Rory Sutherland (rugby union)

Last updated

Rory Sutherland
Date of birth (1992-08-24) 24 August 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Hawick, Scotland
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight119 kg (262 lb; 18 st 10 lb)
School Hawick High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Current team Ulster
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2014–2021 Edinburgh 91 (5)
2021–2022 Worcester Warriors 14 (5)
2022–2023 Ulster 12 (0)
Correct as of 5 May 2023
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2016– Scotland 33 (0)
2021 British & Irish Lions 2 (0)
Correct as of 28July 2024 [1]

Rory Sutherland (born 24 August 1992) is a Scottish professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for French Top 14 club Oyonnax and the Scotland national team. [2]

Contents

Early life

Sutherland is a former Trinity Primary and Hawick High School pupil.

Sutherland came through the ranks with his hometown club and school sides before representing the Borders and Scotland at under-17 and under-18 in the back-row.

Club career

He switched to loose-head prop during his first season of senior rugby at Hawick and, after a season with Biggar, caught the attention of RBS Premiership runners-up and Border League winners Gala.

In 2017, Sutherland suffered a serious adductor injury that threatened his career and required him to spend time in a wheelchair. [3] [4]

While on the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa it was announced that Sutherland would join Worcester Warriors ahead of the 2021/22 season. On 5 October 2022 all Warriors players had their contracts terminated due to the liquidation of the company to which they were employed. [5] Following the termination of his Worcester Warriors contract, Sutherland signed a short-term contact with Ulster. [6] He left Ulster at the end of the season. [7] After the 2023 Rugby World Cup he joined Oyonnax on a one-year contract to play in the French Top 14. [8]

International career

Sutherland received his first call up to the senior Scotland squad by coach Vern Cotter on 19 January 2016 for the 2016 Six Nations Championship. [9] Sutherland got his first Scotland cap during the Six Nations against Ireland in 2016. By 2021, he had made 18 appearances for Scotland, 16 as a starter and two as a replacement. [10]

In 2023 Sutherland was selected in Scotland's 33 player squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. [11]

British & Irish Lions

In May 2021, Sutherland was selected in the 37-man squad for the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa. [12] He took to the field in the opening warmup match against Japan at Murrayfield, becoming Lion #840. [13] After strong performances in the tour's warm-up matches, he was selected on the substitutes' bench for the first Test but was subsequently elevated to the starting line up just hours before kick-off. He played 55 minutes as the Lions won 17–22 to lead the series. [14] [15] Then he came off the bench the following week for his second Test cap. [16]

Personal life

Sutherland is married and they have three children. [17]

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References

  1. "LIONS V JAPAN UPDATE". Lions Rugby. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  2. "Scotland prop Rory Sutherland joins French Top 14 outfit Oyonnax on one-year deal". The Scotsman. 16 October 2023.
  3. "'Do I f***' - Scottish prop doesn't regret ignoring injury that left him in wheelchair". www.rugbypass.com. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  4. "Road to recovery almost at an end for Edinburgh prop Rory Sutherland". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  5. "Worcester player and staff contracts terminated after high court ruling | Worcester | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  6. "Rory Sutherland". ulster.rugby/. Ulster Rugby. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  7. "Ulster Rugby to thank departing players at Quarter-Final". Ulster Rugby. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  8. "Scotland prop Rory Sutherland joins French Top 14 outfit Oyonnax on one-year deal". The Scotsman. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  9. "Six Nations 2016: Ryan Wilson not in Scotland squad". BBC. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  10. "Rory Sutherland Loosehead Prop". Scottish Rugby Union. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  11. "Scotland squad named for Rugby World Cup 2023". Scottish Rugby Union.
  12. "British and Irish Lions 2021: Sam Simmonds in 37-man squad but Billy Vunipola misses out". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  13. "Player Numbers".
  14. "Jones to captain Lions in first Test". BBC Sport.
  15. "Lions fight back to clinch series opener". BBC Sport.
  16. "Relive South Africa v Lions second Test". BBC Sport. 30 July 2021.
  17. "'Do I f***' - Scottish prop doesn't regret ignoring injury that left him in wheelchair".