Tom Croft
{{Short description|British Lions & England international rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{infobox rugby biography
| name = Tom Croft
| image = Tom Croft 2012.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| alt =
| birth_name = Thomas Richard Croft
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|11|7|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Basingstoke, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = {{convert|1.98|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|110|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url= http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Inside-Rugby-Leicester-Tigers-flanker-Tom-Croft/story-22904652-detail/story.html |title= Inside Rugby |work= Leicester Mercury |date =10 September 2014}}
| school = Park House School
Oakham School
| ru_currentteam = Leicester Tigers
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Newbury RFC
| years1 = 2005–2017
| clubs1 = Leicester Tigers
| apps1 = 173
| points1 = 135
| ru_clubupdate = 16 November 2017
| provinceyears1 =
| province1 =
| provinceapps1 =
| provincepoints1 =
| superyears1 =
| super1 =
| superapps1 =
| superpoints1 =
| repyears1 = 2007
| repyears2 = 2008–2015
| repteam1 = England Saxons
| repteam2 = England
| repteam3 = British & Irish Lions
| repcaps1 =
| repcaps2 = 40
| repcaps3 = 5
| reppoints1 =
| reppoints2 = 20
| reppoints3 = 10
| ru_ntupdate = 1 March 2015
| repsevensyears1 = 2006
| repsevensteam1 = England 7s
| repsevenscomp1 =
| coachyears1 =
| coachteams1 =
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}}
Tom Croft (born 7 November 1985) is a retired rugby union player. He played 173 games for Leicester Tigers between 2005–17 winning four Premiership Rugby titles, played 40 times for {{nrut|England}} between 2008–2015, was part of the squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and the British & Irish Lions in 2009 to South Africa and 2013 to Australia.{{cite news|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/england/rugby/player/15831.html|title=Tom Croft|access-date=6 October 2017|publisher=ESPNscrum|archive-date=6 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006162204/http://en.espn.co.uk/england/rugby/player/15831.html|url-status=dead}} His career was somewhat plagued with a variety of minor and serious injuries.
Background
Born 7 November 1985 in Basingstoke, England, Croft initially went to Park House School, a comprehensive school in Newbury, Berkshire,{{cite news|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/england-v-wales-v-rugby-2036592|work=Wales Online|date=24 February 2012|access-date=19 October 2021|title=England v Wales v rugby: Does a class divide still separate the sport in the two rival nations?}} before going to Oakham School in Rutland where he was in the same year as England cricketer Stuart Broad.{{cite book|editor-last=Tozer|editor-first=Malcolm|title=Physical Education and Sport in Independent Schools|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QVCvtcUo4Y0C|publisher=John Catt Educational Ltd|date=2012|isbn=9781908095442|pages=293}}
Playing style
Croft's best position was blindside flanker. He was known for his line-out agility{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9161576.stm|title=Tom Croft can rule the line-out|publisher=BBC|date=5 November 2010|access-date=16 November 2017}} and unusual speed for a forward;{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/apr/09/leicester-tigers-tom-croft-european-champions-cup-stade-francais|title=Leicester stalwart Tom Croft battle scarred but happy to be in one piece|newspaper=The Observer|date=9 April 2016|access-date=16 November 2017}} one of the quickest players in the Tigers squad{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7174629.stm|title=Six Nations player watch – Tom Croft|publisher=BBC|date=7 January 2008|access-date=9 January 2008}} his coach Aaron Mauger described him as the " fastest loose forward he had ever seen".{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/tom-croft-interview-i-know-i-can-get-back-to-my-prime-again-a6828256.html|title=Tom Croft interview: 'I know I can get back to my prime again'|newspaper=The Independent|location=London|access-date=16 November 2017|date=22 January 2016}}
After scoring two tries against his Harlequins side in 2008 Dean Richards described Croft as an "outstanding talent" who "has everything",{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/7166755.stm|title=Harlequins 13-42 Leicester|publisher=BBC|date=6 January 2008|access-date=16 November 2017}} Martin Corry said {{nrut|England}} have never had a player blessed with Croft's abundant abilities.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7202349.stm|title=Crafty Croft ready for step up|publisher=BBC|date=22 January 2008|access-date=25 January 2008}}
Club career
Croft's senior debut for Leicester Tigers came against Gloucester in the 2005–06 season, a week after he turned 20. In the following season, which included a Premiership title and the Anglo-Welsh Cup for the Tigers, he made 16 appearances.
