Stuart Abbott

Rugger
name = Stuart Abbott


caption =
birthname = Stuart Richard Abbott
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1978|6|3|df=yes
placeofbirth = Cape Town, South Africa
dateofdeath =
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height = convert|1.82|m|ftin|abbr=on
weight = convert|89|kg|stlb|abbr=on
ru_position = Centre
ru_amateuryears =
ru_amateurclubs =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = South Africa U23
England
ru_nationalyears =
2003-2007
ru_nationalcaps =
9
ru_nationalpoints =
(10)
ru_ntupdate = 14 Sept 2006
ru_clubyears = 1999-2000
2001
2001-2006
2006-2007
ru_proclubs = Leicester Tigers
Stormers
London Wasps
Harlequins
ru_clubcaps = 217
ru_clubpoints = (0)(0)
ru_clubupdate = 24 Jan 2008
ru_currentclub =
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ru_provinceyears =
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ru_provincepoints =
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ru_sevensnationalyears =
ru_sevensnationalteam =
ru_sevensnationalcaps =
ru_sevensnationalpoints =
ru_sevensupdate =
ru_coachclubs =
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other =
occupation =
family =
spouse =
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relatives =
school =
university = Stellenbosch University

Stuart Richard Abbott MBE (born 3 June 1978) is a South African born rugby union footballer who played centre for Harlequins and England. On 24 October 2007 Abbott announced his immediate retirement due to Shoulder injury. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/harlequins/7060002.stm]

At 87kg he was small for a centre but his tackling is considered superb, and as his general vision of the game.

Abbott was born in Cape Town, South Africa. His mother was English. He was educated at Western Province Prep School. Stuart then went to Diocesan College, which is commonly known as Bishops'. Springbok centre Robbie Fleck, and Selborne Boome went to the same school. He took a degree in economics at Stellenbosch University and played for the Northern Free State Griffons in the Currie Cup. He later played for Western Province and South Africa U23

During the 1999 World Cup, Abbott signed for English club Leicester Tigers, who had lost several players to international duty, and made two appearances, on the recommendation of former Tigers and Springbok fly-half Joel Stransky.

In 2001 he played for the South African Super 12 side Stormers. In November 2001 Abbott was signed by English club Wasps. He rocketed to prominence in 2002-2003 as a prime force in the team that won the Zurich Premiership, he repeated this for 2003-2004 when the club reached the finals of both the Heineken Cup and the end-of-season Zurich Premiership playoffs.

He turned down an approach from South Africa coach Rudolf Straeuli prior to the World Cup but decided to play for England. Stuart Abbott scored on his England debut when he scored one of the five tries in England’s 43-9 Rugby World Cup warm up match with Wales at the Millennium Stadium in August 2003. After impressing again in a pre-World Cup trial against France two weeks later, was selected in England's World Cup squad.

In 2003, he appeared in three Rugby World Cup games, adding a second try in the runaway win over Uruguay. England went on to win the World Cup and with his team-mates Abbott was appointed an MBE in the 2004 New Year's honours. He missed out on the 2004 Six Nations Championship through injury but showed his class for his club, earning his call up for the 2004 summer tour. He enjoyed a very successful period at London Wasps winning the Heineken Cup,Zurich Premiership and in his last season there, the Powergen Cup.

In 2006, Abbott joined the newly promoted Harlequins for the 2006-07 season, but only made 17 appearances for them before his injury-enforced retirement.

In May 2008 Abbott was announced Backs Coach at Rosslyn Park FC.

References

External links

* [http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=4163 England profile]
* [http://www.quins.co.uk/PlayerDisplay.ink?skip=0&season=2006/2007&Playertype=P Harlequins profile]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1591 Sporting heroes]
* [http://www.wasps.co.uk/PlayerDisplaySS.ink?skip=0&squadno=5400&season=05/06&seasonl=2005/2006&Playertype=P Wasps profile]
* [http://statistics.scrum.com/rugby_stats_05.asp?ID=KAB4 Profile at scrum.com]