Seb Atkinson

{{Short description|English rugby union player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Seb Atkinson

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Seb Atkinson

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|05|21|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Bromsgrove, England

| height = {{convert|1.89|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|91|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

| position = Inside Centre

| amatyears1 =

| amatteam1 = Luctonians

| ru_amupdate =

| repteam1 = England U18s

| repteam2 = England U20s

| repyears1 = 2019–2020

| repyears2 = 2020–2021

| repcaps1 =

| reppoints1 =

| ru_ntupdate = 26 July 2023

| years1 = 2020–2022

| years2 = 2022–

| clubs1 = Worcester Warriors

| clubs2 = Gloucester

| apps1 = 9

| apps2 = 56

| points1 = 5

| points2 = 40

| ru_clubupdate = 19 April 2025

| ru_currentclub = Gloucester

| province1 =

| provinceyears1 =

| provinceapps1 =

| provincepoints1 =

| ru_provinceupdate =

| repsevensyears1 =

| ru_sevensnationalcaps =

| ru_sevensnationalpoints =

| ru_sevensupdate =

| coachteams1 =

| coachyears1 =

| ru_coachupdate =

| school = Bromsgrove School

}}

Seb Atkinson (born 21 May 2002) is an English rugby union player for Gloucester in the Premiership Rugby.

Atkinson is a graduate of the Luctonians club in Herefordshire. He joined the Senior Academy at Sixways in the summer of 2020 having captained Warriors to third place in the 2019-20 Premiership Rugby Under-18s Academy League.

Atkinson was due to captain England Under-18s at the end of the 2019/20 season but their programme was cancelled owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.{{Cite news|url=https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/england-men-u18s-squad-for-february-development-camp|publisher=England Rugby|title=England Men U18s Squad For February Development Camp|date=18 February 2020|access-date=26 July 2023}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/330520/young-guns-worcester-warriors-centre-seb-atkinson/|publisher=The Rugby Paper|title=Young Guns: Worcester Warriors centre Seb Atkinson|date=7 February 2021|access-date=26 July 2023}} He was included in England squad for the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship in Cardiff but was not used in any of their five matches in a Grand Slam-winning campaign. He was named in England Under-20s EPS squad for 2022.{{Cite news|url=https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/england-u20-mens-2021-elite-player-squad-announced|publisher=England Rugby|title=England U20 Men’s 2021 Elite Player Squad Announced|date=1 January 2021|access-date=26 July 2023}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/england-mens-u20-2022-elite-player-squad-announced|publisher=England Rugby|title=England Men's U20 2022 Elite Player Squad Announced|date=10 January 2022|access-date=26 July 2023}}

Atkinson joined Stourbridge on a dual registration in October 2021. He made his senior debut in the Premiership Rugby Cup win over Gloucester at Sixways Stadium in December 2021 and his Gallagher Premiership debut as a replacement against Sale Sharks in February 2022.{{Cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/worcester-vs-gloucester/101431 |publisher=Sky Sports|title=Worcester 27 - 21 Gloucester|date=29 December 2021|access-date=26 July 2023}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/match-centre-sale-sharks-36-12-worcester-warriors/33343.htm|publisher=Talking Rugby Union |title=Match Centre: Sale Sharks 36-12 Worcester Warriors|date=12 February 2022|access-date=26 July 2023}}

Due to the club entering administration, all Warriors players had their contracts terminated on 5 October 2022.{{Cite news |title=Worcester player and staff contracts terminated after high court ruling|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/oct/05/worcester-player-and-staff-contracts-terminated-after-high-court-ruling-rugby-union |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=The Guardian}} On 17 October 2022, Atkinson signed for local rivals Gloucester ahead of the 2022–23 season, following his Worcester exit.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/63286542|publisher=BBC Sport |title=Alex Hearle, Seb Atkinson and Finn Theobald-Thomas join Gloucester after Worcester Warriors exit|date=17 October 2022|access-date=26 July 2023}}

Atkinson made his Cherry & White debut in a 38–31 victory against Bristol Bears in the Premiership Rugby Cup, scoring a brilliant solo try in the process.{{Cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/gloucester-vs-bristol/105130 |publisher=Sky Sports |title=Gloucester 38-31 Bristol|date=19 November 2022|access-date=26 July 2023}} With a number of notable performances in the Premiership Rugby Cup, Atkinson has since become regular component of the Cherry & White midfield this season, with many appearances to his name across all competitions. At the end of the season, Atkinson was voted as young player of the season by fans.{{Cite news|url=https://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/news/player-of-the-season-award-winners-unveiled |publisher=Gloucester Rugby |title=Player of the season award winners unveiled|date=26 April 2023|access-date=27 July 2023}}

On 30 March 2023, Atkinson signed a new deal to stay at Kingsholm, thus promoted to the senior squad ahead of the 2023–24 season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65125445 |publisher=BBC Sport |title=Seb Atkinson: Gloucester centre extends contract at Kingsholm|date=30 March 2023|access-date=27 July 2023}}

In May 2025 Atkinson was called up to a training camp for the senior England squad by Steve Borthwick.{{cite news

|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/clynn24407eo

|title=Fit-again Feyi-Waboso named in England training camp

|publisher=BBC

|date=20 May 2025|access-date=10 June 2025}}