Toby Couchman
{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Toby Couchman
|fullname = Toby Couchman
|image = Toby Couchman.jpg
|imagesize =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|09|16|df=y}}
|birth_place = Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
|height =
|weight =
|position = {{rlp|PR|SR|LK}}
|club1 = St. George Illawarra
|year1start = 2023
|year1end = present
|appearances1 = 38
|tries1 = 4
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 16
|source = [https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/toby-couchman/summary.html RLP]
| module = {{infobox person
| embed = yes
| father =
| mother =
| spouse =
| education = Bulli High School
| relatives = Ryan Couchman (twin brother)
}}
}}
Toby Couchman (born 16 September 2003) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|pr}} for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Background
Couchman was born in Wollongong, New South Wales. He has three siblings, Ryan (twin brother), Harvy and Fletcher. He was educated at Bulli High School. He played junior rugby league for Thirroul Butchers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2023/01/09/20-stars-for-2023--toby-couchman/|title=20 Stars for 2023 Toby Couchman|date=9 January 2023|website=www.nswrl.com.au}}{{cite news |title=Brotherly love fuels Toby Couchman's Dragons debut |work=Illawarra Mercury |publisher=Fairfax Digital |date=11 March 2023 |location=Wollongong, New South Wales |page=88}}
Playing career
=Early career=
Couchman was contracted to the St. George Illawarra Dragons as a junior coming through the ranks through the academy system alongside his twin brother Ryan Couchman.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thirroulbutchers.com/couchman-feeling-all-blue/|title=Couchman, feeling all Blue|date=21 June 2022|website=Butchers}}{{cite news |last1=Jennings |first1=Mitch |title=Couchman's Australian Schoolboys honour brings 'twin' benefits for Dragons |work=Illawarra Mercury |publisher=Fairfax Digital |date=4 September 2001 |location=Wollongong, New South Wales |page=74}} In June 2022, while playing in the Jersey Flegg Cup for the Dragons, Couchman was selected to represent New South Wales in the Under 19's State of Origin match against Queensland.
=St. George Illawarra Dragons=
In round 2 of the 2023 NRL season, Couchman made his first grade debut for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in place of the injured Jack de Belin in his side's 32−18 victory over the Gold Coast Titans at Jubilee Oval.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-round-2-early-mail-dragons-set-to-hand-teenager-debut-with-de-belin-ruled-out-20230306-p5cpsi.html|title=Dragons star Amone cleared to play, stand-down rule no longer applies|date=7 March 2023|website=SMH}} Following this, Couchman had his contract extended through the 2025 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-contract-news-dragons-toby-ryan-couchman-2025/ib4xnvmojrrcgph579t0c6sx|title=NRL contract news: Dragons extend Couchman twins Toby and Ryan through 2025 season|website=Sporting News|last1=Wells|first1=Jed|date=13 March 2023|accessdate=30 March 2023}}{{cite news |title=Couchman twins rewarded with upgraded Dragons contracts |work=Illawarra Mercury |publisher=Fairfax Digital |date=14 March 2023 |location=Wollongong, New South Wales}} Couchman would play a total of 15 games for the club in the 2023 NRL season as they finished 16th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-st-george-illawarra-dragons-end-of-season-review-brutal-review-rugby-league-news-ben-hunt-shane-flanagan/news-story/876c40f7fc8f8cf09cf2c720499f7db2/|title=Hunt call that could define Flanagan era; glaring hole that must be filled: Brutal Review|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=6 September 2023 }}
Couchman played eleven matches for St. George Illawarra in the 2024 NRL season as the club finished 11th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/the-mole-st-george-illawarra-dragons-2024-what-went-wrong-season-review-20240910-p5k9kr.html/|title=The Mole's end-of-season review: 'Bullies' exposed as big-money Dragons forward called out|website=www.nine.com.au}} On 13 November the Dragons announced that the Couchman brothers had re-signed with the club on a three year deal.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-13 |title=Staying Home: Couchman twins ink Red V extension |url=https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2024/11/13/staying-home-couchman-twins-ink-red-v-extension/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=St George Illawarra Dragons |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.dragons.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/st-george-illawarra-dragons/toby-couchman/ Dragons profile]
- [https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/toby-couchman/summary.html Rugby League Project profile]
{{St George Illawarra Dragons squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Couchman, Toby}}
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:St. George Illawarra Dragons players
Category:Rugby league players from Wollongong
Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen
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