Graham Kitchener (born 29 September 1989 in Bromley) is an English rugby union player. His position is lock.
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| Date of birth | 29 September 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Bromley, Greater London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 121 kg (19 st 1 lb; 267 lb) [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Adams' Grammar School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Birmingham University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Andrew Kitchener (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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He has represented England at Under 16, 18 and Under 20 level, and played a part in the Under 20s 6 nations grand slam in 2008.[2] He was also a crucial member of the 2009 Under 20 squad, reaching the final of the JWC.[3]
Kitchener attended Adams' Grammar School in Newport like fellow professional rugby player Peter Short of Bath Rugby.[4]
A talented all round athlete, he spent 3 years playing football for Wolverhampton Wanderers Academy before deciding to focus on rugby.[citation needed] He was a schoolboy cricketer for Shropshire[citation needed] and was the Midlands Under 17 Shot Put champion,[citation needed] before finishing 6th in the English Schools championships. He combines his commitments as a professional rugby player with a full-time degree at University of Birmingham[citation needed]
A graduate of the academy system at Aviva Premiership club Worcester Warriors, Graham Kitchener left the Warriors to join Leicester Tigers for the 2011-12 season. Kitchener started the 2013 Premiership final and scored a try as Leicester defeated Northampton Saints.[5]
He played for the England Saxons through 2011, including their successful Churchill Cup campaign.
Kitchener was selected for the England squad to face the Barbarians in the summer of 2014.[6]
He was called up to the senior England squad for the 2015 Six Nations Championship.[7]
On 4 February 2019, Graham would re-sign for his old club Worcester Warriors, effectively leaving Leicester from the 2019-20 season.[8]
On 5 October 2022 all Worcester players had their contacts terminated due to the liquidation of the company to which they were contracted.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Aviva Premiership Rugby - Gloucester Rugby". web page. Premier Rugby. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- ^ "England U-20 43–14 Ireland U-20". RTÉ. 14 March 2008. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- ^ "England lose out to New Zealand in Junior final". RFU. 21 June 2009. Archived from the original on 24 June 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- ^ "Kitchener Lords it at Sixways". BBC. 1 November 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- ^ "Aviva Premiership final: Leicester 37-17 Northampton". BBC. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ "Mike Brown: Harlequins full-back one of 21 added by England". BBC Sport. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ^ "Easter and Cipriani included in England training squad". englandrugby.com. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ "Graham Kitchener re-signs for Worcester Warriors from Leicester Tigers". Sky Sports. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- ^ "Worcester player and staff contracts terminated after high court ruling | Worcester | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 5 October 2022.