Tom Biggs (born 22 August 1984) is an English former rugby union footballer who most recently played for Worcester Warriors. His usual position was at wing. Biggs featured in the Zurich Premiership, Powergen Cup and European Cup. He has a twin brother.
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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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Rugby career
editBiggs had not played any club rugby before joining the Yorkshire U18s, having only played with his school team at Hymers College. Biggs was spotted by the then Tykes Academy boss Stuart Lancaster and was asked to join the Tykes' Academy side.
Before the 2004–05 Zurich Premiership season, Biggs was considering a part-time rugby career with National Division Two team Harrogate, having failed to make an appearance in the Leeds Tykes first team. At the time, he was working in a cinema and in a pea factory to supplement his life as a business student at Leeds Metropolitan University, but by the end of the season he had collected a Powergen Cup winners medal.
He had been recalled by Tykes coach Phil Davies on the eve of the season as the club were forced to call on all their resources when faced with an injury crisis with Phil Christophers, Diego Albanese, Tim Stimpson and Iain Balshaw all 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 against Gloucester Rugby on 5 September 2004, making his full debut in a 16–21 defeat at Headingley.
Biggs also featured in the next game against Leicester Tigers, scoring a try in a 20–42 defeat. He was first to react to a Gordon Ross cross-field kick and chipped on ahead of Austin Healey to collect the ball and evade the cover tackle to touch down. The try was later short-listed for the Gillette Try of the Season at the Zurich 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 against Bath Rugby, collecting his first winners medal in a 20–12 win.[2] He was chosen ahead of Argentine wing Diego Albanese in the Tykes' side for the Twickenham clash.
After his first season, he was selected for the England team in the IRB U21s Championship in Argentina and was involved in the U21s' Six Nations campaign, playing in their final clash with Scotland. 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 the England Saxons last[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 the Newcastle Falcons on a one-year contract for the 2009–10 season. He was also called into the England Saxons squad to face Italy A in Ragusa, 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 to rugby league to join Hull F.C. in the Super League.[6] But on 4 April 2014, Hull F.C. announced they had called off the deal to sign Biggs.[7] Instead, Biggs signed for Worcester Warriors, competing in the RFU Championship in the 2014–15 season.[8]
On 16 October 2017, Biggs announced his retirement from rugby on medical advice.[9]
Coaching career
editIn 2023, Thailand Rugby Union announced that Biggs was the new coach for their women’s sevens team.[10] He was previously involved with China's men's sevens team in 2022.[10]
Honours
edit- Powergen Cup/Anglo-Welsh Cup titles: 1
- 2005
References
edit- ^ "Aviva Premiership Rugby – Bath Rugby". web page. Premier Rugby. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ "Bath 12–20 Leeds". BBC. 16 April 2005. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
- ^ "England Saxons training squad for Italy A". Rugby Football Union. 4 February 2008. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ "Guest, Care and Jarvis join Skinner and Brown in England Saxons squad". Quins. 4 February 2008. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ "Bath sign Newcastle Falcons winger Tom Biggs". BBC. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
- ^ "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".
- ^ a b "Asian Rugby Sevens Teams Confirmed For 2024 Challenger Series - Other Key Takeaways from the ARSS 2023". RugbyAsia247. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2024.