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| Birth name | Rhys Patchell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 17 May 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Llandough, Penarth, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 92 kg (14 st 7 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rhys Patchell (born 17 May 1993) is a Wales international rugby union player. A fly-half, he currently plays for the Highlanders in Super Rugby, having previously played for the Scarlets and Cardiff Blues. Patchell represented Wales on 22 occasions between 2013 and 2023.
Educated at Ysgol Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd and at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf. Patchell speaks Welsh, [1] and is an ambassador for Tafwyl festival. [2]
Patchell graduated from the Blues Academy into the full regional side at an early age in 2012 and went on to score more than 600 points in a five-year stint at the Arms Park that saw him make 83 appearances. He scored 174 points in the 2015/16 season to top the Guinness Pro12 charts. [3]
Patchell joined Scarlets in 2016 and it proved to be a shrewd move as he ended his first season as the leading points scorer in the Guinness Pro12 once again with 145. [3] Patchell picked up a winners' medal, helping the west Walians beat Munster in the 2017 Pro12 Grand Final at the Aviva Stadium. [4]
Patchell suffered a series of injuries between 2019 and 2021, limiting his involvement with both the Scarlets and Wales. [5] He returned to full fitness in early 2022, featuring frequently for the Scarlets during the latter half of their season, and continuing his involvement into the 2022–23 United Rugby Championship.
On 21 April 2023, it was announced that Patchell would depart the Scarlets at the end of the season. [6]
Patchell signed for Super Rugby club the Highlanders on 12 July 2023. [7]
In January 2013 Patchell was selected in the Wales U20 squad for the 2013 U20 Six Nations Championship. [8]
In May 2013 he was selected for the Wales national rugby union team for the summer 2013 tour to Japan. He made his international debut against Japan on 8 June 2013, [9] and played again in the reverse fixture the following week. Patchell had to wait three years before he won his next cap, and made his first start, after being called out to New Zealand as a replacement for the 2016 summer tour. He came on as a replacement in the midweek game against the Chiefs and started at full-back in the last two Tests with the All Blacks.
Patchell moved into his favoured No 10 shirt for the first two games of the 2018 Six Nations campaign, a home win over Scotland on his tournament debut and an away defeat to England, before dropping to the bench for the win over Italy. He was back at No 10 for the two wins over Argentina on the 2018 summer tour, scoring 30 points in the two games, and then notched his first international try in the home win over Tonga in November, 2018. [10]
Patchell was selected in the Welsh squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. He replaced Dan Biggar early in the pool stage match against Australia, kicking a conversion, three penalties, and a drop goal as Wales won 29–25. [11]
Patchell played in the rearranged Six Nations fixture against Scotland in October 2020. [12]
| Try | Opponent | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Tonga | Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2018 Autumn Internationals | 17 November 2018 | Win |
| 2 |  Ireland | Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2019 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches | 31 August 2019 | Loss |
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Wales squad – 2019 Rugby World Cup fourth place | |
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