Jamie Noon

Infobox Rugby Union biography
playername = Jamie Noon


fullname = Jamie Darren Noon
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|5|9
cityofbirth = Goole, Yorkshire
countryofbirth = England
height = 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
weight = 14 st 0 lb (89 kg)
nickname =
school = Fyling Hall
Newcastle College
university = Northumbria University
relatives =
position = Centre
currentclub = Newcastle Falcons
clubnumber = 13
youthyears =
youthclubs = Whitby
years = 1998 ‐
clubs = Newcastle Falcons
caps(points) = 203 (260)
repyears = 2001 ‐
repteam = England
repcaps(points) = 33 (35)
pcupdate =
repupdate =

Jamie Darren Noon (born 9 May 1979 in Goole) is a rugby union footballer who plays at centre for Newcastle Falcons.

Career

Hard-running centre Noon joined the Falcons in the 1998/9 season, after a letter from one of his school teachers alerted the club to a player who had been totally missed by the representative rugby system in Yorkshire.

Playing for Fyling Hall School and Whitby RFC at the time, once the Falcons had seen his talents first hand, he was drafted into the academy squad straightaway.

"Noonie" as he is known to close friends went on to graduate from Northumbria University with a sports science degree, while his on-field activity was equally successful as he made two first team appearances in his first year at the club.

Later that year he represented England in the Sanzar Under-21 tournament, what would later go on to become the IRB Under-21 World Cup, while his first Premiership try duly came early in the 1999/2000 season away to London Wasps.

As well as representing England Under-21s he played for the North of England and England Students, while in the 1999/2000 season he played for England on the IRB Sevens circuit, including the Hong Kong Sevens.

A supremely consistent performer, in 2003 Noon smashed the record for consecutive Premiership appearances when he started his 50th league game in a row.

Full international recognition came in the summer of 2001 when he started three Tests for England on their North American tour – two against Canada and one versus the USA, with the Goole-born player scoring his first Test try in the second of the two clashes against the Canadians.

In 2003 he played in England’s warm-up matches for the Rugby World Cup, although he was to agonisingly miss out on selection for the tournament itself. He did, however, go on to be named Falcons player of the year for the 2003/4 campaign.

England ‘A’ honours in the Churchill cup followed in 2004 as he played against Canada and scored in the final against the New Zealand Maori, while the 2004/5 season was to prove a major success as he was named joint vice captain for the Falcons.

Drafted into a new-look England back line, Noon started all five matches for England during the 2005 Six Nations, rounding it off with a historic hat-trick in the final match of the tournament against Scotland at Twickenham. Married to wife Rachel, both she and new baby boy Lewis were there in the stands to witness it first hand.

His England caps continued to come throughout the 2006 Six Nations and the summer tour to Australia, while his influence on the Falcons midfield remains as large as ever.

Noon was a part of the England squad that made it to the final of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, Noon played in the first couple of pool matches, but after less than pleasing performances from a team and individual perspective, he was dropped by Brian Ashton and didn't play another game in the tournament.

Matthew Tait took his spot at outside centre which proved to be very pivotal, as Noon's young Newcastle teammate was one of England's standout players throughout the tournament, in particular the final where he ran 50 meters and evading 5 springboks tacklers, only to be pulled down a few meters short by a great cover tackle by Victor Matfield.

However through hard work and a retirement to veteran Mike Catt, Noon was re-instated at centre for England's 2008 Six Nations campaign, he played in every match and was one of England's best players through the tournament despite only coming away with three wins.

Noon was particularly impressive in the final match against Ireland where he scored a try and pulled off a number of hard hits, it caused many commentators to say he played well, and to also be awarded "Man of the Match" ahead of an impressive Danny Cipriani.

Noon went on the summer tour to New Zealand, which was marred with controversy, England lost both matches heavily, and Noon being solid without being outstanding.

When Martin Johnson announced his elite player list, Noon was a member of the Elite squad, showing that he is still in England's plans.

He has stayed loyal to Newcastle after many retirements and transfers, he and Jonny Wilkinson are the only remaining "world class" players in the Falcons set-up.

He is admired by the Kingston Park faithful for his loyalty, a chant that rings around the ground when Noon is playing is "Do you want to touch Noonie's Noonie?"

External links

* [http://www.newcastle-falcons.co.uk/198_294.php Newcastle profile]
* [http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=5913 England profile]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=2029 Jamie Noon photo by sportingheroes]