Sam Harrison (rugby union)

Sam Harrison
Birth nameSamuel James Harrison
Date of birth (1990-04-07) 7 April 1990 (age 34)
Place of birthLeicester, England
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight80 kg (12 st 8 lb; 176 lb)[1]
SchoolJohn Cleveland College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Youth career
1996–2004 Hinkley
2004–2010 Leicester Academy
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2020 Leicester Tigers 178 (44)
2009–2010 Nottingham 12 (10)
2008–2020 Total 190 (54)
Correct as of 5 January 2020
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009 England U20 7 (0)

Samuel James Harrison (born 7 April 1990 in Leicester, England)[2] is an English former rugby union footballer who played 178 games as a scrum-half for Leicester Tigers between 2008 and 2020.

Club career

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His first appearance for Leicester Tigers came as a replacement at home against Benetton Treviso in the Heineken Cup.[3]

He was dual-registered with Nottingham for the 2009–10 season, and Harry Ellis's return from injury saw Harrison kept to a bench spot whilst the Leicester A team played in the Guinness A League.[4]

Ellis's retirement in July 2010 resulted in Harrison's promotion to the full-time Leicester squad.[5] Harrison played as a replacement during the 2013 Premiership final as Leicester defeated Northampton Saints.[6]

Harrison is an ambassador for Dorothy Goodman School, a Special Educational Needs school in Hinckley, Leicestershire.

In 2016/17, his versatility earned him brief cover spells as fly half during periods of injury to both Freddie Burns and Owen Williams, even standing in as a goalkicker.[7]

On 24 October 2019 Harrison announced his intention to retire aged only 29,[8] to move to the Gold Coast, Australia and become a carpenter.[9] His final appearance was on 4 January 2020 at Welford Road in a 31–18 win against Bristol Bears, Harrison had the last act of the match by clearing the ball to touch to end the game.[10]

International career

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Harrison has featured in the England U16, U18 and U20 squads.

References

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  1. ^ "Aviva Premiership Rugby – Gloucester Rugby". web page. Premier Rugby. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  2. ^ "Sam Harrison ESPN profile". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  3. ^ Wildman, Rob (19 January 2009). "Ben Youngs must wait his turn but his Leicester future looks bright". London: Telegraph site. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  4. ^ "Tigers crowned 'A' league champions". Guinness Premiership website. 4 May 2010. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  5. ^ "Leicester Tigers coach Richard Cockerill pays tribute to retiring star Harry Ellis". Leicester Mercury website. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Aviva Premiership final: Leicester 37-17 Northampton". BBC. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Sam Harrison (Scrum-half) | Leicester Tigers". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Tigers' Harrison to walk away". rugbypass. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Harrison embracing fond Leicester farewell". RugbyPass. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Leicester Tigers match report: 2 tries for Jonny May as impressive Tigers see off Bristol Bears in Gallagher Premiership". Leicester Mercury. reach group. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
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