Tom Woolstencroft
{{Short description|English rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Tom Woolstencroft
| image =
| birth_name = Thomas Jasper Woolstencroft
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|9|18|df=y}}
| birth_place = Whitechapel, London, England
| height = {{convert|1.84|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|104|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}
| school = Bryanston School
Taunton School
| position = Hooker
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 =
| ru_amupdate =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Bath
| years1 = 2014–2016
| years2 = 2014–2015
| years3 = 2016–2017
| years4 = 2017–2018
| years5 = 2018–2024
| clubs1 = Bath
| clubs2 = → Rosslyn Park
| clubs3 = Wasps
| clubs4 = London Irish
| clubs5 = Saracens
| apps1 = 2
| apps2 = 20
| apps3 = 0
| apps4 = 13
| apps5 = 85
| points1 = 0
| points2 = 10
| points3 = 0
| points4 = 0
| points5 = 100
| ru_clubupdate = 13 February 2024
| repyears1 =
| repyears2 = 2013
| repyears3 = 2014
| repteam1 = England U16
| repteam2 = England U18
| repteam3 = England U20
| repcaps1 =
| repcaps2 = 1
| repcaps3 = 9
| reppoints1 =
| reppoints2 = 0
| reppoints3 = 10
| ru_ntupdate = 20 June 2014
}}
Tom Woolstencroft (born 18 September 1994) is an English former rugby union player who played in the position of hooker. He won the Premiership at Saracens and represented England at youth level.
Career
Woolstencroft attended Taunton School and Bryanston School. He was a member of the England U20 squad that finished runners up in the 2014 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/26437620|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=30 July 2024|title=2014 Six Nations: England U20 67-7 Wales U20|date=7 March 2014}} Later that year he scored a try against Ireland during the semi-final of the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2014/0615/623957-england-end-ireland-u20s-world-cup-journey/|publisher=RTÉ|title=England U20 42-15 Ireland U20|date=15 June 2014|accessdate=30 July 2024}} He started in the final as England defeated South Africa at Eden Park to become junior world champions.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jun/20/england-win-junior-world-championship-south-africa|title=England beat South Africa 21-20 to win the Junior World Championship|first=Paul|last=Rees|website=The Guardian|date=20 June 2014|access-date=30 July 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/27939607|title=Junior World Championship: England 21-20 South Africa|first=James|last=Standley|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 June 2014|access-date=30 July 2024}}
Woolstencroft started his club career at Bath prior to joining Wasps RFC in 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36266536|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=30 July 2024|title=Wasps sign Bath's Tom Woolstencroft and Marcus Garratt from Cornish Pirates|date=11 May 2016}} After his time with Wasps was affected by injury he left to join London Irish the following season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/41595371|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=30 July 2024|title=London Irish: Hooker Tom Woolstencroft joins to bolster front row options|date=12 October 2017}}
In 2018 Woolstencroft signed for Saracens.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43961406|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=30 July 2024|title=Saracens sign hooker Tom Woolstencroft after spell at London Irish|date=1 May 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/sport/amp/rugby-union/53362479|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=26 August 2020|title=Woolstencroft signs new Saracens deal|date=10 July 2020}} In his first season at the club he was a substitute replacement in the 2018–19 Premiership Rugby final as Saracens beat Exeter Chiefs to become league champions.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48438232|title=Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 34-37 Saracens|first=Brent|last=Pilnick|publisher=BBC Sport|date=1 June 2019|access-date=11 October 2020}} That campaign also saw him feature in the European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-final victory over Glasgow Warriors although he did not play in the final which saw Saracens overcome Leinster to become champions of Europe.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/47760396|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=30 July 2024|title=European Champions Cup: Saracens 56-27 Glasgow|date=30 March 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48239893|title=Leinster 10-20 Saracens: English side win third Champions Cup in Newcastle|first=Mantej|last=Mann|publisher=BBC Sport|date=11 May 2019|access-date=30 July 2024}}
After Saracens were relegated due to breach of salary cap in 2020 Woolstencroft was a member of the side that defeated Ealing Trailfinders in the RFU Championship play-off final for an immediate return to the Premiership.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57545138|title=Saracens 57-15 Ealing: Players 'showed faith in club', says Mark McCall as Sarries promoted back to Premiership|website=BBC Sport|date=20 June 2021|access-date=30 July 2024}} In 2023 Saracens became champions of England again.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65727086|title=Premiership final: Saracens 35-25 Sale - Sarries win sixth title in Twickenham thriller|first=Sophie|last=Hurcom|publisher=BBC Sport|date=27 May 2023|access-date=30 July 2024}}
In February 2024 Woolstencroft announced his retirement based on medical advice after concussion issues.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68287562|title=Tom Woolstencroft: Saracens hooker retires aged 29 on medical advice after concussion issues|website=BBC Sport|date=13 February 2024|access-date=30 July 2024}}
Honours
Saracens
- 2× Premiership: 2018–19, 2022–23
- 1× European Rugby Champions Cup: 2018–19
- 1× RFU Championship: 2020–21
England U20
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150224165943/http://www.bathrugby.com/team/academy/academy-squad/tom-woolstencroft Bath Rugby Profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Woolstencroft, Tom}}
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Saracens F.C. players
Category:People educated at Taunton School
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