Tom Biggs

Infobox Rugby Union biography
playername = Tom Biggs


fullname = Tom Biggs
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1984|8|22|df=yes
cityofbirth = Hull, Yorkshire
countryofbirth = England
height = height|ft=5|in=10
weight = 12 st 8 lbs (80 kg)
nickname = Biggsy, Biggles
school = Hymers College
university = Leeds Metropolitan University
relatives =
position = Wing
currentclub = Leeds Carnegie
clubnumber = 11
youthyears =
youthclubs = Hull City
years = 2004 ‐
2004 ‐ 05
clubs = Leeds Carnegie
Harrogate RFC
caps(points) =
loan
repyears = 2008 ‐
repteam = England Saxons
repcaps(points) = 1
pcupdate =
repupdate =

Tom Biggs (born 22 August 1984 in Hull, Humberside) is a rugby union footballer for Leeds Tykes . His usual position is at wing .

Playing in his first season for Leeds Tykes in 2004, he featured in the Zurich Premiership, Powergen Cup and European Cup . He was a late starter in the union code, playing no club rugby and not breaking into the county set-up until at U-18s level. His only experience up until that point had been with his school team at Hymers College.

Biggs was spotted by the then Tykes Academy boss Stuart Lancaster when playing for Yorkshire U18s and was asked to join the Tykes' Academy side.

The 2004-05 Zurich Premiership season was to be a pivotal one for Biggs and in a sensational transformation he established himself as one of the brightest prospects in rugby union .

At the start of that season he was working in a cinema and in a pea factory to supplement his life as a business student at Leeds Metropolitan University and by the end he had collected a Powergen Cup winners medal.

Before the 2004-05 campaign Biggs was considering a part time rugby career with National Division Two team Harrogate Rugby Union Football Club , having failed to make an appearance in the Leeds Tykes first team.

But a strange twist of fate saw him recalled by Tykes coach Phil Davies on the eve of the season as the club were forced to call on all their resources when faced with an injury crisis with Phil Christophers , Diego Albanese , Tim Stimpson and Iain Balshaw all ruled out through various reasons.

Biggs was included in the pre-season warm up games and was such a hit, scoring twice in three matches, that he was picked in the staring line up for the opening game of the season against Gloucester RFC on 5 September 1984 , making his full debut in a 16-21 defeat at Headingley .

He also featured in the next game against Leicester Tigers and scored a fantastic try in a 20-42 defeat. He was first to react to a Gordon Ross cross field kick and chipped on ahead of Austin Healey to collect the ball and evade the cover tackle to touch down superbly. So good was the try it was short-listed for the Gillette Try of the season at the Zurich Awards .

He made 21 appearances that season helping the Tykes to avoid relegation from the Zurich Premiership with another try against Leicester in a 23-22 victory at Headingley. The score was all of the full-back's own making as he gathered the ball on halfway and made an arcing run to cross in the corner.

Biggs ended a remarkable debut season with a place in the Tykes' Powergen Cup final against Bath Rugby collecting his first winners medal in a 20-12 win. He was chosen ahead of Argentine wing Diego Albanese in the Tykes' side for the Twickenham clash.

Last season he was once again in great form and ended the season as the club’s top try scorer and was voted Player Of The Year.

Before breaking into the Tykes team Biggs had not gained any international honours, however after his first season he was selected for the England U21 team in the IRB U21s Championship in Argentina and was involved in the U21s’ Six Nations campaign, playing in their final clash with Scotland .

Biggs, who was close to being selected for the England Saxons last summer, has committed himself to the Tykes until 2009.

Biggs has missed up to three months of the National Division One 2006/7 season following a shoulder surgery he suffered in September 2006.

He had an operation to repair torn cartilage and one ligament but he returned to action in January 2007 as a replacement against Nottingham.

He has been called into the England Saxons squad to face Italy A in Ragusa, Sicily on 9 February 2008. cite web|url=http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/RFUHome.England_Detail/StoryID/18872|title=England Saxons training squad for Italy A|publisher=RFU|date=2008-02-04|accessdate=2008-02-05] cite web|url=http://www.quins.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=38432&newstype=n&matchid=&Refid=|title=Guest, Care and Jarvis join Skinner and Brown in England Saxons squad|publisher=Quins|date=2008-02-04|accessdate=2008-02-05]

References

External links

* [http://www.leedscarnegie.co.uk/index_teamprofile_tom_biggs.htm Leeds profile]
* [http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=18877 England profile]