Mark Wilson (rugby union)
M. E. Wilson (born 6 October 1989) is a professional rugby union player for Newcastle Falcons in Premiership Rugby.[2] He can play as either a blindside flanker or at number eight.
![]() Mark Wilson in 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Birth name | Mark Edward Wilson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 6 October 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Kendal, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 112 kg (17 st 9 lb; 247 lb) [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Playing career
He is a product of the Newcastle Falcons Junior Academy and signed a professional contract after playing for Kendal RUFC in the national 3 level. He also spent some time on loan from Newcastle Falcons at Blaydon RUFC in the national level 2 in his first year after becoming professional.
Wilson represented both England Counties and England Students, and eventually played for the England senior side against the Barbarians in May 2015.[3]
2017-2019
In May 2017 he was invited to a training camp with the senior England squad by Eddie Jones and made his debut in the 1st summer test against Argentina.[4]
Although Wilson was the fourth-choice number 8 for England, he became a regular starter for the country 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 start for England, Wilson claimed the Man of the Match title, as England beat South Africa, 12-11, during the 2018 November tests. 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.[5] Wilson also notably scored his first try for England against Japan, on 17 November 2018, as England won by 35-15.
In July 2019, it was announced that Wilson would be joining Gallagher Premiership side Sale Sharks on a year-long loan following the relegation of Newcastle Falcons.
On 11 August 2019, Wilson was selected by England Head Coach, Eddie Jones, as one of five back-row forwards for the upcoming 2019 Rugby World Cup. He featured on the bench in the World Cup Final.
References
- "Aviva Premiership Rugby - Newcastle (archived webpage)". web page. Premier Rugby. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Osborne, Chris (31 May 2015). "England 73-12 Barbarians: Christian Wade scores hat-trick". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
- "England rugby: Willi Heinz and Jason Woodward selected for training camp". BBC. 14 May 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
- wins fan vote for Quilter Internationals player of the series