Birth name | Tomas John Reffell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 27 April 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Bridgend, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft (183 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 16 st 3 lb (227 lb; 103 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Pencoed Comprehensive School Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tomas John Reffell (born 27 April 1999)[1] is a Welsh professional rugby union player for Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby. His usual position is flanker.[2] He was a Premiership Rugby champion in 2022. He made his international debut for Wales against South Africa on 2 July 2022.
Career
Reffell began his junior career at his local club Pencoed RFC aged 4.[3] He was part of the Ospreys under 16s[2] and joined Leicester aged 15.[3]
Reffell captained both Wales U18 and Wales U20.[4][5]
Reffell made his debut for Leicester Tigers on 10 November 2017 in a 33–31 defeat against Bath at the Rec in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.[6][7]
In March 2020, Reffell won the Premiership Rugby Cup Breakthrough Player award for his performances in that year's competition.[8]
His form for Leicester in the 2020–21 season lead to speculation that he was in contention to be capped by either England or Wales, but he remained uncapped.[9] He was named man of the match by the Leicester Mercury following his performance in Tigers' win against Gloucester on 24 September 2021.[10][11]
His form continued into the next season, earning plaudits as he scored twice in the win against Harlequins on 16 October 2022.[12] On 27 November 2022 he was again named player of the match, scoring Leicester's fourth try in the win over London Irish.[13]
After another spell of good form, in May 2022, Reffell was named in the Wales squad for their summer tour to South Africa.[14] In June, Reffell started the 2022 Premiership Rugby final as Leicester won 15-12 against Saracens.[15] On 2 July 2022 Reffell made his debut for Wales in their 32–29 defeat to South Africa at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.[16] The following match on 9 July 2022 saw him win the man of the match award, as Wales beat South Africa 13-12 for their first ever win against South Africa in South Africa.[17]
Reffell kept his position into the 2022 Autumn Internationals, starting against New Zealand.[18] Reffell was injured during the match, and played no further part in Wales's autumn campaign.[19]
International tries
Try | Opponent | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | South Africa | Cape Town, South Africa | Cape Town Stadium | 2022 Summer Internationals | 16 July 2022 | Loss |
References
- ↑ "Tommy Reffell ESPN profile". ESPN. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- 1 2 "Leicester Tigers profile". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- 1 2 "Hotshot: Wales U20 flanker Tommy Reffell". Rugby World. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ↑ "Leicester Tigers Tommy Reffell is ready for the world stage with Wales". Leicester Mercury. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ↑ "Leicester Tigers' Tommy Reffell is taking Wales under-20s captaincy in his stride". Leicester Mercury. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ↑ "Leicester Tigers give senior debuts to three academy graduates for Bath Rugby visit". Bath Chronicle. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ↑ Jones, Paul. "Bath 33-31 Leicester Tigers verdict: Gallant young side go down to last-gasp defeat". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ↑ "Tommy Reffell clinches Premiership Rugby Cup Breakthrough Player Award". Talking Rugby Union. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ↑ "Tommy Reffell: Wales resist picking England-qualified flanker". BBC Sport. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ↑ "Wales' 'silent assassin' bangs down Pivac's door as English media rave about stunning performance". Wales Online. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ↑ "Leicester Tigers player ratings: 'Silent assassin' Tommy Reffell, Harry Potter undroppable, Dolly delivers". Leicester Mercury. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ↑ Clamp, Ethan; Bridge, Bobby (16 October 2022). "Tommy Reffell strikes twice as Leicester Tigers defeat Harlequins". LeicestershireLive. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ↑ "Match Report: Leicester Tigers 33-31 London Irish". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ↑ Bobby Bridge (18 May 2022). "Leicester Tigers flanker Tommy Reffell called up by Wales for South Africa summer tour". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ↑ "Premiership final: Leicester Tigers 15-12 Saracens - Freddie Burns drop-goal clinches title". BBC Sport. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ↑ Griffiths, Gareth (2 July 2022). "South Africa 32-29 Wales: Welsh hearts broken by last kick of Springboks thriller". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ↑ Griffiths, Gareth (9 July 2022). "South Africa 12-13 Wales: Late drama as tourists make history". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- ↑ "Autumn Nations Series: Wales 23-55 New Zealand - All Blacks claim win". BBC Sport. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ↑ James, Steve. "Tommy Reffell and Leigh Halfpenny ruled out of Wales' game against Argentina". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
External links
- Tommy Reffell at ESPNscrum
- Tommy Reffell at ItsRugby.co.uk
- Leicester Tigers profile
- WRU profile