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Alex Coles (rugby union)

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Alex Coles
Full nameAlexander Joel C. Coles
Date of birth (1999-09-21) 21 September 1999 (age 25)
Place of birthCambridge, England
Height2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight117 kg (258 lb; 18 st 6 lb)
SchoolThe Perse School
UniversityBirkbeck, University of London
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Flanker
Current team Northampton Saints
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019– Northampton Saints 99 (50)
Correct as of 19 January 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017 England U18 2 (0)
2019 England U20 10 (5)
2022– England 5 (0)
Correct as of 19 January 2024

Alexander Joel C. Coles (born 21 September 1999) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Premiership Rugby club Northampton Saints and the England national team.[1]

Early life

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Whilst pursuing rugby, Coles studied BA Politics Philosophy and History at Birkbeck, University of London.[2]

Club career

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Coles played rugby as a child at Newmarket and Shelford Rugby Club prior to joining the academy of Northampton Saints at the age of fourteen.[3] In November 2018 he made his club debut for Northampton in a Premiership Rugby Cup match against Wasps and the following year scored his first try for the club against Timișoara in the EPCR Challenge Cup.[4][5]

In May 2024, following an impressive season he was named in the Premiership Rugby Team of the Season for the 2023–24 campaign.[6]

International career

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In 2017 Coles played for the England under-18 team on their tour of South Africa.[3][7] He represented the England under-20 team in the 2019 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and was a member of the squad that finished fifth at the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[4][8] On 6 November 2022, Coles made his debut for England in a 29–30 loss to Argentina in the Autumn Nations Series.

References

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  1. ^ "Alex Coles". ESPN. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Birkbeck allowed me to continue my professional rugby career whilst studying for a degree and preparing for my future". Birkbeck, University of London. 22 February 2023. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b Mockford, Sarah (4 November 2020). "Hotshot: Northampton lock Alex Coles". Rugby World. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b Taylor, Mark (4 June 2019). "Alex Coles seeks to cap a year to remember with victory with England at the 2019 World Rugby Under-20 Championships". Cambridge Independent. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Northampton and Harlequins into last eight". Sky Sports. 18 January 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Premiership Rugby Team of the Season 2023/34". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Alex Coles earns England under-18s call". Cambridge Independent. 11 August 2017. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  8. ^ "World Rugby U20 Championship: England U20 45-26 Wales U20". BBC Sport. 22 June 2019. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
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