Charlie Atkinson (rugby union)

Charlie Atkinson
Birth nameCharles Joseph Atkinson
Date of birth (2001-10-06) 6 October 2001
Place of birthOxford, England
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight88 kg (13 st 12 lb; 194 lb)
SchoolAbingdon School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Current team Gloucester Rugby
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020–2022 Wasps 40 (52)
2022–2023 Leicester Tigers 24 (69)
2023– Gloucester 31 (37)
Correct as of 16 May 2025
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019 England U18 2 (5)
2021 England U20 4 (0)
2024– England A 3 (8)
2025– England 1 (2)
Correct as of 19 July 2025

Charles Joseph Atkinson (born 6 October 2001) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Gallagher Premiership club Gloucester Rugby.[1]

Early life and education

Atkinson's father played rugby for Tynedale RFC, Northumberland and had England Under-18 trials.[2]

Atkinson first played rugby at Oxford RFC, aged five.[3] He was educated at Abingdon School from 2013 until 2020 and played in the first XV rugby team.[4][5] Atkinson played twice for England U-18.[3]

Club career

In 2020 Atkinson signed for Wasps on a three-year contract.[6] He is known for beating defenders, try scoring, and also for physical commitment in defence.[7][8] Atkinson started in their 2021–22 EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final elimination against Lyon.[9]

Following Wasps administration in October 2022, Atkinson signed a long-term contract with Leicester Tigers on 31 October 2022.[10] He made his debut as a replacement in Tigers' one point defeat away to Bath on 11 November 2022.[11]

After making 24 appearances for Leicester, Atkinson moved to Gloucester on Christmas Eve 2023.[12] He made his Gloucester debut on 28 January 2024, scoring a try in the 32–20 victory over Sale Sharks.[13] During his first campaign with the club, Atkinson played as a substitute in their semi-final victory over Benetton Rugby but did not feature in the 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup final which they lost against Sharks to finish runners up.[14][15]

In January 2025, Atkinson signed a new contract extension with Gloucester.[16]

International career

On 1 January 2021 Atkinson was selected for the England Under-20 Squad[17] and on 26 January 2021 it was announced that he would be part of the shadow senior squad for England during the 2021 Six Nations Championship.[18][19] Later that year he was a member of the junior side that completed a grand slam during the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[20][21]

In June 2022 Atkinson was called up by coach Eddie Jones to join a training camp with the senior England squad.[22] In February 2024 Atkinson started for England A scoring four points in a victory over Portugal.[23]

Atkinson was included in the squad for the 2025 England rugby union tour of Argentina and the United States.[24] On 19 July 2025, Atkinson got his first England cap, making his international debut from off the bench as a replacement for George Ford in a 40–5 victory against USA at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. to finish their summer tour.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Charlie Atkinson - ItsRugby". itsrugby. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  2. ^ Smith, Steven (5 March 2021). "RANKED: Will Greenwood picks his four replacements for Ford and Farrell". Ruck. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b "RFU profile". England Rugby. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Rugby report" (PDF). The Abingdonian.
  5. ^ "Rugby Podcast with Charlie Atkinson". Abingdonian School. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Wasps Rugby signing". Abingdon School. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  7. ^ Bridge, Bobby (30 December 2020). "'I used the word stupid with him' - cautionary words given to Wasps sensation Charlie Atkinson". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  8. ^ Heagney, Liam (30 December 2020). "'I had to have a word with him and I used the word stupid'". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  9. ^ "European Challenge Cup: Lyon 20-18 Wasps - Leo Berdeu's 15-point haul sinks Premiership side". BBC Sport. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Charlie Atkinson: Leicester Tigers sign former Wasps fly-half on 'long-term deal'". BBC Sport. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Premiership: Bath 19-18 Leicester Tigers". BBC Sport. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  12. ^ "Charlie Atkinson: Gloucester sign Leicester Tigers fly-half with immediate effect". BBC Sport. 24 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Premiership: Gloucester 32-20 Sale Sharks - Cherry and Whites earn first league win since October". BBC Sport. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  14. ^ Hurcom, Sophie (4 May 2024). "Gloucester beat Benetton to reach Challenge Cup final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  15. ^ Hurcom, Sophie (24 May 2024). "Sharks overpower Gloucester to win Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  16. ^ Evely, John (16 January 2025). "'We're building something special here' - Charlie Atkinson re-signs with Gloucester Rugby". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  17. ^ "Charlie Atkinson named in England U20 2021 Elite Player Squad". Official Wasps Rugby website. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  18. ^ "OA selected for England". Abingdon School. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  19. ^ "Sam Underhill: Bath flanker withdraws from England's Six Nations squad". BBC Sport. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  20. ^ "England Under-20s name team for grand slam decider". Premiership Rugby. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  21. ^ "England Under-20s 27-17 Italy Under-20s: England win Grand Slam in Cardiff". BBC Sport. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  22. ^ "England: Injured prop Kyle Sinckler to miss Australia tour". BBC Sport. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  23. ^ "England A 91-5 Portugal". BBC Sport. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  24. ^ "George Ford and Jamie George to co-captain 36-man England squad on summer tour of Argentina and USA". Sky Sports. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  25. ^ "USA 5-40 England: Six-try victory ends summer tour amid lightning delays". Sky Sports. 19 July 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
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