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Will Addison

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Will Addison
Birth nameWilliam Joseph Addison
Date of birth (1992-08-20) 20 August 1992 (age 32)
Place of birthPenrith, Cumbria, England
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight93 kg (14 st 9 lb; 205 lb)
SchoolQueen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith
UniversityUniversity of Manchester
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing, Full-back
Current team Ulster
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2018
2011
2018–2024
2024–
Sale Sharks
Macclesfield (loan)
Ulster
Sale Sharks
114
2
44
0
(158)
(0)
(58)
(0)
Correct as of 8 June 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012
2018–2020
England U20
Ireland
4
5
(0)
(2)
Correct as of 10 July 2021

William Joseph Addison (born 20 August 1992) is an English-born Irish rugby union player who plays as a utility back for Premiership Rugby club Sale Sharks, and has represented Ireland internationally.

A product of the Sale Sharks academy,[1] Addison made his club debut for Sale in 2010.[2] He was part of the England U20 side which won the Junior Six Nations.[3] He also featured at the 2012 Junior World Cup.[4] He split time between his rugby career and studying for a degree in business studies, graduating in 2014.[5] He was named the Sharks' captain ahead of the 2017-18 season, having previously captained the side in the absence of Josh Beaumont.[6]

Addison is Irish-qualified through his Fermanagh-born mother,[7] and grew up supporting Ireland.[8] His contract with Sale contained an option to leave if an Irish team approached him,[9] and he signed for Ulster ahead of the 2018–19 season in pursuit of his ambitions to play international rugby.[2] He had a successful start to the season, initially at fullback, later at outside centre.[10] On 24 October 2018, he was named in the Ireland squad for the November Internationals.[11] On 3 November 2018 he made his debut for Ireland against Italy.[12] He sustained a back injury in January 2019 that required surgery[10] and kept him out for fifteen months. He returned to action in April 2021, before his season was ended by a red card for a dangerous tackle against Munster in May.[13]

He started the 2021–22 season strongly, playing four games and scoring a try,[14] before sustaining a fracture of the lower leg in October which again meant undergoing surgery.[15] He signed for Sale at the end of the 2023-24 season.[16]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Transfer News: Will Addison will leave Sale Sharks in the summer", Ruck.co.uk, 30 March 2018
  2. ^ a b "Will Addison: Ulster sign Irish-qualified Sale Sharks centre". BBC Sport. 30 March 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  3. ^ "U20 Six Nations". ESPN Scrum. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Ireland U20 27-12 England U20". World Rugby. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  5. ^ Emma Flanagan, "Sale Sharks star graduates from university with top degree", Manchester Evening News, 9 July 2014
  6. ^ Matthew Wood, "Sale Sharks announce Will Addison as captain for upcoming season", Talking Rugby Union, 9 August 2017
  7. ^ Will Addison profile, RTÉ Sport, 13 September 2021
  8. ^ Gareth Hanna, "Will Addison: I liked to stand out by supporting Ireland while growing up in England", Belfast Telegraph, 7 November 2018
  9. ^ Ciarán Ó Raghallaigh, Owen Slot, Irish option was in deal, says Will Addison", The Times, 25 July 2018
  10. ^ a b "Making an impact at Ulster Rugby", The Front Row Union, 23 May 2019
  11. ^ "Schmidt includes uncapped Addison as Murray misses out on Ireland squad". The 42. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  12. ^ "Will Addison hungers for more on international stage after Ireland debut", News Letter, 4 November 2018
  13. ^ "Will Addison: Ulster back's season over after receiving four-match ban", BBC Sport, 13 May 2021
  14. ^ Playing statistics at ItsRugby.co.uk
  15. ^ Jonathan Bradley, "Ulster’s luckless Will Addison sustains broken leg", Belfast Telegraph, 18 October 2021
  16. ^ Neil Treacey, "Ulster's Will Addison confirms Sale Sharks return", RTÉ, 28 May 2024
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