Simon Cross (rugby player)

Rugger
name = Simon Cross


birthname = Simon Terriss Cross
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|2|3|df=yes
placeofbirth = Mauritius
height = height|ft=6|in=4
weight = 16 st 11 lbs (107 kg)
ru_position = Flanker|capital=yes
ru_currentclub = Edinburgh Rugby
ru_nationalteam = Scotland
ru_nationalcaps = 0
ru_nationalpoints = (0)
ru_ntupdate = 22 August 2008
ru_nationalyears =
ru_amateuryears = 2008-present
ru_amupdate = 22 June 2008
ru_amateurclubs = Selkirk
ru_clubyears = 2000-2003 2006 2003-present
ru_proclubs = London Wasps Waterloo (loan) Edinburgh Rugby
ru_clubcaps =
ru_clubpoints =
ru_clubupdate = 7 April 2008
ru_sevensnationalyears = 2007
ru_sevensnationalteam = Scotland
ru_sevensnationalcomp = Hong Kong; Adelaide; London; Edinburgh
ru_coachclubs = Penicuik
Murrayfield Wanderers
ru_coachyears = 2003-2008 2008-present
ru_coachupdate = 24 June 2008

other = yes
occupation = Professional rugby union player
school =
university =

Simon Terriss Cross (born February 3 1981 in Mauritius) is a Scottish rugby union player. He currently plays in the back row as a Flanker for Edinburgh Rugby, who compete in the Magners League and Heineken Cup.

Club Career

Cross joined Edinburgh Rugby in 2003 after starting his professional career with London Wasps where he captained the Under-21 side for three years.

During the 2006-07 season, Cross was loaned by Edinburgh to English National Division One club Waterloo for a period of one month. [Edinburgh Rugby. [http://www.edinburghrugby.org/index.php?option=com_team&page=player&pid=34&Itemid=69 Simon Cross - Flanker] Edinburgh Rugby. Retrieved on 22 August 2008.]

Cross was appointed Club Captain at the start of the 2007-08 season alongside Allister Hogg as First Team Captain. [BBC Sport (25 June 2007). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/solpda/ukfs_sport/hi/newsid_6237000/6237928.stm Edinburgh Pair to Share Captaincy] BBC Sport. Retrieved on 22 August 2008.] Cross will retain the club captaincy for the 2008-09 season, this time with Mike Blair as First Team Captain. [The Scotsman (11 July 2008). [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/rugby/Edinburgh-captaincy-lets-Blair-.4278719.jp|Edinburgh Captaincy Lets Blair Lead Club And Country] The Scotsman. Retrieved 22 August 2008.]

In April 2008, Cross signed a new two-year contract with Edinburgh. [Black, Gareth (8 April 2008). [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/rugby/Cross-glad-to-call-Edinburgh.3956437.jp| Cross Glad To Call Edinburgh Home By Extending His Stay] The Scotsman. Retrieved 22 August 2008.]

As part of the draft of all players from the Scottish pro-teams (Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors) to the Scottish Premier One rugby clubs, Cross was selected by Selkirk and will be available to play for them during the 2008-09 season when not required by Edinburgh or any of the national teams. [Scottish Rugby Union (22 June 2008). [http://www.scottishrugby.org/sru/corporate-sru/sru-news.cfm?news_uuid=B01EDE22-ED2E-D9C1-EA3487FC8C0860BB&newsDisplayMethod=article Links Between P1 Clubs And Pro-Teams To Be Strengthened] Scottish Rugby Union. Retrieved on 22 August 2008.]

International Career

Cross represented Scotland Under-19 in the 2000 IRB/FIRA Junior World Cup. [Edinburgh Rugby. [http://www.edinburghrugby.org/index.php?option=com_team&page=player&pid=34&Itemid=69 Simon Cross - Flanker] Edinburgh Rugby. Retrieved on 22 August 2008.]

In 2002, Cross turned down the opportunity to play with the England Under-21 team and in 2003 joined the Scottish national training squad pending a ruling from the IRB on his qualification to play for Scotland.

