Will Stuart
{{short description|England international rugby union prop}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Will Stuart
| image = Will Stuart 2021.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = William James Stuart
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|07|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = Westminster, England
| height = {{convert|1.88|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|135|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| school = Farleigh School
Radley College
| university =
| relatives =
| position = Prop
| currentclub = Bath
| years1 = 2014–2019
| clubs1 = Wasps
| apps1 = 32
| points1 = 20
| years2 = 2014–2016
| clubs2 = → Blackheath (loan)
| apps2 = 12
| points2 = 5
| years3 = 2016–2017
| clubs3 = → Birmingham Moseley (loan)
| apps3 = 6
| points3 = 0
| years4 = 2017–2019
| clubs4 = → Nottingham (loan)
| apps4 = 8
| points4 = 5
| years5 = 2019–
| clubs5 = Bath
| apps5 = 98
| points5 = 70
| repyears1 = 2016
| repteam1 = England U20s
| repcaps1 = 10
| reppoints1 = 0
| repyears2 = 2020–
| repteam2 = England
| repcaps2 = 50
| reppoints2 = 15
| repyears3 = 2025
| repteam3 = British & Irish Lions
| repcaps3 =
| reppoints3 =
| clubupdate = 25 May 2025
| repupdate = 15 March 2025
| ru_sevensnationalyears1 =
| ru_sevensnationalteam1 =
| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 =
| ru_sevensupdate =
}}
William James Stuart (born 12 July 1996) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Premiership Rugby club Bath and the England national team.{{cite web |title=Will Stuart ESPN profile |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/england/rugby/player/285791.html|publisher=ESPN|access-date=24 April 2019}}
Early life
Stuart started playing rugby at Andover RFC in Hampshire before moving on to Salisbury RFC in Wiltshire. He was schooled at Radley College in Oxfordshire.{{cite web|url=https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/young-gun/24668/young-gun-will-stuart-wasps-and-england-u20s-tighthead/|title=Young Gun: Will Stuart – Wasps and England U20s tighthead|date=18 December 2015|access-date=24 April 2019}} He went to a prep school called Farleigh School.
Club career
Stuart joined the Wasps academy after school.{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/how-coventry-hiding-forged-englands-new-front-row-star-c2mvzq2nf|title=How Coventry 'hiding' forged England's new front-row star|first=Owen|last=Slot|website=The Times|date=23 December 2020|access-date=23 December 2020}} He spent time on loan in National League 1 and the RFU Championship with Blackheath, Moseley and Nottingham.{{cite news|title=Wasps' 133kg prop Will Stuart making Premiership waves after school of hard knocks|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/will-stuart-wasps-prop-15205032|first=Bobby|last=Bridge|publisher=Coventry Telegraph|date=26 September 2018|access-date=24 April 2019}} Stuart made his Wasps debut on 4 November 2016 against Sale Sharks.{{cite web|url=https://www.wasps.co.uk/players-staff/senior-squad/will-stuart/#STATS|title=Will Stuart Wasps stats}}
On 18 January 2019 his signing for the 2019–20 season was announced by Bath.{{cite news|title=Bath Rugby sign Will Stuart from Wasps - and this is why he chose his new club|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/will-stuart-bath-wasps-15699868|first=Bobby|last=Bridge|publisher=Coventry Telegraph|date=18 January 2019|access-date=24 April 2019}}
International career
=England=
Stuart represented England at the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship and came off the bench in the final as England defeated Ireland to become junior World champions.{{cite news|title=Dominant England blow Ireland away in U20 World Cup final|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/international-rugby/dominant-england-blow-ireland-away-in-u20-world-cup-final-34833585.html|first=John|last=Fallon|publisher=Irish Independent|date=25 June 2016|access-date=13 January 2022}}
In January 2020 he received his first call up to the senior England squad for the 2020 Six Nations Championship{{cite news|title=Six Nations 2020: England call up eight uncapped players|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51173798|first=Chris|last=Jones|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 January 2020|access-date=20 January 2020}} and on 2 February 2020 made his debut{{cite news|title=France v England: George Furbank starts Six Nations opener|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51325011|first=Chris|last=Jones|publisher=BBC Sport|date=31 January 2020|access-date=13 January 2022}} as a replacement for Kyle Sinckler in the opening round defeat away to France.{{cite news|title=France 24-17 England: England lose Six Nations opener in Paris|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51349854|first=Tom|last=Fordyce|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 February 2020|access-date=13 January 2022}} He also played in the final round as England beat Italy to win the tournament.{{cite news|title=Italy 5-34 England: Visitors' victory proves enough to win Six Nations title|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54763235|first=Becky|last=Grey|publisher=BBC Sport|date=31 October 2020|access-date=13 January 2022}}
In November 2020 Stuart made his first start for England in their opening game of the Autumn Nations Cup against Georgia{{cite news|title=England v Georgia team news: Jack Willis to make debut as Ollie Lawrence and Will Stuart start Autumn Nations Cup clash|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/england-vs-georgia-team-news-jack-willis-b1721711.html|first=Jack|last=de Menezes|work=The Independent|date=12 November 2020|access-date=13 January 2022}} and subsequently came off the bench in the final as England defeated France in extra-time to win the competition.{{cite news|title=Autumn Nations Cup: England beat France in sudden death|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55204300|first=Mike|last=Henson|publisher=BBC Sport|date=6 December 2020|access-date=13 January 2022}}
On November 19, 2022, Stuart came off the bench against New Zealand to score his first 2 senior international tries which would subsequently draw the game 25–25, with England having been 17–3 down at half time. This made him the first England prop to score twice in a test match.{{cite news|title=I nearly botched that first try – Eddie said I need to sort my finishing drills, says Twickenham hero Will Stuart|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/article/i-nearly-botched-that-first-try-eddie-said-i-need-to-sort-my-finishing-drills-says-twickenham-hero-will-stuart-vf37dlxgz|first=Will|last=Kelleher|work=The Times|date=20 November 2022|access-date=20 November 2022}}
=British & Irish Lions=
On May 8 2025 it was announced that he had been selected for the British & Irish Lions squad for their 2025 tour of Australia.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-08 |title=British & Irish Lions: Maro Itoje named captain for Australia tour |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/45048170/british-irish-lions-maro-itoje-named-captain-australia-tour |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
Career statistics
= List of international tries =
{{International goals header|ref=no}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|rowspan="2"|19 November 2022
|rowspan="2"|Twickenham Stadium, London, England
|rowspan="2"|{{ru|New Zealand}}
|style="text-align:center;"|11–25
|rowspan="2" {{draw|25–25}}
|rowspan="2"|2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|2
|style="text-align:center;"|23–25
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|3
|rowspan="2"|15 March 2025
|rowspan="2"|Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
|rowspan="2"|{{ru|Wales}}
|style="text-align:center;"|33-7
|rowspan="2" {{Win|68-14}}
|rowspan="2"|2025 Six Nations Championship
|}
{{as of|2025|03|15|lc=y}}{{Cite web |title=Will STUART profile and stats |url=https://all.rugby/player/will-stuart |access-date=2022-11-19 |website=all.rugby |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.englandrugby.com/follow/england-men/senior-men/will-stuart Will Stuart] at England Rugby
- {{sports links}}
{{Bath Rugby squad}}
{{England 2023 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stuart, Will}}
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Nottingham R.F.C. players
Category:Blackheath F.C. players
Category:England international rugby union players
Category:People from Westminster
Category:Rugby union players from the City of Westminster
Category:People educated at Radley College
Category:2023 Rugby World Cup players
{{England-rugbyunion-bio-1990s-stub}}