Will Skelton
{{Short description|Australian rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Will Skelton
| image = WillSkelton2023.png
| image_size = 230px
| caption = Skelton playing for La Rochelle in 2023
| birth_name = William Skelton
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1992|05|03}}
| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
| weight = {{convert|135|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}
| ru_currentteam = La Rochelle
| position = Lock
| amatyears1 = 2013–2017
| amatteam1 = Sydney University
| amatapps1 = 13
| amatpoints1 = 10
| ru_amupdate = 1 July 2017
| years1 = 2014–2015
| years2 = 2016
| years3 = 2017–2020
| years4 = 2020–
| clubs1 = Sydney Stars
| clubs2 = Western Sydney Rams
| clubs3 = Saracens
| clubs4 = La Rochelle
| apps1 = 5
| apps2 = 5
| apps3 = 77
| apps4 = 81
| points1 = 10
| points2 = 0
| points3 = 30
| points4 = 35
| ru_clubupdate = 8 April 2024
| super1 = {{Rut|Waratahs}}
| superyears1 = 2013–2017
| superapps1 = 64
| superpoints1 = 15
| super14update = 3 June 2017
| province1 =
| provinceyears1 =
| provinceapps1 =
| provincepoints1 =
| ru_provinceupdate =
| repyears1 = 2011
| repyears2 = 2014–
| repteam1 = Samoa U20
| repteam2 = Australia
| repcaps1 = 3
| repcaps2 = 32
| reppoints1 = 0
| reppoints2 = 10
| ru_ntupdate = 24 Nov 2024
| relatives = Cameron Skelton (brother)
Jeral Skelton (cousin)
Brad Mika (cousin)
| school = The Hills Sports High School
| university = Australian Catholic University
}}
William Skelton (born 3 May 1992) is an Australian rugby union player, who plays as a lock for La Rochelle in the French Top 14 competition.
Skelton was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and he is of Samoan descent; he moved to Australia as a child and qualified for Australia through residency. He won 28 caps for Australia since 2014 and played at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. In August 2023 he was named captain of Australia for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Early life
Skelton was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and moved with his family to Sydney at the age of 10. He is the older brother of Cameron Skelton and is a cousin of former New Zealand lock Brad Mika. Though smaller than his younger brother, Skelton weighed 150 kg while still a teenager and he wears size 17 (UK) boots.
He played junior rugby league for the Wentworthville Magpies before taking up rugby union at age 15 at The Hills Sports High School in Seven Hills.
Skelton joined the Sydney University rugby club in 2010. In 2011, he was invited into the Waratahs Academy and the ARU's National Academy in Sydney. After a promising first year, a fractured foot sustained in February 2012 prevented him from playing for the remainder of the year.
Rugby career
=Waratahs=
In March 2013, Skelton was signed to the Waratahs' Extended Player Squad by coach Michael Cheika. He made his Super Rugby debut against the Stormers, and was selected to play for the Waratahs against the British and Irish Lions in June of that year.
File:Will Skelton playing for Sydney Stars NRC Round 5 (2).jpg in the NRC.]]
In 2014, Skelton was approached by Graham Henry to join the Blues in Auckland, but turned him down. His offload game has been compared to Sonny Bill Williams'.{{cite news|author1=CHRIS BARCLAY|title=Similarities between Will Skelton and SBW|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/10316571/Similarities-between-Will-Skelton-and-SBW|access-date=27 July 2014|work=Stuff.co.nz|publisher=Fairfax New Zealand|date=2014-07-27}}
The Waratahs made the Super Rugby semi-finals in 2015. Skelton was included in the Australia squad for the Rugby Championship and he started against the Springboks in the 24–20 win at Suncorp Stadium.