Cross, who has always considered himself to be Scottish, was born in a British military hospital in Mauritius. His mother, Fiona, was also born in a British military hospital in Germany, and his father, Peter, is English. Cross's maternal grandfather and great-grandfather were aso born in military hospitals, both in India. His great-great-grandfather was born in Scotland.

On 21 January 2004, the IRB Regulations Committee ruled that he was free to play for Scotland having demonstrated a "close, credible and established national link with the country" and accepted that "certain rights flow from birth in a British military hospital".

The Committee's statement went on to say that "if the player, his mother and/or grandfather had not been on military service and therefore born in British military hospitals, the strong likelihood is that given the historical circumstances and family lineage at least one of them would have been born in Scotland.

"The committee also took the view that close links to Scotland were further demonstrated by the fact that the player, who was eligible to play for other unions, refrained from representing such other unions.

"In particular he turned down opportunities to play with the England national representative under 21s team in 2002." [Ananova (January 2004). [http://www.ananova.com/sport/story/sm_858088.html Cross Cleared To Play For Scotland] Ananova. Retrieved on 22 August 2008.] [Trace, Marion (22 January 2004) [http://news.scotsman.com/weirdoddandquirkystories/Great-great-grandad-clears-Cross.2496775.jp Great, Great Grandad Clears Cross] The Scotsman. Retrieved on 22 August 2008.] [Edinburgh Rugby. [http://www.edinburghrugby.org/index.php?option=com_team&page=player&pid=34&Itemid=69 Simon Cross - Flanker] Edinburgh Rugby. Retrieved on 22 August 2008.]

Despite having been selected for national training squads by both the current Scotland coach, Frank Hadden, [Stuart, Lewis (5 May 2005) [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article1079593.ece Hadden Stays Loyal To Scotland Players] The Times. Retrieved on 22 August 2008.] and his predecessor, Matt Williams, [Trace, Marion (22 January 2004) [http://news.scotsman.com/weirdoddandquirkystories/Great-great-grandad-clears-Cross.2496775.jp Great, Great Grandad Clears Cross] The Scotsman. Retrieved on 22 August 2008.] and even being named among the replacements, [BBC Sport (14 February 2004) [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/3488637.stm Clockwatch: Wales 23-10 Scotland] BBC Sport. Retrieved on 28 August 2008] Cross has yet to receive a full international cap. [Scrum.com [http://www.scrum.com/1200_1205.php?player=4666&includeref=dynamic Simon Cross] Scrum.com. Retrieved on 22 August 2008.]

In 2007, Cross represented Scotland during the final four rounds of the 2006-07 IRB Sevens World Series in Hong Kong, Adelaide, London and the inaugural Edinburgh Sevens at Murrayfield. [Edinburgh Rugby. [http://www.edinburghrugby.org/index.php?option=com_team&page=player&pid=34&Itemid=69 Simon Cross - Flanker] Edinburgh Rugby. Retrieved on 22 August 2008.]

Coaching

In addition to his playing duties for Edinburgh, Cross will be the first team coach for Murrayfield Wanderers from the 2008-09 season. He has appointed his Edinburgh team mate, Andrew Easson as backs coach.

Cross previously coached Penicuik for five years. [The Scrum (July 2008). [http://www.scrummagazine.com/newsArchive/july/news.html Young Coaches Making Mark In Capital] Scottish Club Rugby Union Magazine. Retrieved on 22 August 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.edinburghrugby.org/index.php?option=com_team&page=player&pid=34&Itemid=69 Edinburgh Profile]
* [http://www.magnersleague.com/126_321.php?player=4666&includeref=dynamic Magners League Profile]
* [http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/36_4571.php?includeref=dynamic&player=244 European Rugby Cup: Player Profile]
* [http://www.wasps.co.uk/PlayerDisplay.ink?skip=95&squadno=1176&season=02/03&seasonl=&Playertype=p Wasps Profile]