Sam Vesty

Infobox Rugby Union biography
playername = Sam Vesty


fullname = Samuel Brook Vesty
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|11|26
cityofbirth = Leicester
countryofbirth = England
height = 6 ft 0 ins (1.83 m)
weight = 14 st 6 lbs (92 Kg)
nickname =
school = John Cleveland College
relatives =
position = Utility back
currentclub = Leicester Tigers
clubnumber =
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2002 ‐
clubs = Leicester Tigers
caps(points) = 123 (146)
repyears =
repteam =
repcaps(points) =
pcupdate =
repupdate =

Samuel Brook Vesty (born November 26, 1981) is an English rugby union footballer who plays utility back (though his preferred position is full back) for Leicester Tigers.

Vesty's father Phil vesty made 47 first-team appearances for Leicester as a prop between 1971-1976. Phil's father Albert (Bernard) Vesty made one appearance for Leicester on the wing in the last game of the 1946/47 season. A great-grandfather, Jack Dickens, a centre-cum-wing, made 15 first-team appearances for Tigers in the 1909-1910 season. Vesty is an all-round sportsman, having played as a wicket-keeper/batsman for Leicestershire C.C.C.'s 2nd XI before having to give up cricket to focus on his rugby. He has also played Tennis to county level.

Vesty can play full back, fly-half or centre. He has also played one game the wing, though his lack of pace proved problematic. His strengths lie in the fact that he is an all-round footballer, with good ball handling and kicking skills. The highest representative honours he has are for England A.

Initially he played for Leicester at as a teenage fly-half after Andy Goode deserted to Saracens, but he was young, inexperienced and at 12 stone had not properly bulked out (he is now 14 stone). After Goode's return he spent a period as a squad member, he returned as a full back.

He attended John Cleveland College, and plays in a rock band with Ollie Smith and George Chuter called Slo Progress.

External links

* [http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=10918 England profile]
* [http://www.leicestertigers.com/5632_307.php Leicester profile]
* [http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/112_146.php?player=4480&includeref=dynamic Guinness Premiership profile]