=Saracens=
File:WillSkeltonSaracens2019(cropped).jpg against Racing 92 in 2019|Skelton playing for Saracens in 2019]]
On 4 April 2017 it was announced that Skelton was to join Saracens on a 2-year deal beginning in the 2017/18 season following a successful run of 8 games whilst on a short-term loan earlier in the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.saracens.com/news-article/wallaby-lock-will-skelton-to-re-join-saracens|title=Saracens - Wallaby lock Will Skelton to re-join Saracens|website=www.saracens.com}} As of September 2018 Skelton had lost 21 kg weight since joining Saracens, bringing his weight to 125–130 kg.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/will-skeltons-dramatic-weight-loss-major-talking-point-today/|title=Will Skelton's dramatic weight loss was a major talking point today|website=www.rugbypass.com}} During his time at Saracens he has won two Premiership titles in 2018 and 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/44212788|title=Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 10-27 Saracens |publisher=BBC |date=26 May 2018 |access-date=11 October 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48438232|title=Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 34-37 Saracens|publisher=BBC |date=1 June 2019 |access-date=11 October 2020}} He also helped Saracens win the European Champions Cup in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48239893|title=Leinster 10-20 Saracens: English side win third Champions Cup in Newcastle|publisher=BBC |date=11 May 2019 |access-date=11 October 2020}}
=La Rochelle=
He signed for French club La Rochelle ahead of the 2020–21 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.sudouest.fr/2020/03/02/top-14-will-skelton-vers-la-rochelle-7265902-4568.php|work=Sudouest.fr|title=Top 14 : Will Skelton vers La Rochelle|date=2 March 2020|language=fr}} Skelton was called up to play for the Wallabies again for the 2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals, alongside former teammates Kurtley Beale, Tolu Latu and Rory Arnold.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-08|title=Going for broke: Rennie gets his way as six overseas stars named for Wallabies’ spring tour|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/wallabies/australian-rugby-2021-wallabies-spring-tour-squad-will-skelton-rory-arnold-dave-rennie-kurtley-beale-analysis/news-story/16313004ff8217b59d0733f3141338ff|access-date=2021-10-30|website=Fox Sports|language=en}} On 22 June 2021, he extended his contract with the French side until 2025.{{Cite web|date=2021-06-22|title=Will Skelton Wallabies return highly unlikely after lock re-signs with La Rochelle|url=https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/31688867/will-skelton-re-signs-la-rochelle-2025-hopes-wallabies-return-dashed|access-date=2022-05-28|website=ESPN|language=en}}
On 28 May 2022, he led La Rochelle to an epic 21–24 win against Leinster in the 2022 European Rugby Champions Cup Final at Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, being one of the best players on the field and earning his third European Rugby Champions Cup trophy.{{Cite web|date=2022-05-28|title=Retiere's late try sees La Rochelle beat Leinster to win European Champions Cup|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220528-retiere-s-late-try-sees-la-rochelle-beat-leinster-to-win-european-champions-cup|access-date=2022-05-28|website=France 24|language=en}} The following season, he won his third Heineken Champions Cup with La Rochelle, beating once again Leinster in the 2023 final in Dublin, Ireland on 20 May.
= International =
Skelton was named in the Australia squad for the June tests in 2014 and made his test debut for Australia against France on 21 June 2014. Starting as the right lock and scoring the first try for the Wallabies in their 39–13 win.
Skelton's inclusion in the Wallabies squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup was cut short after he sustained a shoulder injury during the tournament.
In 2016 he struggled with injury but added 4 caps to his tally, coming off the bench in the spring tour in wins against Scotland and France.{{Cite web |title=William Skelton {{!}} Player Profile {{!}} Wallabies Rugby |url=https://wallabies.rugby/players/william-reynolds-junior-skelton |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=wallabies.rugby |language=en}}
1,814 days after his last test cap Skelton came off the bench in the Wallabies 2021 spring tour in 3 tests.
In 2023 Skelton was named the captain of the Wallabies for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.{{Cite news |date=2023-08-10 |title=Quade Cooper axed, Will Skelton to skipper Wallabies at Rugby World Cup |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-10/quade-cooper-axed-will-skelton-skipper-wallabies-rugby-world-cup/102715832 |access-date=2023-08-10}}
Honours
=Waratahs=
=Saracens=
=La Rochelle=
- European Rugby Champions Cup: 2021–22, 2022–23
- European Rugby Champions Cup runner-up: 2020–21
- Top 14 runner-up: 2020-21 2022-23
=Australia=
- The Rugby Championship: 2015
- Rugby World Cup runner-up: 2015
- The Rugby Championship runner-up: 2016
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=25em|refs=
|title=Will Skelton
|url=https://wallabies.rugby/players/william-reynolds-junior-skelton
|website= Wallabies
|access-date= 30 August 2023
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811044938/https://wallabies.rugby/players/william-reynolds-junior-skelton
|archive-date=11 August 2023
|url-status=live}}
|title=Meet Cameron: Chiefs sign 145kg younger brother of Will Skelton
