Tom Parton
{{short description|English rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=December 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Tom Parton
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Thomas Lewis Parton
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|2|2|df=y}}
| birth_place = Oxford, England
| height = {{convert|1.77|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|90|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}
| school = Wellington College
| position = Full-back
| currentclub = Saitama Wild Knights
| years1 = 2017–2023
| clubs1 = London Irish
| apps1 = 60
| points1 = 60
| years2 = 2023–2024
| clubs2 = Saracens
| apps2 = 28
| points2 = 40
| years3 = 2024–
| clubs3 = Saitama Wild Knights
| apps3 = 0
| points3 = 0
| ru_clubupdate = 1 January 2025
| repyears1 = 2016
| repteam1 = England U18
| repcaps1 = 7
| reppoints1 = 5
| repyears2 = 2017–2018
| repteam2 = England U20
| repcaps2 = 17
| reppoints2 = 30
| ru_ntupdate = 17 June 2018
}}
Tom Parton (born 2 February 1998) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a full-back for Saitama Wild Knights in Japan League One competition.{{cite web |title=Tom Parton|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/23667.html?source=opta|publisher=ESPN|access-date=28 December 2020}}
Career
Parton was a graduate of the London Irish academy and made his senior club debut in 2017. He has captained the U18 Academy side against Exeter Chiefs, already had represented England U17s.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56414381|title=London Irish: Full-back Tom Parton agrees contract extension with Exiles|publisher=BBC Sport|date=16 March 2021|access-date=1 January 2025}} He started in their 2021–22 EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final elimination against RC Toulon.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/61349179|title=European Challenge Cup: Toulon 19-18 London Irish - Exiles out despite Arundell try|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 May 2022|access-date=1 January 2025}} At the end of that season in June 2022 he was called up by coach Eddie Jones to join a training camp with the senior England squad.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/61703039|title=England: Injured prop Kyle Sinckler to miss Australia tour|publisher=BBC Sport|date=6 June 2022|access-date=6 June 2022}}
Parton started all five games for the England U20 side that completed a grand slam in the 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and scored a try in their opening game.{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/eng-u20-vs-france-u20/81064|title=England U20s crush France 59-17 in Six Nations opener|publisher=Sky Sports|date=4 February 2017|access-date=1 January 2025}} Later that year he was a member of the squad at the 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championship and started in the final as England finished runners up to New Zealand.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/06/18/england-vs-new-zealand-u20-world-cup-final-live-score-updates/|url-access=subscription|title=England 17 New Zealand 64: Baby Blacks seal Under 20 World Cup with emphatic victory|first=Kate|last=Rowan|website=The Daily Telegraph|date=18 June 2017|access-date=1 January 2025}}
Parton also played at the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship and scored a try in the semi-final victory over South Africa.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/44462974|title=World Rugby U20 Championship: England 32-31 South Africa|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 June 2018|access-date=1 January 2025}} He started in the final as England were defeated by hosts France to finish runners up again.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/44515188|title=World Rugby U20 Championship: England lose out to France in final|publisher=BBC Sport|date=17 June 2018|access-date=1 January 2025}}
In November 2022 it was announced that Parton would leave to join Saracens.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63666721|title=Tom Parton: Saracens to sign London Irish full-back in summer|publisher=BBC Sport|date=17 November 2022|access-date=1 January 2025}} In April 2024 he scored the quickest Premiership Rugby hat-trick in history against Gloucester.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68836886|title=Premiership: Saracens 46-24 Gloucester - Tom Parton scores quickest Premiership hat-trick|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 April 2024|access-date=1 January 2025}} At the end of that season he started in their semi-final elimination against Northampton Saints.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cx88wd3g4zjo|title=Northampton edge Saracens to reach Premiership final|first=Chris|last=Peddy|publisher=BBC Sport|date=31 May 2024|access-date=1 January 2025}}
On 31 December 2024 it was confirmed that Parton had left Saracens with immediate effect to join Saitama Wild Knights in Japan League One competition.{{cite news|url=https://www.ruck.co.uk/statement-saracens-star-has-departed-with-immediate-effect/|title=Statement: Saracens star has departed with immediate effect|publisher=Ruck|date=31 December 2024|access-date=1 January 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.london-irish.com/players/tom-parton/s82478/ London Irish Profile]
- [http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/23667.html?source=opta ESPN Profile]
- [https://www.ultimaterugby.com/tom-parton Ultimate Rugby Profile]
{{Panasonic Wild Knights squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parton, Tom}}
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Saitama Wild Knights players
Category:Saracens F.C. players
Category:Rugby union players from Oxford
Category:Rugby union fullbacks
Category:21st-century English sportsmen
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