| Date of birth | 22 February 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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) 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. After leaving school, he joined Dublin University, the club representing Trinity College Dublin, in the amateur All-Ireland League. [1]
Clarkson joined the Leinster academy ahead of the 2019–20 season. [2] 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. [3] [4]
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. [1] 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, [5] though the tournament was cancelled with two rounds still to be played due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [6]
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. [7]
He was named on the bench for the opening round of the 2025 Six Nations to make his tournament debut. [8] In February 2025, he was named in the starting lineup for the first time for the fixture against Wales. [9]