Tom Biggs
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| Birth name | Tom Biggs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 22 August 1984 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Kingston upon Hull,Yorkshire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 82 kg (12 st 13 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Hymers College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Leeds Metropolitan University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tom Biggs(born 22 August 1984) is an English formerrugby unionfootballer who most recently played forWorcester Warriors.His usual position was atwing.Biggs featured in theZurich Premiership,Powergen CupandEuropean Cup.He has a twin brother.
Rugby career
[edit]Biggs had not played any club rugby before joining the Yorkshire U18s, having only played with his school team atHymers College.Biggs was spotted by the then Tykes Academy bossStuart Lancasterand was asked to join the Tykes' Academy side.
Before the 2004–05Zurich Premiershipseason, Biggs was considering a part-time rugby career withNational Division TwoteamHarrogate,having failed to make an appearance in theLeeds Tykesfirst team. At the time, he was working in a cinema and in a pea factory to supplement his life as a business student atLeeds Metropolitan University,but by the end of the season he had collected aPowergen Cupwinners medal.
He had been recalled by Tykes coachPhil Davieson the eve of the season as the club were forced to call on all their resources when faced with an injury crisis withPhil Christophers,Diego Albanese,Tim StimpsonandIain Balshawall unable to play. Biggs was included in the pre-season warm up games and was picked in the starting line up for the opening game of the season againstGloucester Rugbyon 5 September 2004, making his full debut in a 16–21 defeat atHeadingley.
Biggs also featured in the next game againstLeicester Tigers,scoring a try in a 20–42 defeat. He was first to react to aGordon Rosscross-field kick and chipped on ahead ofAustin Healeyto collect the ball and evade the cover tackle to touch down. The try was later short-listed for theGilletteTry of the Season at theZurich Awards.
Biggs made a total of 21 appearances in the 2004–05 season, helping the Tykes to avoid relegation from the Zurich Premiership with another try against Leicester in a 23–22 victory at Headingley. He ended his debut season with a place in the Tykes' Powergen Cup final againstBath Rugby,collecting his first winners medal in a 20–12 win.[2]He was chosen ahead ofArgentinewingDiego Albanesein the Tykes' side for theTwickenhamclash.
After his first season, he was selected for the England team in theIRBU21s Championship in Argentina and was involved in the U21s'Six Nationscampaign, playing in their final clash withScotland.He ended last season[when?]as the club's top try scorer and was voted Player of the Year.
Biggs, who was close to being selected for theEngland Saxonslast[when?]summer, committed himself to the Tykes until 2009. He missed three months of the National Division One 2006/7 season, following a shoulder surgery that he suffered in September 2006. He had an operation to repair torn cartilage and a ligament, but returned to action in January 2007 as a replacement against Nottingham.
Biggs moved to theNewcastle Falconson a one-year contract for the 2009–10 season. He was also called into theEngland Saxonssquad to faceItaly AinRagusa,Sicily on 9 February 2008.[3][4]On 17 February 2010, it was announced that Biggs had signed a three-year deal to play for Bath.[5]
On 10 October 2013, Biggs was set for a cross-code switch torugby leagueto joinHull F.C.in theSuper League.[6]But on 4 April 2014, Hull F.C. announced they had called off the deal to sign Biggs.[7]Instead, Biggs signed forWorcester Warriors,competing in theRFU Championshipin the 2014–15 season.[8]
On 16 October 2017, Biggs announced his retirement from rugby on medical advice.[9]
Coaching career
[edit]In 2023,Thailand Rugby Unionannounced that Biggs was the new coach for theirwomen’s sevens team.[10]He was previously involved withChina's men's sevens teamin 2022.[10]
Honours
[edit]- Powergen Cup/Anglo-Welsh Cuptitles:1
- 2005
References
[edit]- ^"Aviva Premiership Rugby – Bath Rugby".web page.Premier Rugby. Archived fromthe originalon 16 June 2012.Retrieved24 August2011.
- ^"Bath 12–20 Leeds".BBC.16 April 2005.Retrieved14 July2013.
- ^"England Saxons training squad for Italy A".Rugby Football Union. 4 February 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 8 April 2008.Retrieved5 February2008.
- ^"Guest, Care and Jarvis join Skinner and Brown in England Saxons squad".Quins. 4 February 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 18 June 2008.Retrieved5 February2008.
- ^"Bath sign Newcastle Falcons winger Tom Biggs".BBC. 17 February 2009.Retrieved17 February2009.
- ^"Bath winger Tom Biggs set to join Hull FC in Super League".BBC Sport.10 October 2013.
- ^"Hull FC call off signing of Bath winger Tom Biggs".BBC Sport.4 April 2014.
- ^"Worcester Warriors sign Bath winger Tom Biggs".BBC Sport.22 April 2014.
- ^"Ex-Warriors wing Biggs retires following medical advice".
- ^ab"Asian Rugby Sevens Teams Confirmed For 2024 Challenger Series - Other Key Takeaways from the ARSS 2023".RugbyAsia247.18 October 2023.Retrieved16 January2024.