2008–09 could be considered Croft's breakthrough season, in which he established himself both in the club side and on the international scene. He was man-of-the-match in the Heineken Cup semi-final against Cardiff Blues, which resulted in a historic sudden death kicking competition.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/5268645/Leicester-reach-Heineken-Cup-final-after-historic-penalty-shoot-out-win-against-Cardiff.html|title=Leicester reach Heineken Cup final|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=3 May 2009|location=London|first=Mick|last=Cleary}} The shoot-out ended before Croft's turn came up as Jordan Crane made the winning kick.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8031975.stm|title=I enjoyed pressure kick – Crane|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 May 2009}} Although the Tigers fell at the final hurdle of the Heineken Cup, they won the 2008–09 Guinness Premiership. Croft played lock in both finals, as a result of injury to teammate Louis Deacon.{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/8048413.stm
|title=Leicester 10-9 London Irish
|publisher=BBC
|date=16 May 2009 |access-date=9 February 2020}}
The following season didn't quite match up to the previous for Croft, due in no small part to the two knee injuries he sustained, one after the other in the middle of the season. He worked his way back successfully, however, and featured in another Premiership final victory, this time at blindside flanker.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/8708250.stm|title=Leicester 33-27 Saracens|date=29 May 2010}}
Croft captained the Tigers for the first time on 3 October 2010, against Saracens.{{cite news|url=http://www.leicestertigers.com/news/15737.php|title=Tom Croft to lead out Leicester Tigers|date=1 October 2010|publisher=Leicester Tigers website}}
Croft suffered two major injuries whilst on club duty. First, in an April 2012 Premiership match against Harlequins Croft mistimed tackle on Nick Easter and suffered a triple fracture of his C6 vertebra,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/jan/08/tom-croft-broken-neck-return|title=Tom Croft revisits horror of broken neck but is returning without fear|date=8 January 2013|access-date=16 November 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London}} a specialist described the injury "as close as you can to being paralysed", He returned to the Tigers after 8 months injured in January 2013 against Worcester.
In 2013 Croft played in his third victorious Premiership final.{{cite news
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/22656677
|title=Aviva Premiership final: Leicester 37-17 Northampton
|publisher=BBC
|date=25 May 2013 |access-date=9 February 2020}}
Then, in the 2013–14 Premiership opener against Worcester in September, he suffered a season-ending cruciate ligament injury.{{cite news|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2013-14/rugby/story/198013.html|title=Tom Croft ruled out for the season|publisher=ESPNscrum|date=11 September 2013|access-date=11 September 2013|archive-date=15 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915051613/http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2013-14/rugby/story/198013.html|url-status=dead}}
In November 2017, Croft announced his immediate retirement from rugby following a new neck injury and consulting a specialist.{{cite web|last1=Sherard|first1=Gary|title=Croft announces his rugby retirement|url=https://www.leicestertigers.com/news/croft-announces-his-rugby-retirement|website=LeicesterTigers.com|access-date=16 November 2017|date=16 November 2017}} His final appearance was on 11 March 2017 against Saracens in the semi-final of the Anglo-Welsh Cup, Croft was a substitute as Leicester won 32–10.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42011748|title=Tom Croft: Leicester Tigers forward announces retirement|publisher=BBC Sport|date=16 November 2017|access-date=16 November 2017}}
International career
Croft was called up to the England squad for the 2008 Six Nations Championship.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/7174905.stm|title=Vainikolo named in England squad|publisher=BBC|date=9 January 2008|access-date=9 January 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyunion/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rugby/08/01/09/RUGBYU_England_Snap.html|title=Vainikolo – named in England squad|publisher=Sportinglife|date=9 January 2008|access-date=9 January 2008|archive-date=5 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605001725/http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyunion/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rugby%2F08%2F01%2F09%2FRUGBYU_England_Snap.html|url-status=dead}} He had already been selected for the England Saxons and England Sevens sides.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/5314236.stm|title=England sevens squad is unveiled|publisher=BBC|date=4 September 2006|access-date=9 January 2008}}
Croft gained his first England cap in the 2008 Six Nations win against France in Paris.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/7247352.stm|title=Wigglesworth handed England call|publisher=BBC|date=19 February 2008|access-date=19 February 2008}} He was then named in Martin Johnson's squad on 1 June 2008. He gained starting places in the squad at blindside flanker for three games against the Pacific Islanders, {{nrut|Australia}} and {{nrut|South Africa}}, before being named on the bench against {{nrut|New Zealand}}. Croft was awarded man of the match when England defeated {{nrut|France}} 34–10 at Twickenham in the 2009 Six Nations Championship.
On 20 May 2009, Croft was called up to the squad by coach Ian McGeechan for the Lions 2009 tour of South Africa as a replacement for the banned Alan Quinlan.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8060361.stm|title=Croft given Quinlan's Lions spot|date=20 May 2009|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=20 May 2009}}
Croft then subsequently started the first two tests against {{nrut|South Africa}}, and came off the bench in the 3rd test. He scored two tries in the first test defeat – becoming the first Lions forward to score twice against the Springboks.
