Anthony Watson (rugby union)

Last updated

Anthony Watson
Anthony Watson 2021 (cropped).jpg
Watson in 2021
Full nameAnthony Kenneth Chisom Watson
Date of birth (1994-02-26) 26 February 1994 (age 31)
Place of birth Ashford, England
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) [1]
Weight93 kg (205 lb; 14 st 9 lb) [1]
School St. George's College
University Northumbria University
University of Bath
Notable relative(s) Marcus Watson (brother), Callum Watson (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Fullback
Current team Leicester Tigers
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2011–2013 London Irish 22 (20)
2013–2022 Bath 126 (160)
2022–2024 Leicester Tigers 23 (40)
2011–2024Total171(220)
Correct as of 17 January 2025
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2012–2013 England U20 21 (25)
2014–2023 England 56 (115)
2017, 2021 British & Irish Lions 5 (0)
Correct as of 19 August 2023
Medal record
Men's Rugby union
Representing Flag of England.svg  England
Rugby World Cup
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2019 Japan Squad

Anthony Kenneth Chisom Watson (born 26 February 1994) is an English former professional rugby union player who last played as a wing or fullback for Leicester Tigers, the England national team and the British and Irish Lions. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Early life

Watson attended St George's College, Weybridge in Surrey, where he was vice-captain of the rugby team. [4] His brother is Benetton winger Marcus Watson. [5]

Club career

In September 2011 Watson made his professional debut against Newcastle Falcons and became the youngest player to ever appear for London Irish in a Premiership match. [6] He scored his first tries for the club in their victory over Stade Montois on 20 October 2012. [7] [8]

On 25 April 2013 it was announced that Watson would join Bath for the following season. [9] In his first campaign at the club he scored a try in the final of the EPCR Challenge Cup as Bath finished runners up to Northampton Saints at Cardiff Arms Park. [10] The next season saw Watson start in their Premiership final defeat to Saracens. [11]

On 12 May 2022 Watson signed for Leicester Tigers. [12] He made his debut for Leicester in a 51-18 loss to Saracens on 1 October 2022. On 18 August 2023 it was confirmed that Watson had left Leicester after failing to agree a new contract. Instead he became employed by the Rugby Football Union. Watson signed a new contract back at Leicester on 2 November 2023 [3]

Watson announced his retirement on medical grounds in January 2025. [13]

International career

England

Watson scored a try for the England U20 team as they defeated Ireland in the final round of the 2012 Six Nations Under 20s Championship to win the tournament. [14] He was also a member of the side that retained the 2013 Six Nations Under 20s Championship. [15] Later that year Watson was selected for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship scoring a try in their semi-final victory over New Zealand and started in the final as England defeated Wales to become world junior champions for the first time. [16] [17]

At the age of nineteen, after a string of impressive performances for Bath at full-back, Watson was called into the senior England squad by coach Stuart Lancaster to train with them during their autumn international series in November 2013. [18] [19] In January 2014 he again trained with the squad during the 2014 Six Nations Championship and later that month scored a try for the England Saxons in a defeat against Ireland Wolfhounds. [20] [21]

Watson was included in the senior squad for their 2014 tour of New Zealand and scored a try on his England debut in a non-cap tour match against Crusaders. [22] [23] On 8 November 2014, Watson made his official test debut for England, from the bench, losing to New Zealand 21-24 as part of their 2014 Autumn Internationals. [5] [24]

Watson scored his first tries for England against Wales and France during the 2015 Six Nations. [25] [26] He was included in the squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and scored in warm-up fixtures against France and Ireland. [27] [28] He was selected to start in all four of England's pool games at the tournament, scoring tries against Australia and Uruguay as the hosts failed to reach the knockout phase. [29] [30]

Watson was selected by new coach Eddie Jones for the 2016 Six Nations Championship and recorded tries against Ireland and Wales. [31] [32] He also scored in the final round as England beat France to achieve their first Grand Slam in over a decade. [33] Later that year he scored a try against Wales and then started in all three victories on their 2016 tour of Australia. [34] [35] The following year saw Watson score a try in the penultimate round of the 2017 Six Nations against Scotland and then start in the final game of the competition as England missed out on a consecutive grand slam with defeat away to Ireland which also brought an end to a record equalling eighteen successive Test victories. [36] [37]

Watson was included in the squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and scored a try in a warm-up game against Italy at St James' Park. [38] He scored the last try of the quarter-final against Australia and also played in the semi-final victory over New Zealand. [39] [40] He started in the final as England were defeated by South Africa to finish runners up. [41]

