played for Wales national team and the Wales Sevens team.

Personal life

Cross was born in Abergavenny in Wales in 1992.{{cite web |url=http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/matchcentre/squads_wales_sevens.php?player=107848&includeref=dynamic |title=Squad Profiles: Wales Sevens – Sam Cross |work=wru.co.uk |accessdate=5 August 2016}} He grew up in Brynmawr and after leaving secondary school he attended Cardiff Metropolitan University where he took up a Sport & Exercise Science scholarship.{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/who-sam-cross-everything-you-11634055 |title=Who is Sam Cross? Everything you need to know about the Welshman going from Brynmawr to Brazil |work=walesonline.co.uk |accessdate=5 August 2016 |date=19 July 2016 |first=Anthony |last=Woolford}}

Rugby career

Cross first played rugby as a child for the Youth section of Brynmawr RFC. He then joined Ebbw Vale before switching to the Cardiff Met team. An all-round sportsman, Cross also played football at county level for Gwent and was capped for Wales in rugby league at the under-18 level.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/36062061 |title=Rio 2016: Wales' biggest overseas Olympic contingent ready for opening ceremony |work=BBC Sport |accessdate=5 August 2016 |date=4 August 2016}}

Cross was selected for both the Welsh Students team and the GB Students, the latter at under 15 and under 18, and was part of the team that won the World Students Championships in Brive. He also played in the 2013 Students Olympics. Despite growing up playing the 15-a-side variant of rugby union, it was in rugby sevens that he made his mark. He has made over a hundred appearances as part of the Wales Sevens mainly in the World Rugby Sevens Series.

In 2016 Cross was selected to represent Great Britain at the Summer Olympics in Rio as part of the nation's rugby sevens team.{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/15234/10505801/great-britain-name-rugby-sevens-squads-for-olympics-in-rio |title=Great Britain name rugby Sevens squads for Olympics in Rio |work=skysports.com |accessdate=5 August 2016 |date=19 July 2016}}

Cross was selected for Wales national team in 2017 debut from the bench against Australia. He was later selected for his first international start a few months later against Georgia and was selected for the 2018 Six Nations Championship.

Cross represented the Ospreys 71 times between 2017-2023. He played for the Barbarians in a special match against Swansea as part of their 150th anniversary of the club.{{Cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/barbarians-v-swansea-rfc-live-27029282|publisher=Wales Online |title=Barbarians and Swansea deliver wonderful night as Alun Wyn Jones switches sides|date=1 June 2023|accessdate=10 September 2024}} After six seasons for Ospreys, it was announced that Cross would join English side Newcastle Falcons in the Premiership Rugby competition for the 2023-24 season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/sam-cross-joins-newcastle-falcons |publisher=Ospreys Rugby |title=Sam Cross joins Newcastle Falcons|date=8 August 2023|accessdate=10 September 2024}}

On 18 May 2024, Cross travels to France to sign for Tarbes in the third division Nationale for the 2024-25 season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/2024/05/18/rugby-nationale-sam-cross-le-3e-ligne-international-gallois-arrive-a-tarbes-11959754.php |publisher=La Depeche.fr |title=Rugby à XV – Nationale : Sam Cross, le 3e ligne international Gallois arrive à Tarbes |trans-title=Rugby Union – National: Sam Cross, the Welsh international 3rd row arrives in Tarbes|date=18 May 2024|accessdate=10 September 2024}}