Wikipedia

Mark Wilson (rugby union)

Mark Edward Wilson (born 6 October 1989) is an English rugby union coach and former player.[2] He played as either a blindside flanker or at Number 8. On 14 February 2022, he announced his retirement with immediate effect due to a problematic knee injury.[3] Following his retirement he was reemployed by the Falcons as a coach.[4]

Mark Wilson
Mark Wilson in 2014
Birth nameMark Edward Wilson
Date of birth (1989-10-06) 6 October 1989 (age 35)
Place of birthKendal, England
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight112 kg (17 st 9 lb; 247 lb)[1]
SchoolKirkbie Kendal School
UniversityNorthumbria University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Number 8
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2003–2006 Penrith RUFC ()
2006–2008 Kendal RUFC ()
2008–2011 Blaydon RFC ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2022 Newcastle Falcons 224 (145)
2019–2020 →Sale Sharks 2 (0)
Correct as of 3 July 2019
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–2021  England 23 (5)
Correct as of 20 March 2021
Coaching career
Years Team
2022– Newcastle Falcons

Playing career

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Club

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Wilson was a product of the Newcastle Falcons Junior Academy and signed a professional contract after playing for Kendal RUFC in the national 3 level.[5] He also spent some time on loan from Newcastle Falcons at Blaydon RFC in the national level 2 in his first year after becoming professional.[5] In March 2011 he was part of the Falcons team that were defeated by Gloucester in the final of the Anglo-Welsh Cup.[6] Wilson started for the Newcastle side that defeated Bedford Blues in the 2012–13 RFU Championship final to achieve promotion back to the top flight.[7]

In July 2019 it was announced that Wilson would be joining Premiership side Sale Sharks on a year-long loan following the relegation of Newcastle Falcons.[8] Wilson returned to Newcastle for the 2020-2021 campaign and in total made 237 appearances for the club, scoring 42 tries.[9][3]

International

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Wilson represented both England Counties and England Students, and eventually played for the England senior side in a non-cap game against the Barbarians in May 2015.[5][10] In May 2017 he was invited to a training camp with the senior England squad by coach Eddie Jones.[11] On 10 June 2017 he made his Test debut starting against Argentina in the first test of their summer tour.[12]

Wilson became a regular starter for England at the end of 2018, with Billy Vunipola and Sam Simmonds both ruled out because of injury, while Nathan Hughes had been suspended for foul play. In his first home start for England, Wilson claimed the Man of the Match award, as England beat South Africa by a single point during the 2018 Autumn Internationals.[13] Wilson went on to start in all four of England's autumn internationals and was not subbed off during the series, winning the fan vote for the Quilter Internationals player of the series.[14] It was during this series that Wilson scored his only International try on 17 November 2018 against Japan.[15]

In September 2019 Wilson started for England in a warm-up game for the 2019 Rugby World Cup against Italy at St James' Park.[16][17] He was selected by coach Eddie Jones as one of five back-row forwards for the tournament[18] and played in the pool fixture against the United States[19] and semi-final victory over New Zealand.[20] He featured as a replacement coming on for Sam Underhill in the 59th minute of England's defeat to South Africa in the World Cup Final.[21]

After the World Cup Wilson started for England against Wales during the 2020 Six Nations Championship which ended in England winning the tournament.[22][23] His final International appearance was against Ireland in the 2021 Six Nations Championship.[9]

International tries

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As of 20 November 2021[1]
Try Opposing team Location Venue Competition Date Result Score
1   Japan London, England Twickenham Stadium 2018 end-of-year rugby union internationals 17 November 2018 Win 35 – 15[15]

Coaching career

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Newcastle Falcons

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Following his retirement from playing, Wilson was appointed a first team coach ahead of the 2022–23 season.

Honours

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England

Newcastle Falcons

References

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  1. ^ a b "ESPN profile". ESPN. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Newcastle Falcons : Squad Index". Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Mark Wilson: England & Newcastle Falcons back row retires at 32". BBC Sport. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Mark Wilson joins Newcastle Falcons' coaching team". www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Smith, Mark (31 May 2015). "England call finally comes for Newcastle Falcons' Mark Wilson". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Gloucester 34-7 Newcastle". BBC Sport. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  7. ^ a b Newsum, Matt (29 May 2013). "Newcastle beat Bedford to seal promotion to Premiership". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  8. ^ "England's Mark Wilson to join Sale from Newcastle, while James Phillips stays". BBC Sport. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Mark Wilson: England and Newcastle Falcons flanker announces retirement from rugby". Sky Sports. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  10. ^ Osborne, Chris (31 May 2015). "England 73-12 Barbarians: Christian Wade scores hat-trick". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  11. ^ "England rugby: Willi Heinz and Jason Woodward selected for training camp". BBC Sport. 14 May 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  12. ^ Standley, James (10 June 2017). "England beat Argentina thanks to Denny Solomona's late try". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  13. ^ Fordyce, Tom (3 November 2018). "England 12-11 South Africa: Eddie Jones' side battle to victory at Twickenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Mark Wilson wins fan vote for Quilter Internationals player of the series". Sky Sports. 27 November 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  15. ^ a b Fordyce, Tom (17 November 2018). "England 35-15 Japan: Eddie Jones' side hold off spirited visitors". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  16. ^ Jones, Chris (5 September 2019). "Rugby World Cup: Mark Wilson hopes England can 'thrill the fans' at St James' Park". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  17. ^ Kitson, Robert (6 September 2019). "England fail to impress in World Cup warm-up victory over Italy". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  18. ^ Jones, Chris (12 August 2019). "Rugby World Cup: England leave out Te'o, name Ludlam & McConnochie in squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  19. ^ Fordyce, Tom (26 September 2019). "England thrash United States 45-7 in Rugby World Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  20. ^ Fordyce, Tom (26 October 2019). "England 19-7 New Zealand: Eddie Jones' side beat All Blacks to reach World Cup final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  21. ^ a b Fordyce, Tom (2 November 2019). "England 12-32 South Africa: Springboks win World Cup for record-equalling third time". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  22. ^ Fordyce, Tom (7 March 2020). "Six Nations: England beat Wales 33-30 despite Manu Tuilagi red card". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  23. ^ a b Grey, Becky (31 October 2020). "Italy 5-34 England: Visitors' victory proves enough to win Six Nations title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
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