Tom Varndell

Rugger
name = Thomas William Varndell


caption =
birthname =
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1985|9|16|df=yes
placeofbirth = Ashford, England
dateofdeath =
placeofdeath =
height = height|ft=6|in=4
weight = convert|16|st|0|lb|kg|abbr=on
ru_position = Wing
ru_amateuryears = 1994-2000
ru_amateurclubs = Chinnor (henley rugby club)
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = England Saxons
England
ru_nationalyears =
2005-
ru_nationalcaps =
4
ru_nationalpoints =
(15)
ru_ntupdate = 23rd Jan 2007
ru_clubyears = 2004-present 2006
ru_proclubs = Leicester Tigers
→ Bedford Blues "(loan)"
ru_clubcaps = 52
2
ru_clubpoints = (190)
(10)
ru_clubupdate = 23rd Jan 2007
ru_currentclub =Leicester tigers

Tom Varndell (born 16 September 1985 in Ashford, Kent) is an English rugby union footballer who plays on the wing for Leicester Tigers, England and England Sevens. He measures 1.92 m, 97 kg (6'3½", 214 lb), and claims he has been clocked at 10.8 seconds for the 100 metres in his socks on grass. [cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4773481.stm | title=Five to watch | first=James| last=Standley | date=May 15, 2006 | publisher=BBC Sport] If correct, this data suggests that Varndell could run much faster over 100 metres, rendering him as arguably one of the fastest men in World Rugby.

Early career

Tom began playing rugby aged 8 at Chinnor rugby club in Oxfordshire [cite news | url=http://sport.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5352729-108566,00.html | title=Varndell finds feet on fast track to the top | first=Robert | last=Kitson | date=December 10, 2005 | publisher=The Guardian] before moving to Henley rugby club where he stayed until he 15 when he was invited by Dusty Hare, the former England full back, who was Leicester's Chief Scout, to train with them [cite news | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article757319.ece | title=Varndell a racing certainty | first=Stephen | last=Jones | date=December 11, 2005 | publisher=The Times] . He spent two years at the Tigers' den but left to take up a scholarship at Colston's Collegiate School in Bristol.

2004-05

Varndell returned to the Tigers in 2004, and made a quick impact in the Premiership. In his second appearance with the Tigers senior side, he recorded the fastest hat trick of tries in Premiership history, doing so in a 13-minute span against Worcester. He finished the 2005-06 Guinness Premiership regular season, top of the try list with 14.

2005-06

Also in 2005, Varndell made his debut for both national teams within one week. On 26 November, he scored a try against Manu Samoa at Twickenham in his first full 15-man international. Then, on 1 and 2 December, he made his England Sevens debut in the Dubai Sevens, the first tournament in the 2005-06 World Sevens Series. Varndell was the tournament's leading try scorer as England claimed the title.

In 2006, Varndell was chosen in the England Saxons team for the 6 nations, but after impressive displays for both Leicester Tigers and England in the Rugby Sevens at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, he was awarded with a two starting places on the first team, development tour to Australia. For the Elite players squad in the 2006/2007 England Squad he was subsequently dropped and demoted back to the England Saxons side with new Leicester team mate, Jordan Crane.

In September 2006, Varndell played for Leicester's feeder club, Bedford Blues, and scored a try on his debut against Exeter Chiefs.

2007-08

The start of the 2007-2008 season sees Varndell back on the wing in the starting 15 for Leicester's opening games in the Premiership.

In late 2007 his girlfriend Claire gave birth to a son called Taio.

Start of 2008 has seen Tom, selected for the England Saxons squad. He started the first game against the Ireland A team, at Welford road and scored

He was selected in the England Saxons side that defeated Ireland A at Welford Road on 1 February 2008, bagging a brace in his first international since the tour to Australia 18 months prior. cite web|url=http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=18739|title=England Saxons squad for Ireland A match|publisher=RFU|date=2008-01-23|accessdate=2008-02-03] cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/7217616.stm|title=Varndell shines in Saxons victory|publisher=BBC|date=2008-02-02|accessdate=2008-02-03] This has done his Six Nations credentials no harm and his Saxons coach Steve Bates is keen to put pressure on first team selection. cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12335_3102940,00.html|title=Varndell stakes Six Nations claim|publisher=Sky Sports|date=2008-02-02|accessdate=2008-02-03]

He was awarded a starting place for the 2nd test against New Zealand in Christchurch, England went onto lose 44-12. Varndell did, however, score a try for his team. He is currently a member of Martin Johnson's Elite England squad ready for selection for the '08-'09 international season.

References

External links

* [http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=12431 England Rugby profile]
* [http://www.tigers.co.uk/31_306.php Leicester Tigers profile]