In November 2009, Croft was nominated for the IRB Player of the Year for 2009,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/irish/8362646.stm|title=O'Driscoll leads IRB nominations|date=16 November 2009|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=16 November 2009}} though the award went to Richie McCaw. Despite making the shortlist and having started the first two games of the Autumn Internationals, Croft found himself demoted to the bench for the third test, against {{nrut|New Zealand}}.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/article-1527139-detail/article.html|title=Tom Croft has done nothing wrong, says England coach Martin Johnson|date=19 November 2009|work=Leicester Mercury|access-date=16 November 2009}} Injury to Joe Worsley saw him take the field within the first five minutes, however.
Croft's second knee injury in the 2009–10 season saw him miss out on the 2010 Six Nations entirely,{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/7011335/Six-Nations-Leicester-flanker-Tom-Croft-ruled-out-of-England-opening-fixtures.html|title=Tom Croft ruled out of England opening fixtures|date=17 January 2010|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London}} though he regained his starting place from James Haskell for the Australian summer tour.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/australia/7821671/Australia-v-England-Martin-Johnsons-side-have-a-chance-to-silence-the-doubters.html|title=Australia v England: Martin Johnson's side have a chance to silence the doubters|date=11 June 2010|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|first=Mick|last=Cleary}} He switched to openside flanker to cover injured captain Lewis Moody halfway through the second half of the first Test, which England lost 27–17.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8734071.stm|title=Australia 27–17 England|date=12 June 2010|publisher=BBC Sport}} The second Test saw England beat Australia 20–21.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/8748378.stm|title=Australia 20–21 England|date=19 June 2010|publisher=BBC Sport}} This was only the third time that England had managed to beat Australia in Australia.
Croft took part in the 2010 Autumn Internationals, starting in both the loss to {{nrut|New Zealand}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9161530.stm|title=England 16–26 New Zealand|date=6 November 2010|publisher=BBC Sport}} and the win against {{nrut|Australia}}, the latter cited by many to have been the best England performance for years.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9177377.stm|title=England 35–18 Australia|date=13 November 2010|publisher=BBC Sport}} In 2011 he was part of the England team that came within a game of a grand slam. 2012 saw Croft play in every single game of that year's Six Nations, His form continued to improve throughout the Championship and he played a starring role in the game against France which saw him score a wonderful try after a searing burst of pace. The last game against Ireland, saw him make a 50-yard burst which almost brought about a try. Croft was ruled out of the rest of Leicester's season after a neck injury. His first try for {{nrut|England}} came as a replacement for James Haskell against {{nrut|Samoa}}.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9195937.stm|title=England 26–13 Samoa|date=20 November 2010|publisher=BBC Sport}}
In April 2013, Croft was selected for the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia. He started the first test in a 23–21 win over Australia and came off the bench in the 16–15 second test defeat.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22352825|title=Jonny Wilkinson out but Sam Warburton is captain|date=30 April 2013|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=1 May 2013 }}
Croft made his international return two years later during the 2015 Six Nations against Italy and Ireland in his final England appearance.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/31446910|title=Croft comes on for Haskell on return to internationals|date=14 February 2015|access-date=14 February 2015}}
= International Tries =
== England ==
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%"
!Try !Opposing team ! scope="col" style="min-width: 200px; max-width: 1000px;" |Location !Venue !Competition !Date !Result ! scope="col" style="min-width: 60px; max-width: 300px;" |Score |
| 1
|{{ru|SAM}} |2010 end-of-year rugby union internationals |20 November 2010 |Win |26 – 13 |
| 2
|{{ru|SCO}} |2011 Six Nations Championship |13 March 2011 |Win |22 – 16 |
| 3
|{{ru|ROM}} |24 September 2011 |Win |67 – 3 |
| 4
|{{ru|FRA}} |2012 Six Nations Championship |11 March 2012 |Win |22 – 24 |
== British & Irish Lions ==
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%"
!Try !Opposing team ! scope="col" style="min-width: 200px; max-width: 1000px;" |Location !Venue !Competition !Date !Result ! scope="col" style="min-width: 60px; max-width: 300px;" |Score |
| 1
| rowspan="2" |{{ru|RSA}} | rowspan="2" |Durban, South Africa | rowspan="2" |ABSA Stadium | rowspan="2" |2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa | rowspan="2" |20 June 2009 | rowspan="2" |Loss | rowspan="2" |26 – 21 |
| 2 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.leicestertigers.com/squad/players.php?player=8745&includeref=dynamic Leicester profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110818112458/http://www.rfu.com/SquadsAndPlayers/EnglandElite/TomCroft.aspx RFU profile]
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7179460.stm England new boys – Tom Croft]
- {{ESPNscrum}}
{{British and Irish Lions 2009}}
{{British and Irish Lions 2013}}
{{England 2011 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Croft, Tom}}
Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from England
Category:England international rugby union players
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Leicester Tigers players
Category:People educated at Oakham School