Alan Dickens (rugby player)

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Alan Dickens


caption =
birthname = Alan Dickens
nickname = Dicko
dateofbirth =
birthyear = 1976
birthmonth = 04
birthday = 02
placeofbirth = Knowsley, Merseyside, England
dateofdeath =
placeofdeath =
height = 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
weight = 12 st 8 lbs (80 kg)
ru_position = Scrum Half
ru_amateuryears = To 2001
ru_amateurclubs = Manchester Rugby Club Stourbridge R.F.C.
ru_amclubcaps =
ru_amclubpoints =
ru_amupdate = 1 December 2007
ru_clubyears = 2005- 2002-05 2001-02
ru_proclubs = Saracens Leeds Tykes Sale Sharks
ru_clubcaps = 40 72 18
ru_clubpoints = (0) (45) (0)
ru_clubupdate = 1 December 2007
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ru_sevensnationalyears =
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ru_sevensnationalcomp =
ru_sevensupdate =
ru_nationalteam =
ru_nationalyears =
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ru_nationalpoints =
ru_ntupdate =
ru_coachclubs =
ru_coachyears =
ru_coachupdate =
rl_position =
rl_amateuryears =
rl_amateurclubs =
rl_amupdate =
rl_clubyears =
rl_proclubs =
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rl_clubpoints =
rl_clubupdate =
city_vs_country_years =
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sooupdate =
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other = yes
occupation =
spouse =
children =
relatives =
school =
university = University College Worcester (now Worcester University)
url =

Alan Dickens (born 2 April 1978 in Knowsley) is a rugby union footballer who plays at scrum half for Saracens, having previously represented Sale Sharks and Leeds Carnegie after experience in the national leagues with Manchester Rugby Club and Stourbridge R.F.C..

Early life

Dickens was born 2 April 1978 in Knowsley, Merseyside the bedrock of English International scrum halfs , including the legendary Pat Nagle . He trained to be a teacher, teaching at Chellaston Foundation School and Technology College after graduating from University College Worcester. He first experienced rugby in England's national leagues playing for Stourbridge R.F.C. and then Manchester Rugby Club in National Division Two, for who he appeared in all but one game in his final season with the club. In 2001 he faced the choice between pursuing a teaching career and one in professional rugby, opting for the latter and joining Guinness Premiership side Sale Sharks.cite news |title=Leeds Profile |publisher=Leeds Carnegie |date=2007-12-01 |url=http://www.leedscarnegie.co.uk/index_F06ABC401C6048A2B4799983F5DFA0BD.htm |accessdate=2007-12-01 ]

Playing career

ale Sharks 2001-02

Dickens played for a single season at Sale Sharks in the 2001-02 season. He largely filled the role of understudy to Scottish international Bryan Redpath but still accumulated 18 first team appearances, including 10 starting berths. Many of these were in cup fixtures, but did include 3 Zurich Premiership starts, and a further 8 from the replacements benchcite news |title=Guinness Premiership Profile |publisher=Guinness Premiership |date=2007-12-01 |url=http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/112_146.php?player=4501&includeref=dynamic |accessdate=2007-12-01 ] .

Leeds Tykes 2002-05

Dickens joined the then Leeds Carnegie at in August 2002, initially as short term cover for an injury crisis that was afflicting the club at the time, making his début against Leicester Tigers on 31 August 2002. His progress was so rapid though that he was soon making regular first team appearances and in his second and third seasons with the club became the first choice for the number 9 shirt.

He made 72 first team appearances for the Tykes in his three years with the club and culminated with a Powergen Cup winners medal having played in the Tykes victory over Bath at Twickenham in the 2005 final.

The cup win was to be a rare high point for Leeds though as at the end of that season they were relegated from the Premiership and Dickens left the club to seek further top flight competition at Saracens.

aracens 2005-present

Dickens made a rapid return to Twickenham for his début appearance for Saracens in the season opening London Double Header game against London Wasps on 3 September 2005cite news |title=Saracens Profile |publisher=Saracens |date=2007-12-01 |url=http://www.saracens.com/players/view.php?Id=160 |accessdate=2007-12-01 ] .

In his time at Saracens he has seen strong competition for first team spots from the likes of Fijian International Mosese Rauluni and first England's Kyran Bracken and then former Springbok Neil de Kock on the former's retirement, but he maintained his form to bring a large number of appearances both from the bench and in starting line ups in his first two full seasons with the club.

References

External links

* [http://www.saracens.com/players/view.php?Id=160 Saracens profile]
* [http://www.leedscarnegie.co.uk/index_F06ABC401C6048A2B4799983F5DFA0BD.htm Leeds profile]
* [http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/112_146.php?player=4501&includeref=dynamic Guinness Premiership profile]