| Birth name | Tommaso Clarkson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 22 February 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 124 kg (19.5 st; 273 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Blackrock College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Trinity College Dublin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Thomas Clarkson (born 22 February 2000), born Tommaso Clarkson, is an Irish rugby union player who plays for Leinster and Ireland. He plays as a prop.
Born in Dublin, Clarkson attended Blackrock College and won a Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup with the school in 2018, alongside fellow Leinster academy member Liam Turner. Clarkson's mother Nina Cafolla comes from a small town between Rome and Naples. [1] After leaving school, he joined Dublin University, the club representing Trinity College Dublin, in the amateur All-Ireland League. [2]
Clarkson joined the Leinster academy ahead of the 2019–20 season. [3] He made his senior debut for the province on 29 August 2020 as a 63rd minute replacement for Michael Bent in their 28–10 derby victory against Ulster. [4] [5]
Ever-present as the team's tighthead prop, Clarkson was a key player for the Ireland under-20s team that won a grand slam during the 2019 Six Nations Under 20s Championship. [2] He also represented the team at the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship, and was vice-captain of the side during the 2020 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, where they secured consecutive triple crown's, [6] though the tournament was cancelled with two rounds still to be played due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [7]
At the start of the 2023/24 season, Clarkson turned down an offer to play for Italy whom he qualified to play for through his Italian mother. [1] Clarkson debuted for Ireland in the November 2024 Autumn Nations Series coming off the bench to replace Finlay Bealham in 22-19 win over Argentina. [8]
He was named on the bench for the opening round of the 2025 Six Nations to make his tournament debut. [9] In February 2025, he was named in the starting lineup for the first time for the fixture against Wales. [10]
In July 2025 Clarkson was called up to the Lions squad to provide additional front row cover for their 2025 tour of Australia. [11]