Steve Thompson (rugby union): Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 22:50, 14 July 2011
| Birth name | Steve Geoffrey Thompson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 15 July 1978 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Hemel Hempstead, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 18 st 2 lb (115 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Northampton School for Boys | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Steve Thompson MBE (formerly Steve Walters; born 15 July 1978 in Hemel Hempstead) is a rugby union player who plays at hooker for London Wasps.
At International level he is England's most capped hooker,[1] and played for the British and Irish Lions.
He stated in an interview with The Daily Telegraph that he was the British Roller blading champion and came second in the European championship at age 13.[2]
Club career
Northampton Saints
Thompson, then known as Steve Walters, started playing rugby at 15 at the Northampton School for Boys and went on to play for Northampton Old Scouts RFC alongside Ben Cohen in a very successful youth team. He also trained with the youth section of Saints and, at 18, was selected for the apprentice scheme at the club's academy as a back row forward. Former Saints coach Ian McGeechan and coaches at Northampton Old Scouts RFC persuaded him to convert to being a hooker. Despite competing against the Argentinian Federico Méndez in the 1999–2000 season for his club place, he still managed to force his way into the England A squad. Thompson continued to develop as a player and became co-captain of Northampton Saints.
Retirement and return with CA Brive
On 15 April 2007 Thompson announced his immediate retirement from rugby due to a career ending neck injury that he had suffered during the closing Heineken Cup pool match with Biarritz Olympique at Franklin's Gardens in January 2007.[3]
For the 2007/2008 season he signed for CA Brive Correze Limousin as a "recruitment and technique adviser". But on 22 October 2007, Thompson announced he would be returning to the game after consulting medical staff.[4] He first played (and won) with CA Brive on November 9, 2007 in the European Challenge Cup against Connacht Rugby. Thompson represented CA Brive CL in three French Championship Top 14 campaigns.
Back in the Premiership
On 31 May 2010 Thompson finally agreed a 2 year deal with Leeds Carnegie after a lot of speculation. This saw him join up with former International team mate Neil Back who is head coach at Leeds.[5]
Leeds were relegated from the 2010–11 Aviva Premiership. On 1 May 2011 it was announced that he had signed a 3 year deal with London Wasps.[6]
International career
Thompson made his debut for England in the 2002 Six Nations against his former mentor’s side Scotland and the men in white came out on top.[7] He was selected for England’s summer tour to North America in 2001, where he did well. He scored his maiden test try against Italy in the 2003 Six Nations, a tournament which saw England win the Grand Slam.[8] Thompson made a significant contribution to England's southern hemisphere tour in June 2003, playing in both victorious tests against New Zealand[9] and Australia.[10]
He was a member of the England team that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup.[11] He played a part in all but one of England’s World Cup performances in Australia and scored his second test try in England’s opening World Cup match against Georgia in Perth.
Thompson continued as an England regular in the Autumn games of 2004. He was selected for the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.[12] On the tour he seemed to have regained some of his form after a poor 2005 Six Nations.
His reliable form for both club and country meant that he continued as the first choice hooker for England. His solid performances in both the 2005 autumn internationals and 2006 Six Nations demonstrated his international consistency.
On May 19 Martin Johnson gave Thompson a surprise call up for the England 2009 summer games against The Barbarians and Argentina.[13] Thompson was recalled to the England squad for the 2009 autumn internationals along with former 2003 world cup winners Jonny Wilkinson and Lewis Moody.
In the 2011 RBS Six Nations he scored the only try for England in their match against Ireland on 19 March 2011, a tournament which saw England win the Six Nations.[14]
Playing style
Thompson is regarded by some[who?] as England's finest ever hooker, and was certainly England’s biggest: at 6'3" and 18 stone he was larger than the average hooker but he was also very fast and an excellent ball carrier. He was, however, perceived to be weak at throwing the ball in at line-outs.
References
- ^ "England v France: after some displeasure I will hail Steve Thompson for equalling my record, says Brian Moore". The Daily Telegraph. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
- ^ "My Sport: Steve Thompson". The Daily Telegraph. 24 February 2004. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
- ^ "Injury forces Thompson to retire". BBC Sport. 15 April 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
- ^ "Thompson set for surprise return". BBC Sport. 23 October 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
- ^ "Leeds sign England hooker Steve Thompson from Brive". BBC Sport. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
- ^ Stafford, Ian (30 April 2011). "Wasps win the race to sign England hooker Thompson". London: The Daily Mail. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
- ^ "Rampant England silence Scots". BBC Sport. 2 February 2002. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
- ^ "Awesome England clinch Grand Slam". BBC Sport. 30 March 2003. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
- ^ "England down All Blacks". BBC Sport. 14 June 2003. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
- ^ "England clinch historic victory". BBC Sport. 21 June 2003. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
- ^ "England win Rugby World Cup". BBC Sport. 22 November 2003. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
- ^ "Lions Squad". BBC Sport. 11 April 2005. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
- ^ "England omit Cipriani from squad". BBC Sport. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
- ^ "2011 Six Nations: Ireland 24-8 England". BBC Sport. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
External links
- Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from May 2009
- 1978 births
- Living people
- English rugby union players
- England international rugby union players
- British and Irish Lions rugby union players from England
- Northampton Saints players
- CA Brive players
- Leeds Carnegie players
- London Wasps players
- Rugby union hookers
- Members of the Order of the British Empire
- Old Northamptonians
- People from Hemel Hempstead
- Expatriate rugby union players in France