 Cassius Cleaves in 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Cassius Cleaves | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 15 March 2003 London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb; 14 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Wimbledon College Wellington College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cassius Cleaves (born 15 March 2003) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for Harlequins. At international level he represented England U20's.
From Wandsworth, Cleaves was named after Muhammad Ali. He began playing rugby union at eleven years-old whilst attending Wimbledon College. By twelve years-old he was playing age group rugby with Harlequins and for Old Wimbledonian Warriors. He spearheaded Wimbledon College's National Schools Sevens 2016 tournament Under-13s Juniors Championship win on his 13th birthday; [2] and a year later, their Under-14s Championship win. [3] [4]
He attended Wellington College, Berkshire for the latter part of his schooling. [5]
Cleaves made a try-scoring debut for Harlequins RFC in March 2022 against Sale Sharks in the Premiership Rugby Cup. [6] [7] A try he scored the following season, in the same competition, against London Irish, [8] was reported as going viral due to Cleaves' display of pace and footwork after collecting the ball in his own half. [9]
He made his Rugby Premiership debut for Harlequins on 22 September 2024 against Sale Sharks. [10] The following week he made his first league start in a 28-14 win against Newcastle Falcons and was impressive, being instrumental in causing two of Harlequins' four tries. [11] [12] He signed a new contract with the club in November 2024. [13] [14] On 24 January 2025, in his first appearance back from a hamstring injury, he scored two Premiership tries for the club in a 22–19 win over Northampton Saints. [15] [16]
Cleaves made his debut for the England U-20 team in the 2022 Six Nations Under 20s Championship against Wales. [17] His performance against Wales was described as “particularly eye-catching”. [7] He scored a try in their next game against Ireland. [18]
Cleaves featured for England U-20s at the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship in June and July 2023, scoring tries in pool stage games against Fiji [19] and Australia. [20] [21] He also scored a try in their semi-final defeat against France as England finished fourth. [21] [22]
Cleaves has been described as having a "stunning sidestep and blistering pace". [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]
Through his mother, Cleaves is of Ghanaian heritage. [29]