Watson scored a try against Wales during the 2020 Six Nations and then started the final round victory in Italy which meant England won the tournament. [42] [43] Later that year he started in the final of the Autumn Nations Cup as England defeated France in extra time to win the competition. [44] Watson scored tries against Italy and Wales during the 2021 Six Nations. [45] [46] Later in the tournament he scored a try against France on his fiftieth appearance for England. [47]

British & Irish Lions

Watson was named as one of the 41 British & Irish Lions players that toured New Zealand in 2017. [48] He started in all three tests as the series ended all square. [49]

Watson was also selected by coach Warren Gatland for the 2021 Lions tour of South Africa. [50] He started the first two tests; winning the first and losing the second. [51] [52] He was dropped for the final match which saw the Lions lose the series 2-1. [53] [54]

Career statistics

List of international tries

As of 25 February 2023 [2]
TryOpposing teamLocationVenueCompetitionDateResultScore
1Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium 2015 Six Nations 6 February 2015Win21 – 16 [25]
2Flag of France.svg  France London, England Twickenham Stadium 2015 Six Nations 23 March 2015Win55 – 35 [26]
3Flag of France.svg  France London, England Twickenham Stadium 2015 Rugby World Cup Warm-Up 15 August 2015Win19 – 14 [27]
4
5IRFU flag.svg  Ireland London, England Twickenham Stadium 2015 Rugby World Cup Warm-Up 5 September 2015Win21 – 13 [28]
6Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia London, England Twickenham Stadium 2015 Rugby World Cup 3 October 2015Loss13 – 33 [29]
7Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay Manchester, England City of Manchester Stadium 2015 Rugby World Cup 10 October 2015Win60 – 3 [30]
8
9IRFU flag.svg  Ireland London, England Twickenham Stadium 2016 Six Nations 27 February 2016Win21 – 10 [31]
10Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales London, England Twickenham Stadium 2016 Six Nations 12 March 2016Win25 – 21 [32]
11Flag of France.svg  France Paris, France Stade de France 2016 Six Nations 19 March 2016Win31 – 21 [33]
12Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales London, England Twickenham Stadium 2016 Summer Tour Warm-Up 29 May 2016Win27 – 13 [34]
13Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland London, England Twickenham Stadium 2017 Six Nations 11 March 2017Win61 – 21 [36]
14Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Rome, Italy Stadio Olimpico 2018 Six Nations 4 February 2018Win46 – 15
15
16Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Newcastle, England St James' Park 2019 Rugby World Cup Warm-Up 6 September 2019Win37 – 0 [38]
17Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Ōita, Japan Ōita Bank Dome 2019 Rugby World Cup 19 October 2019Win40 – 16 [39]
18Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales London, England Twickenham Stadium 2020 Six Nations 7 March 2020Win33 – 30 [42]
19Flag of Italy.svg  Italy London, England Twickenham Stadium 2021 Six Nations 13 February 2021Win41 – 18 [45]
20
21Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium 2021 Six Nations 27 February 2021Loss24 – 40 [46]
22Flag of France.svg  France London, England Twickenham Stadium 2021 Six Nations 13 March 2021Win23 – 20 [47]
23Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium 2023 Six Nations 25 February 2023Win20 – 10