|url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/25554/meet-cameron-chiefs-sign-145kg-younger-brother-of-will-skelton
|website=allblacks.com|access-date=21 October 2015}}
|title=Chiefs sign Will Skelton's younger, bigger brother
|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby-2014/rugby/story/235085.html|website=ESPN Scrum
|publisher=ESPN
|access-date=21 October 2015}}
|last1=Dutton |first1=Chris
|title=Michael Cheika flags plans to lure Will Skelton's super-sized brother Cameron back to Australia
|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/michael-cheika-flags-plans-to-lure-will-skeltons-supersized-brother-cameron-back-to-australia-20141126-11urdu.html
|website=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|access-date=21 October 2015}}
|date = 21 March 2013
|title=National Academy Player Will Skelton signs with NSW Waratahs
|url= http://www.rugby.com.au/superrugby/News/Article/tabid/959/ArticleID/8632/Default.aspx
|publisher = ARU Media Unit
|access-date=10 June 2013
|url-status= live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031134922/http://www.rugby.com.au/superrugby/News/Article/tabid/959/ArticleID/8632/Default.aspx
|archive-date= 31 October 2013}}
|date= 15 March 2014
|first= Rupert |last=Guinness
|title= Rugby World Cup 2015: Will Skelton says set piece not size is key
|work= The Sydney Morning Herald
|url= http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/rugby-world-cup/rugby-world-cup-2015-will-skelton-says-set-piece-not-size-is-key-20150913-gjlhkt.html#ixzz46kyuVsTI
|access-date= 24 April 2016
}}
| date = 15 June 2013
| access-date= 31 October 2013
| first = Georgina | last = Robinson
| title= Slimming down and stepping up: Tahs' big bopper faces toughest test
| work = Sydney Morning Herald
| url-status= live
| url= http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/slimming-down-and-stepping-up-tahs-big-bopper-faces-toughest-test-20130614-2o9o7.html
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131031125413/http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/slimming-down-and-stepping-up-tahs-big-bopper-faces-toughest-test-20130614-2o9o7.html
| archive-date= 31 October 2013}}
| date = 21 Mar 2013
| access-date= 31 October 2013
| title= Towering young Skelton joins Waratahs
| work = ABC
| url-status= live
| url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-21/towering-young-skelton-joins-waratahs/4587092
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130323190159/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-21/towering-young-skelton-joins-waratahs/4587092
| archive-date=23 March 2013}}
|date = 22 May 2014
|first= Georgina |last= Robinson
|access-date= 11 June 2014
|title= Will Skelton one of 11 Waratahs in Wallabies squad
|work = The Sydney Morning Herald
|url-status= live
|url= http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/will-skelton-one-of-11-waratahs-in-wallabies-squad-20140522-zrkr8.html
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140522074922/http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/will-skelton-one-of-11-waratahs-in-wallabies-squad-20140522-zrkr8.html
|archive-date= 22 May 2014}}
|date= 15 March 2014
|title= NSW big man Will Skelton turned down Sir Graham Henry and All Blacks chance to become a giant for the Waratahs
|first= Iain |last=Payten
|work= The Courier Mail
|url= http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/rugby/nsw-big-man-will-skelton-turned-down-sir-graham-henry-and-all-blacks-chance-to-become-a-giant-for-the-waratahs/story-fnii0ksb-1226855127787?nk=0c261dc7c9551c3fe9b1c953d265c90c-1461510011
|access-date= 24 April 2016
|url-status= live
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160529141555/http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/rugby/nsw-big-man-will-skelton-turned-down-sir-graham-henry-and-all-blacks-chance-to-become-a-giant-for-the-waratahs/story-fnii0ksb-1226855127787?nk=0c261dc7c9551c3fe9b1c953d265c90c-1461510011
|archive-date= 29 May 2016 }}
|date= 21 June 2014
|title= Skelton debut impresses McKenzie
|website= Planet Rugby
|access-date= 22 June 2014
|url= http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9817_9356619,00.html
}}
}}
External links
- [http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_23589.html It's Rugby] statistics
- [http://www.waratahs.com.au/Waratahs/Team/SuperRugbySquad/PlayerDetail.aspx?pid=141 Waratahs Profile]
- {{citation
|title=Will Skelton Wallabies Player Profile
|website = Australian Rugby
|url= http://www.rugby.com.au/wallabies/TheTeam/WallabiesProfilePage.aspx?pid=310
|url-status= dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150906181417/http://www.rugby.com.au/wallabies/TheTeam/WallabiesProfilePage.aspx?pid=310
|archive-date= 6 September 2015
}}
{{Stade Rochelais squad}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Squads
|list1 =
{{Australia 2023 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{Australia Squad 2015 Rugby World Cup}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skelton, Will}}
Category:Australia international rugby union players
Category:Australian sportspeople of Samoan descent
Category:Australian rugby union players
Category:New South Wales Waratahs players
Category:Rugby union players from Auckland
Category:New Zealand emigrants to Australia
Category:2015 Rugby World Cup players
Category:2023 Rugby World Cup players
Category:Stade Rochelais players
Category:Australian expatriate rugby union players in France
Category:Saracens F.C. players
Category:Australian expatriate rugby union players in England