Henry Arundell
Date of birth (2002-11-08) 8 November 2002 (age 21)
Place of birthDhekelia, British Overseas Territories
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight98 kg (216 lb; 15 st 6 lb)
SchoolBeechen Cliff School
Harrow School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback, Wing
Current team Racing 92
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021–2023 London Irish 23 (50)
2023– Racing 92 8 (35)
Correct as of 18 January 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2022 England U20 3 (20)
2022– England 10 (35)
Correct as of 27 October 2023

Henry Arundell (born 8 November 2002) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a fullback for Top 14 club Racing 92 and the England national team.[1][2]

Early life

Arundell was born on Cyprus in 2002, at the then Royal Air Force base in Dhekelia; a Sovereign Base Area and British Overseas Territory. He spent the first two years of his life on Cyprus before moving back to the United Kingdom.[3]

His father, Ralph Arundell, was an army officer in The Rifles (formerly The Light Infantry) for thirty years, completing tours in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.[3][4][5] His mother, Jane Arundell, is a nurse and health visitor working for the NHS.

Arundell started his sporting career at a young age, excelling at various sports while a pupil at Holt VC Primary School.[6] He subsequently attended Beechen Cliff School in nearby Bath. After his father joined the staff of Harrow School, Arundell enrolled at the all-boys London boarding school, putting him in the catchment area for London Irish's academy, which he joined aged fourteen.[7]

Club career

London Irish

In the Premiership Rugby Cup in 2022, a number of Arundell's performances drew attention, including two tries against Leicester Tigers in a semi-final;[8] a 20-minute substitute appearance against Wasps, scoring a try and being named Man of the Match,[9] and a try that started on his own goal-line against Toulon.[10][11][12]

His performances for London Irish saw him named as Premiership Rugby's young player of the season for 2021–22.[13] On 10 June 2022, Arundell signed a new "long term" contract with London Irish.[14]

Racing 92

After London Irish collapsed into administration in June 2023, Arundell joined Grand Paris-based French side Racing 92.[15][16] After the Rugby World Cup, he played his first game for the Sky Blue and Whites at Toulon on 12 November and scored a hat-trick in a 31–26 narrow loss.[17]

On 12 December, Racing 92 announced his contract extension until 2026,[18] despite outside interest from Premiership Rugby clubs like Bath or Gloucester as well as National Rugby League teams.[19][20]

International career

Arundell was highlighted as "one to watch" in the 2022 Six Nations Under 20s Championship,[21] and was the competition's joint-top try scorer, scoring four.[14]

Arundell was named as an "apprentice player" in England's squad for their 2022 tour of Australia.[22] He scored a try, from his first touch, on his debut on 2 July 2022, coming on from the bench.[23] As of July 2023, he has 7 international caps.[24] Arundell was named in England's 2023 Rugby World Cup squad on 7 August 2023, scoring a joint England record 5 tries on his World Cup debut against Chile on 23 September 2023 in a 71–0 win.[25]

Career statistics

List of international tries

As of 23 September 2023[26]

Try Opposing team Location Venue Competition Date Result Score
1  Australia Perth, Australia Optus Stadium 2022 England rugby union tour of Australia 2 July 2022 Loss 30 - 28
2  Italy London, England Twickenham Stadium 2023 Six Nations 12 February 2023 Win 31–14
3  Chile Lille, France Stade Pierre-Mauroy 2023 Rugby World Cup 23 September 2023 Win 71–0
4
5
6
7

References

  1. ^ "Henry Arundell profile". ItsRugby. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Henry Arundell London Irish profile". London Irish. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Henry Arundell Discusses His Quick Climb To The Top After A Great Season With London Irish". Nix Olympia. 11 June 2022. Archived from the original on 11 June 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  4. ^ ""Not born in England" - Five things you didn't know about Henry Arundell". Ruck. 3 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  5. ^ Correspondent, Will Kelleher, Deputy Rugby. "Henry Arundell: I feared England's 'big dogs' but I feel right at home". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 3 July 2022.((cite news)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Henry Arundell". www.ultimaterugby.com. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  7. ^ Evely, John (2 July 2022). "How Bath Rugby missed out on new England sensation Henry Arundell". SomersetLive. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  8. ^ Bridge, Bobby (26 April 2022). "Henry Arundell-inspired London Irish end Leicester Tigers' treble hopes". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  9. ^ Heagney, Liam (6 May 2022). "How 'really coachable' 19-year-old produced a 20-minute MOTM cameo". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Watch: Teenage star Henry Arundell scores stunning try in defeat to Toulon". Rugby Pass. 8 May 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  11. ^ Coles, Ben (9 May 2022). "The rise of Henry Arundell: Toulon wonder try suggests England prospect is the real deal". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  12. ^ Spink, Alex; Sunderland, Tom (8 May 2022). "Henry Arundell scores incredible solo try as teenager swerves past helpless defenders". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  13. ^ Godwin, Hugh (8 June 2022). "Inside Henry Arundell's breakthrough year, from pub trips with Marcus Smith and Ellis Genge to England hopes". i Newspaper. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Henry Arundell: London Irish full-back signs 'long-term' deal". BBC Sport. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  15. ^ Morgan, Charlie; Mairs, Gavin (16 June 2023). "Henry Arundell set to join Racing 92 after London Irish collapse". The Telegraph. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  16. ^ Westerby, John (7 July 2023). "Henry Arundell's plight encapsulates sad state of English rugby". Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  17. ^ Cameron, Ian (13 November 2023). "The obvious question Henry Arundell hat-trick raises". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  18. ^ "English winger Arundell extends Racing deal until 2026". France 24. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  19. ^ Evely, John (10 October 2023). "Bath and Gloucester given boost by the RFU in pursuit of signing Henry Arundell". Gloucestershire Echo. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  20. ^ Morton, Finn (17 November 2023). "England's Henry Arundell knocks back interest from two NRL clubs". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  21. ^ "England U20: Six New and Six Old to Watch". nextgen Rugby. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  22. ^ "England Summer Tour Squad". Rugby World. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  23. ^ "Henry Arundell scores on England debut | 2nd July 2022 | News". London Irish. 2 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  24. ^ Sansom, Tom (16 June 2023). "England's Henry Arundell Completes Shock Move To The Top 14". Ruck. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  25. ^ "Henry Arundell scores five in England's 11-try Rugby World Cup rout of Chile". Guardian. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Henry ARUNDELL profile and stats". all.rugby. Retrieved 12 February 2023.

External links

England squad – 2023 Rugby World Cup third place
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