Will Collier
{{short description|England international rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Will Collier
| image =
| birth_name = William St Lawrence Webb Collier
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|05|05|df=y}}
| birth_place = Hammersmith, London, England
| height = {{convert|1.83|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|116|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
| school = Cranleigh School
| position = Tighthead Prop
| years1 = 2009–2011
| years2 = 2011–2024
| years3 = 2011–2012
| years4 = 2024–
| clubs1 = Rosslyn Park
| clubs2 = Harlequins
| clubs3 = → Esher
| clubs4 = Castres
| ru_currentteam = Castres
| ru_currentposition =
| apps1 = 40
| apps2 = 240
| apps3 = 7
| apps4 = 0
| points1 = 30
| points2 = 20
| points3 = 0
| points4 = 0
| repyears1 = 2011
| repyears2 = 2014–2022
| repyears3 = 2017
| repteam1 = England U20
| repteam2 = England XV
| repteam3 = England
| repcaps1 = 7
| repcaps2 = 3
| repcaps3 = 2
| reppoints1 = 0
| reppoints2 = 0
| reppoints3 = 5
| ru_ntupdate = 11 December 2023
| clubupdate = 2 August 2024
| youthyears1 = 1997–2009
| youthclubs1 = Rosslyn Park
| youthyears2 = 2005–2011
| youthclubs2 = Harlequins
}}
William St Lawrence Webb Collier (born 5 May 1991) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a tighthead prop for Top 14 club Castres Olympique.
Career
Collier is a front row specialist who cites his interest in the 'dark arts' (of scrummaging) inspired in part by Chris Ritchie, a veteran London Welsh RFC player and Joe Launchbury, a former England Rugby international.{{Cite web |last=Mairs|first=Gavin|title=How Will Collier's love of the scrum's dark was inspired by an unlikely mentor|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/05/27/will-colliers-love-scrums-dark-inspired-unlikely-mentor/|url-access=subscription|date=27 May 2017|access-date=7 October 2017|website=The Daily Telegraph}} His first club was Rosslyn Park F.C. where he began at six years old and played in their mini, youth and First XV squads.
Collier joined the Harlequins academy at the age of fourteen.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c51nnxvgr0ro|title=Harlequins prop Collier to leave club for France|website=BBC Sport|date=14 May 2024|access-date=2 August 2024}} In January 2011 he made his club debut for Quins against Wasps RFC in a 2010–11 Anglo-Welsh Cup fixture.{{cite news|title=Harlequins prop Will Collier signs new contract|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12546/11014015/harlequins-prop-will-collier-signs-new-contract|first=Matthew|last=Treadwell|publisher=Sky Sports|date=31 August 2017|access-date=2 August 2024}}
Collier represented England U20 during the 2011 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and appeared as a substitute in the last round as they defeated Ireland to complete a grand slam.{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/ford-drives-england-to-overall-glory-1.576874|title=Ford drives England to overall glory|website=Irish Times|date=19 March 2011|access-date=2 August 2024}} Later that year he was a member of their squad at the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship and came off the bench in the final which England lost against New Zealand to finish runners up.{{Cite news |last=Mole|first=Giles|date=18 January 2019|title=Dan Robson joins the club: How 2011 world junior final between England and New Zealand spawned 27 Test stars|work=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2019/01/18/dan-robson-joins-club-2011-world-junior-final-england-new-zealand/|url-access=subscription|access-date=2 August 2024}}
Collier was on the substitutes bench when Harlequins overcame Leicester Tigers in the 2012 Premiership final to become league champions for the first time in their history.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/18154802|title=Harlequins 30-23 Leicester|first=Adam|last=Jones|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 May 2012|access-date=2 August 2024}} In March 2013 Collier started for the side that defeated Sale Sharks to win the Anglo-Welsh Cup.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/21800673|title=LV= Cup final: Sale Sharks 14-32 Harlequins|first=Brendon|last=Mitchell|publisher=BBC Sport|date=17 March 2013|access-date=2 August 2024}} He scored his debut try for Harlequins in a European Rugby Champions Cup defeat to La Rochelle in the pool stage of the 2017–18 season.{{cite news|title=European Rugby Champions Cup: Harlequins 27-34 La Rochelle|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/41573859|first=Mike|last=Henson|publisher=BBC Sport|date=14 October 2017|access-date=24 December 2022}}
Collier was included in the senior England squad for their 2017 tour of Argentina.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39652871|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=2 August 2024|title=England v Argentina: Dylan Hartley, Joe Launchbury & George Ford in squad|date=20 April 2017}} On 10 June 2017 he made his Test debut as a substitute against Argentina.{{cite news|title=England beat Argentina thanks to Denny Solomona's late try|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40206158|first=James|last=Standley|publisher=BBC Sport|date=10 June 2017|access-date=2 August 2024}} A week later Collier scored a try as England won the series.{{cite news|title=Will Collier try seals second Test and series win for England in Argentina|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jun/17/argentina-england-rugby-match-report|first=Michael|last=Aylwin|publisher=The Guardian|date=17 June 2017|access-date=7 October 2017}} Ultimately these were his only two caps.
In the 2020–21 season, Collier was a replacement in both the Premiership semi-final victory over Bristol Bears and the final against Exeter Chiefs on 26 June 2021, as Harlequins won the game 40–38 in the highest scoring Premiership final ever.{{cite news|title=Premiership semi-final: Bristol Bears 36-43 Harlequins (AET) - Quins reach Twickenham after stunning fightback|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/57484199|first=Chris|last=Harby|publisher=BBC Sport|date=19 June 2021|access-date=24 December 2022}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57608106|title=Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 38-40 Harlequins - Louis Lynagh's late double clinches title|first=Brent|last=Pilnick|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 June 2021|access-date=1 July 2021}} The following year saw Collier start for an England XV side in an uncapped match against the Barbarians.{{Cite web|url=https://all.rugby/match/17328/tests-matchs-2021-2022/england-barbarians|website=All.Rugby|title=Match report England vs Barbarian F.C.|accessdate=11 December 2023}}
In his final season at Harlequins Collier started for the side that were eliminated by Toulouse in the semi-final of the 2024 Champions Cup.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c4n16jg3yzmo|title=Toulouse battle past Quins to reach Champions Cup final|first=Mantej|last=Mann|website=BBC Sport|date=5 May 2024|accessdate=2 August 2024}} After more than a decade with Harlequins making 240 club appearances, Collier joined Castres Olympique for the 2024–25 season.
International career
=International tries=
{{updated|11 December 2023}}{{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/england/rugby/player/126120.html|work=ESPN Scrum|access-date=7 July 2019|title=Will Collier}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%" | |||||||
| Try | Opposing team | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | {{ru|ARG}} | Santa Fe, Argentina | Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López | 2017 Tour of Argentina | {{dts|format=dmy|2017|06|17}} | Win | 35 – 25 |
Honours
Harlequins
- 2× Premiership: 2011–12, 2020–21
- 1× Anglo-Welsh Cup: 2012–13
England U20
- 1× Six Nations Under 20s Championship: 2011
- 1× World Rugby U20 Championship runner up: 2011
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.quins.co.uk/profile/will-collier Harlequins Profile]
- [http://www.englandrugby.com/england/senior-england-men/squads/will-collier/ England Profile]
{{Castres Olympique squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Collier, Will}}
Category:England international rugby union players
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Castres Olympique players
Category:Harlequin F.C. players
Category:People from Hammersmith
Category:Rugby union players from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham