Birth name | Raphael Quirke | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 18 August 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Chorlton, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 85 kg (13 st 5 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | St Ambrose College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Raffi Quirke (born 18 August 2001) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for Sale Sharks in the Premiership. [1]
Quirke started playing rugby when he was 5, inspired by his father Saul who coached him through his early years. He was part of a Broughton Park RFC side at U9s level, in which the side went unbeaten while scoring 267 tries. [2] [3] Quirke was also a triathlete, following in the footsteps of both of his parents, becoming North-West champion at triathlon when 12 or 13. However, it became increasingly difficult to consider pursuing both rugby and triathlons to a professional level, so he eventually decided to focus on rugby. [2]
He was educated at Saint Ambrose College. [4] [5] Quirke of Irish ancestry through a maternal grandparent. [6]
In 2019 Quirke spent a period on loan to Sale FC in National League One. [2] On 20 February 2021 Quirke made his professional club debut for Sale Sharks in a Premiership game against Harlequins [5] [7] and in April of that year he scored his first try for the club in a European Rugby Champions Cup game away to Scarlets. [8]
Quirke represented England at both U16 and U18 level, scoring two tries against Wales for the under-16 squad. [4] In 2018 he toured South Africa with the under-18 squad [4] and scored a try in the defeat against France. [9] Quirke was subsequently selected for the under-20 squad although did not participate in any of their fixtures. [2]
In September 2021 coach Eddie Jones included Quirke in the senior England squad for a training camp. [10] On 13 November 2021 Quirke made his Test debut for England, coming on as a replacement for Ben Youngs in the 72nd minute against Australia in the Autumn Nations Series, a game which England won 32–15. [11] In doing so, he became England's youngest scrum-half since Nick Duncombe in 2002. Quirke then came off the bench in England's final test of the series against South Africa, scoring the winning try in England's 27–26 victory. [12]
Quirke was named in the initial training squad for the 2022 Six Nations Championship. [13]
In January 2025, following injuries to Alex Mitchell and Jack van Poortvliet, he was called into the senior training squad for the 2025 Six Nations. [14]
Try | Opposing team | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result | Score |
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1 | ![]() | London, England | Twickenham Stadium | 2021 Autumn Nations Series | 20 November 2021 | Win | 27 – 26 |
As a keen outdoors sports fan, Quirke also enjoys middle-distance running, cross country running, swimming, and cycling. In his music tastes, Raffi enjoys hip-hop, Rhythm and Blues, reggae and rock, with his favourite artist being Bob Marley. Raffi is also a fan of Manchester United. [3] He returns to Saint Ambrose to help coach the younger players.