Honours

England
Bath

References

  1. 1 2 "Anthony Watson Player Profile". leicestertigers.com. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  2. 1 2 "ESPN profile". ESPN Scrum. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  3. 1 2 Kitson, Rob (18 August 2023). "Anthony Watson: 'My desire has always been to play for England for as long as I can". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Anthony Watson". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  5. 1 2 Rendell, Sarah (8 April 2021). "Who is Anthony Watson: Ten things you should know about the England wing". Rugby World. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  6. ↑ Manicom, Alan (21 October 2011). "Watson to make his first start for London Irish". Berkshire Live. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  7. ↑ "Home - London Irish". Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  8. ↑ "Amlin Challenge Cup: London Irish 69-26 Mont de Marsan". BBC Sport. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  9. ↑ "Bath get London Irish duo Anthony Watson and David Sisi". BBC Sport. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  10. 1 2 Osborne, Chris (22 May 2014). "Amlin Challenge Cup final: Bath 16-30 Northampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  11. 1 2 Hassan, Nabil (30 May 2015). "Premiership final: Bath 16-28 Saracens". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  12. ↑ "Leicester Tigers: Bath wing Anthony Watson & Wasps' Jimmy Gopperth among five new signings". BBC Sport. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  13. ↑ Aloia, Andrew; Whitty, Adam (17 January 2025). "'I knew I was in so much pain' - Watson on retirement realisation". BBC Sport.
  14. ↑ "Ireland beaten all ends up". The Irish Times. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  15. ↑ "Six Nations 2013: Wales U20 15-28 England U20". BBC Sport. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  16. ↑ Standley, James (18 June 2013). "England Under-20s beat New Zealand to reach world final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  17. ↑ Standley, James (23 June 2013). "Junior World Championship: Wales U20 15-23 England U20". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  18. ↑ "Bath Rugby full-back Anthony Watson added to England squad for Argentina contest". Bath Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014.
  19. ↑ "Anthony Watson called up to train with England squad". BBC Sport. 3 November 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  20. ↑ "George Ford replaces Toby Flood in England Six Nations squad". BBC Sport. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  21. ↑ "'A' International: England Saxons 8-14 Ireland Wolfhounds". BBC Sport. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  22. ↑ "Tour of New Zealand: England take on Super Rugby franchise Crusaders in Christchurch". Sky Sports. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  23. ↑ Standley, James (17 June 2014). "England beat Crusaders 38-7 as Danny Cipriani shines". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  24. ↑ "All Blacks' class tells at Twickenham". ESPN Scrum. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  25. 1 2 Fordyce, Tom (6 February 2015). "Six Nations 2015: Wales 16-21 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  26. 1 2 Fordyce, Tom (21 March 2015). "Six Nations 2015: England 55-35 France". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  27. 1 2 Standley, James (15 August 2015). "England beat France 19–14 in Rugby World Cup warm-up". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  28. 1 2 Standley, James (5 September 2015). "Rugby World Cup 2015: England beat Ireland in final warm-up". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  29. 1 2 Fordyce, Tom (3 October 2015). "England out of Rugby World Cup as Australia win 33-13". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  30. 1 2 Fordyce, Tom (10 October 2015). "Rugby World Cup 2015: England 60-3 Uruguay". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  31. 1 2 Fordyce, Tom (27 February 2016). "Six Nations 2016: England beat Ireland to go top of table". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  32. 1 2 Fordyce, Tom (12 March 2016). "Six Nations 2016: England 25-21 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  33. 1 2 3 Fordyce, Tom (19 March 2016). "Six Nations 2016: England win Grand Slam with France victory". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  34. 1 2 Dirs, Ben (29 May 2016). "England 27-13 Wales: Hosts score five tries but Ford misfires". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  35. ↑ Standley, James (25 June 2016). "England beat Australia 44-40 in final Test to complete series whitewash". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  36. 1 2 Fordyce, Tom (11 March 2017). "Six Nations 2017: England 61-21 Scotland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  37. 1 2 Fordyce, Tom (18 March 2017). "Six Nations 2017: Ireland 13-9 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  38. 1 2 Grey, Becky (6 September 2019). "Rugby World Cup: England grind out warm-up win over Italy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  39. 1 2 Fordyce, Tom (19 October 2019). "England beat Australia 40–16 to make Rugby World Cup semi-finals". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  40. ↑ Fordyce, Tom (26 October 2019). "England 19–7 New Zealand: Eddie Jones' side beat All Blacks to reach World Cup final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  41. 1 2 Fordyce, Tom (2 November 2019). "England 12–32 South Africa: Springboks win World Cup for record-equalling third time". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  42. 1 2 Fordyce, Tom (7 March 2020). "Six Nations: England beat Wales 33-30 despite Manu Tuilagi red card". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  43. 1 2 Grey, Becky (31 October 2020). "Italy 5–34 England: Visitors' victory proves enough to win Six Nations title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  44. 1 2 Henson, Mike (6 December 2020). "Autumn Nations Cup: England beat France in sudden death". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  45. 1 2 Grey, Becky (13 February 2021). "England 41-18 Italy: Hosts find flashes of flair to bounce back from Scotland defeat". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  46. 1 2 Griffiths, Gareth (27 February 2021). "Six Nations: Wales beat England 40-24 to take Triple Crown". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  47. 1 2 Henson, Mike (13 March 2021). "England 23-20 France: Maro Itoje try earns England dramatic Six Nations win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  48. ↑ Glendenning, Barry (19 April 2017). "Lions 2017 squad announcement". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  49. ↑ Fordyce, Tom (8 July 2017). "British and Irish Lions draw 15-15 with New Zealand as series ends level at 1-1". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  50. ↑ "Warren Gatland names 2021 British & Irish Lions squad". British & Irish Lions. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  51. ↑ Henson, Mike (24 July 2021). "British and Irish Lions: Lions fight back to clinch series opener". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  52. ↑ Grey, Becky (31 July 2021). "South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions: Springboks level series in fiery encounter". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  53. ↑ Jones, Chris (3 August 2021). "British and Irish Lions: Warren Gatland makes sweeping changes for third Test". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  54. ↑ Grey, Becky (7 August 2021). "South Africa 19-16 British and Irish Lions: Morne Steyn's late penalty wins series". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
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