Raffi Quirke

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Raffi Quirke
Birth nameRaphael Quirke
Date of birth (2001-08-18) 18 August 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Chorlton, England
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight85 kg (13 st 5 lb)
School St Ambrose College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2018– Sale Sharks 43 (35)
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2018–2019 England U18 8 (15)
2021– England 2 (5)
Correct as of 20 November 2021

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]

Contents

Early life

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]

Club career

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]

International career

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]

International tries

As of 20 November 2021 [1]
TryOpposing teamLocationVenueCompetitionDateResultScore
1Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa London, England Twickenham Stadium 2021 Autumn Nations Series 20 November 2021Win27 – 26

Personal life

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.

References

  1. 1 2 "ESPN profile:Raffi Quirke". ESPN. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Harvey, Neale (14 February 2020). "Young Guns: Sale Sharks scrum-half Raphael Quirke". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  3. 1 2 "RFU". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "SHARKS SECURE SIGNATURES OF 4 PROMISING YOUNGSTERS". Sale Sharks. 27 November 2018. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  5. 1 2 Ostick, Chris (14 October 2021). "Rising star Raffi Quirke admits to big miss as Sale Sharks contend with injury absences". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  6. ↑ Richardson, Charles (6 April 2021). "England consider call-up for unknown Sale prop Bevan Rodd". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  7. ↑ Diamond, Sam (20 February 2021). "Match Report: Harlequins 24 Sale Sharks 12". Sale Sharks. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  8. ↑ "Heineken Champions Cup: Scarlets 14-57 Sale". BBC Sport. 4 April 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  9. ↑ Lawton, Andrew (11 August 2018). "England defeated by France in U18 International series opener". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  10. ↑ Jones, Chris (21 September 2021). "Louis Lynagh called up by England - Billy & Mako Vunipola plus George Ford left out". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  11. ↑ Latham-Coyle, Harry (13 November 2021). "England vs Australia LIVE: Rugby result, final score and reaction from 2021 Autumn internationals". The Independent. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  12. ↑ Henson, Mike (20 November 2021). "England clinch dramatic 27-26 win over South Africa at Twickenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  13. ↑ "RFU". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  14. ↑ "George out of Six Nations opener & Mitchell a doubt". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
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