Alex Cuthbert
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| Date of birth | 5 April 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Gloucester, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 106 kg (16 st 10 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Newent Community School Hartpury College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | UWIC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Alex Cuthbert (born 5 April 1990, Gloucester, England) is a Welsh rugby union player. Born in Gloucester, he plays on the wing for Cardiff Blues and the Wales national team.
Early life
Born in Gloucester, Cuthbert went to Newent Community School, and later gained a diploma at Hartpury College and studied at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
International career
Although he was born and raised in England, Cuthbert qualifies for Wales as his mother was born in Wrexham.[1][2]
Cuthbert first started playing rugby during his seven years of studying at Newent Community School playing club rugby for Hucclecote RFC and Westbury-on-Severn RFC. He later moved to Hartpury College where he was a member of Hartpury College R.F.C., coached by Allan Lewis in a team that included Jonny May on the opposite wing.[3][4] He then moved to study at UWIC, where he played for both the college and Cardiff RFC, he was noticed by Wales rugby sevens team coach Paul John.[3] As a result, Cuthbert played for them in the 2009-2010 and the 2010-2011 IRB Sevens World Series, and in the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Cuthbert came to wider attention in 2011 with the Cardiff Blues. As an attacking threat he underlined his credentials during the region's Heineken Cup campaign - scoring a brace as they secured a quarter-final berth with victory over Racing Metro. Wales' senior management was quick to take notice and he made his debut in their December international against Australia.[5] There he replaced George North in the second-half, but it was the slot vacated by the retired Shane Williams that became his for the opening game of the 2012 Six Nations. At well over six feet he represented a change of style from Williams' dancing feet and low centre of gravity, but his domestic form, pace and finishing prowess stacked up for Warren Gatland.
Cuthbert featured in the starting line-up in all five games of Wales' 2012 Six Nations Championship. He scored the opening try for Wales during their 27-13 victory over Scotland, then scored the second try of Wales' convincing 24-3 win over Italy in the penultimate round of the tournament. He was awarded man of the match for this performance. Cuthbert scored the only try in the final game of Wales' Six Nations campaign of 2012, against France, helping them to win the Grand Slam for the third time in eight seasons.[6]
In the Autumn internationals of 2012 against Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia, Cuthbert was selected to play in each game. During the game against New Zealand, he scored the second Welsh try.
After his two tries scored for Wales against England in the title decider of the 2013 Six Nations Championship, he was selected for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
References
- ^ Davies, Iwan (5 December 2011). "Cuthbert gives fans a glimpse of the future". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
- ^ Parfitt, Delme (18 February 2012). "Farmer's son Alex Cuthbert loving life in Wales' Six Nations limelight". WalesOnline. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
- ^ a b Roberts, Gareth (23 February 2012). "Six Nations: England-born Cuthbert seeks Wales glory". BBC Wales. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ^ "Six Nations 2014: Jonny May relishes Alex Cuthbert reunion". BBC Sport. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
- ^ "Warren Gatland gambles on fitness doubts for Australia Test". BBC Sport. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
- ^ "Wales 16-9 France". Guardian (London). 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
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External links
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