Alex Dombrandt
 Dombrandt representingHarlequinsduring theGallagher Premiership | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Alex Joseph Dombrandt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 29 April 1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Surrey,England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 118 kg (260 lb; 18 st 8 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | The John Fisher School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Cardiff Metropolitan University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Alex Joseph Dombrandt(born 29 April 1997) is an English professionalrugby unionplayer who plays as anumber eightforPremiership RugbyclubHarlequinsand theEngland national team.[1]
Early life
[edit]Dombrandt began playing rugby at the age of six for Warlingham R.F.C and Old Caterhamians inSurrey,originally atfly-halfbefore switching into theforwards pack.[2]He attendedThe John Fisher Schoolas a pupil.[2]
He played no rugby for representative sides or a professional academy before joiningCardiff Metropolitan Universityin 2015.[3]
In the summer months when not playing rugby, Dombrandt can be found indulging in the preseason training tradition of professional egg catching on the beaches of Dorset.
Club career
[edit]In February 2018Harlequinsannounced Dombrandt's signature for the following season.[4]
Dombrandt's form for Harlequins led to calls fromStuart Barnesand others for him to be included in theEnglandinternational squad.[5][6]On 2 June 2019 Dombrandt made his England debut, playing in a non-cap match against theBarbarians,in which he scored two tries.[7]In June 2019 he was one of four uncapped players named in England's preliminaryWorld Cuptraining squad[8]but was not selected for the tournament.[9]
Dombrandt reduced his weight from 130kg (at university) to 120kg by the 2019-2020 season.[10]
He scored a try during Harlequins 43-36 defeat ofBristol Bearsin the Premiership semi-final, a game in which Quins recovered from a 28 point deficit to win.[11]He started the following week in the Premiership final againstExeter Chiefsand scored another try as Harlequins won the game 40-38 in the highest scoring Premiership final ever.[12]
In April 2024, he started for Harlequins in theirChampions CupRound of 16 victory overGlasgow Warriors,winning 28-24 atThe Stoop,the first time the club had ever won a knockout game in the competition.[13]The following week he scored a try againstBordeaux Begles,winning 42-41, to give them their second ever victory in the knockout stages of the competition and the first time they have achieved this away.[14]
Ahead of the 2024-25 season, he was named permanent captain of Harlequins taking over fromStephan Lewies.[15]
International career
[edit]He played forWales under 20sin all five of their games in the2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship,qualifying as a resident student at a Welsh university.[16]However he has no birth, family or residency qualifications to play forWalesat Test level.[16]
On 10 July 2021 Dombrandt made his seniorEnglandTestdebut in a 70-14 victory againstCanadaatTwickenham.[9][17]
Career statistics
[edit]List of international tries
[edit]| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 February 2022 | Twickenham Stadium,London, England |  Wales
|
17–0 | 23–19 | 2022 Six Nations Championship |
as of 26 February 2022[update][18]
References
[edit]- ^"Alex Dombrandt ESPN profile".ESPN.Retrieved1 April2019.
- ^abThomas, Simon (28 February 2018)."The English youngster who played for Wales and has now signed a dream deal in the Aviva Premiership".Wales Online.Retrieved21 July2021.
- ^Thomas, Simon (22 February 2022)."Alex Dombrandt played for Wales against England the last time".WalesOnline.Retrieved19 July2022.
- ^"Alex Dombrandt: Wales Under-20 lock to join Harlequins".BBC. 20 February 2018.Retrieved1 April2019.
- ^Smith, Steven (4 December 2018)."Stuart Barnes wants England to call up Wales U20 star".Ruck.Retrieved1 April2019.
- ^Collings, Simon (1 March 2019)."Alex Dombrandt backed for England call-up after fine debut season at Harlequins".The Evening Standard.Retrieved1 April2019.
- ^Cantillon, Michael (2 June 2019)."England 51-43 Barbarians: Inexperienced XV register shock win at Twickenham".Sky Sports.Retrieved21 July2021.
- ^Jones, Chris (20 June 2019)."Ruaridh McConnochie & Alex Dombrandt in England's World Cup training squad".BBC Sport.Retrieved20 June2019.
- ^abPurewal, Nick (9 July 2021)."Alex Dombrandt: There is no limit to where England new boy can go, Eddie Jones claims".The Independent.Archivedfrom the original on 8 July 2021.Retrieved21 July2021.
- ^Paul Gustard, BT Sport, 1/12/19
- ^Harby, Chris (19 June 2021)."Premiership semi-final: Bristol Bears 36-43 Harlequins (AET) - Quins reach Twickenham after stunning fightback".BBC Sport.Retrieved1 July2021.
- ^Pilnick, Brent (26 June 2021)."Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 38-40 Harlequins - Louis Lynagh's late double clinches title".BBC Sport.Retrieved1 July2021.
- ^"Harlequins vs Glasgow Warriors".Harlequins.Retrieved28 April2024.
- ^"Bordeaux-Beg 41 - 42 Harlequins - Match Report & Highlights".Sky.Retrieved28 April2024.
- ^"Alex Dombrandt Named Men's Club Captain".Harlequins.Retrieved21 September2024.
- ^abDoel, Jon; Thomas, Simon (1 December 2018)."The former Wales Under-20s star who's the talk of English rugby today but can't actually play for Wales".Wales Online.Retrieved1 April2019.
- ^"England 70-14 Canada".BBC Sport. 10 July 2021.Retrieved21 July2021.
- ^"Alex Dombrandt".26 February 2022.
External links
[edit]- Alex Dombrandtat ESPNscrum
- Alex Dombrandtat ItsRugby.co.uk
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