Tommy Taylor (rugby union)
| Birth name | Thomas Taylor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 11 November 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Macclesfield, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 16 st 5 lb; 229 lb (104 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tommy Taylor (born 11 November 1991 ) is an English former rugby union player. A hooker, he spent his professional club career with Sale Sharks and Wasps and made one appearance for England in 2016.
Club career
Taylor was educated at The King's School in Macclesfield and captained their first XV for two consecutive seasons. He made his Sale debut in 2011.[1] Taylor started for the Sale side that lost to Harlequins in the 2013 Anglo-Welsh Cup final.[2]
In 2016 Taylor left Sale to join Wasps and in his first season at the club he started in the 2017 Premiership final which they lost against Exeter Chiefs after extra time to finish league runners up.[3] He also started in the 2020 Premiership final which they again lost to Exeter.[4]
In February 2021, it was confirmed that Taylor would rejoin Sale Sharks ahead of the 2021–22 season.[5][6] On 15 May 2025, Taylor announced his retirement from professional rugby at the end of the 2024-25 season.[7]
In June 2025, Taylor became the new Forwards coach for Sedgley Park in National League 1 competition.[8]
International career
Taylor was selected for the England squad to face Barbarians in the summer of 2014.[9] He was called up to England's 2016 Six Nations Championship squad on 13 March 2016 as injury cover for Jamie George although did not make an appearance.[10]
On 29 May 2016 Taylor made his Test debut for England as a replacement for Dylan Hartley in a victory against Wales at Twickenham.[11][12] Ultimately this was his only cap for England.[6]
In June 2016, the month after Taylor had made his international debut, he scored two tries for England A as they defeated South Africa A at Outeniqua Park to win the series.[13]
Honours
Sale Sharks
- Anglo-Welsh Cup runner-up: 2012–2013[2]
Wasps
- Premiership Rugby runner-up: 2016–2017,[3] 2019–2020[4]
References
- ^ "Tommy Taylor: Sale Sharks hooker to join Wasps". BBC Sport. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ a b Mitchell, Brendon (17 March 2013). "LV= Cup final: Sale Sharks 14-32 Harlequins". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ a b Law, James (27 May 2017). "Premiership final: Wasps 20-23 Exeter Chiefs (aet)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ a b Pilnick, Brent (24 October 2020). "Premiership Final: Exeter beat Wasps 19-13 to secure historic double". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ "Tommy Taylor signs for Sale Sharks". Sale Sharks. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Tommy Taylor: Sale Sharks to re-sign hooker from Wasps". BBC Sport. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ Diamond, Sam (15 May 2025). "TOMMY TAYLOR TO RETIRE". Sale Sharks. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
- ^ "Ex-England hooker Tommy Taylor's coaching career moves up a step". www.rugbypass.com. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
- ^ "Mike Brown: Harlequins full-back one of 21 added by England". BBC Sport. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ^ "England win Six Nations as France lose to Scotland". BBC Sport. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- ^ "England give Teimana Harrison his debut in Test against Wales". The Guardian. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ Dirs, Ben (29 May 2016). "England 27-13 Wales: Hosts score five tries but Ford misfires". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
- ^ "England Saxons fight back to down South Africa 'A' and complete series whitewash". Sky Sports. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2025.