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Josh Gray (rugby union)

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Josh Gray
Birth nameJosh Gray
Date of birth (2001-07-07) 7 July 2001 (age 23)
Place of birthCheltenham, England
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight117 kg (18 st 6 lb)
SchoolDean Close School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker / Number 8
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019-2023 Gloucester 8 (5)
2020-2021 Hartpury (loan) 3 (0)
2021-2022 Hartpury (loan) 19 (15)
2022-2023 Jersey Reds (loan) 10 (0)
2023- Hartpury 22 (15)
Correct as of 27 January 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–2019 England U18 5 (0)
2019–2021 England U20 5 (0)
Correct as of 17 July 2021

Josh Gray (born 7 July 2001) is an English rugby union player for Hartpury University R.F.C. in the RFU Championship. Gray can play across the back-row.

Early life

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Gray started playing rugby at five years old at Salisbury RFC then to Cirencester RFC until U13 returning to Salisbury at U14 winning the U14 Dorset and Wilts County Cup.[1] Gray was also in the Swindon Town Football Junior Academy U7-U9 but declined a junior contract to focus on rugby.[2]

As a teenager Gray continued with several sports playing representative level for Gloucestershire County Cricket U12-U15 (top-order batsman and wicket keeper) and Wiltshire County Elite Golf Squad U12-U15.[3] Gray also participated in Ian Poulter's Invitational at the Marquess Golf Course at Woburn Golf and Country Club.[4] He joined the Gloucester Rugby Academy as part of the U13 DPP and progressed through to Gloucester U18s playing in two Academy league finals in 2018 and 2019.[5]

Gray studied at Dean Close School and Director of Rugby, Andrew Stanley (ex-Gloucester back-row player) supported his rugby development at school. Gray was offered a contract with Gloucester Rugby in 2019.[6]

Club career

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At the age of 18, Gray made his debut for Gloucester in the Premiership Rugby Cup before making his Premiership debut against Saracens at the age of 19 years and 50 days, the youngest back-row player and second youngest forward to start for Gloucester.[7]

Gray scored his first Premiership try for Gloucester against Exeter.[8]

Gray was dual-registered with RFU Championship side Hartpury for the 2020-2021 [9] and the 2021–2022 season.

Gray signed a season-long loan to Jersey Reds for the 2022–2023 season who went on to win the RFU Championship league.[10][11]

International career

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Gray was selected for an England U18 development camp in November 2018 and subsequently selected in the 2019 U18 Six Nations squad playing in five matches. Gray was selected for an England Men U20s development camp.[12] and subsequently selected in the England Rugby U20s Elite Player Squad for the 2020 Six Nations and the World Rugby 2020 Championship in Italy.[13] He played in two matches in the Six Nations.[14][15] before both the U20s Six Nations and World Rugby U20s Championship were cancelled due to COVID-19.[16]

In February 2020, Gray was invited to train with the senior England squad along with six other U20s at the Lensbury[17][18] and the open training session at Twickenham Stadium.[19]

Gray played three times in the England U20's 2021 Grand Slam win in the U20s Six Nations in Cardiff.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Two Salisbury players have been selected in the starting XV for England U18 against Scotland on Sunday 17th March. Josh Gray and Xavier Hastings both played junior rugby for Salisbury and were both in the team that won the U14 Dorset & Wilts Cup in 2015". Salisbury RFC. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  2. ^ "England Rugby Profile". England Rugby. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Gray selected for County Golf U14 squad". Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard. Newsquest. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Ian Poulter inspires Cirencester golfer Josh Gray". Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard. Newsquest. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Under 18s team confirmed for Premiership Rugby Academy Final". Gloucester Rugby. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Dean Close trio offered contracts with Gloucester". Dean Close School. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  7. ^ "ESPN youngest players by position: Flanker". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Josh Gray finishes extraordinary chip and chase try for Gloucester vs Exeter". BT Sport. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Gloucester Rugby youngsters added to Hartpury ranks ahead of Championship season". Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Gray & Venner head to Jersey Reds next season". Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Jersey Reds win RFU Championship". Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  12. ^ "England Men U20s squad for November training camp". Gloucester Rugby. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  13. ^ "England Men U20s Elite Player Squad for 2020 Announced". England Rugby. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  14. ^ "England Men U20s side to play Scotland". England Rugby. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  15. ^ Baker, Luke (19 February 2020). "Dickens makes six changes to England Under-20s". Six Nations Rugby. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  16. ^ "No Winner for U20 Six Nations as championship cancelled". Six Nations Rugby. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  17. ^ "England Rugby Next Level: Episode 3". England Rugby. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "Apprenticeships with the seniors is driving up England U20 standards, says Dickens". The Rugby Paper. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Josh Gray talks about the experience of training with the England senior squad". Gloucester Rugby TV. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ "Gloucester Rugby youngsters secure U20 Six Nations Grand Slam". Retrieved 7 October 2021.
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