Tom Davies (rugby league)

Tom Davies is an English rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for the Catalans Dragons in the Betfred Super League and the England Knights at international level.

Tom Davies
Personal information
Full nameThomas Davies
Born (1997-01-11) 11 January 1997
Wigan, Greater Manchester, England
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight13 st 10 lb (87 kg)
Playing information
PositionWing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2017–19 Wigan Warriors 63 32 0 0 128
2017(loan) → Swinton Lions 4 1 0 0 4
2020– Catalans Dragons 11 13 0 0 52
Total 78 46 0 0 184
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2018– England Knights 2 2 0 0 8
As of 28 December 2020
Source: [1][2]

He previously played for the Wigan Warriors in the Super League, and spent time on loan from Wigan at the Swinton Lions in the Championship.

Background

Davies was born in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.

He signed for Wigan after an initial trial having played amateur rugby league for Shevington Sharks, Orrell St. James and Wigan St. Patrick’s. At the time of the trial he was playing semi-professional rugby union with Flyde after being released from a scholarship with Leigh Centurions.[3] He made his professional début on 19 March 2017, scoring a try against Huddersfield Giants in a 16–16 draw.[4]

Club career

2017

Following the departure of Josh Charnley to the Sale Sharks, and injuries to first team wingers Joe Burgess, Lewis Tierney and Dom Manfredi, Davies got his début against Huddersfield. After scoring on début he kept his place despite the return of Burgess and Tierney. He then scored a brace of long range tries against the Catalans Dragons. Further tries against Swinton, St. Helens and Hull FC helped him to a total of 14 tries in his rookie season.

2018

After an impressive rookie season, Davies was handed the number 2 shirt at the Wigan club replacing the injured Dominic Manfredi.[5] Davies scored Wigan's first try of the year with a diving effort against the Salford Red Devils followed by further tries against Widnes and Wakefield followed by a brace against Huddersfield to give him five tries in six appearances. His next try came four games later against Warrington at the Magic Weekend after Morgan Escare scooped up a loose pass and selflessly passed the ball to Davies rather than running to the line himself. Further tries came against Leeds, Warrington, Huddersfield, Wakefield and a 50m solo run against Castleford. After four games without scoring he scored a try in the derby against St Helens from a seemingly impossible position with two tacklers holding him up 2m from the line, but drove forward and reached out to plant the ball on the white line just after halftime to halt a potential Saints fightback. Known for his aggressive ball carrying he averaged 148m per game as well as averaging 3 tackle breaks and a clean break per match. Following his early season form he was called up to the England Knights Performance Squad[6] before signing a new five year deal with the Wigan Warriors just a year after making his debut despite only recently signing a new improved deal.[7]

He played in the 2018 Super League Grand Final victory over the Warrington Wolves at Old Trafford.[8]

International career

In July 2018 he was selected in the England Knights Performance squad.[9] Later that year he was selected for the England Knights on their tour of Papua New Guinea. He played against Papua New Guinea at the Lae Football Stadium.[10] Davies also played against PNG at the Oil Search National Football Stadium.[11]

Career Stats
Club Season Appearances Tries Goals F/G Points
Wigan Warriors 2017 25 14 - - 56
2018 27 13 - - 52
Total 52 27 - - 108
Swinton Lions (Loan) 2017 4 1 - - 4
Total 56 28 - - 112

References
  1. loverugbyleague
  2. Rugby League Project
  3. Bower, Aaron. "Wigan's Tom Davies: 'I came to terms with the fact I wasn't going to make it'". The Guardian. The Guardian. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  4. Wigan 16-16 Huddersfield: Giants hold Warriors at DW Stadium
  5. "2018 Squad Numbers | News | Wigan Warriors". www.wiganwarriors.com. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  6. "Q&A with Tom Davies | News | Wigan Warriors". www.wiganwarriors.com. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  7. "Tom Davies: Wigan Warriors winger signs new five-year deal". BBC Sport. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  8. "Super League Grand Final 2018: Wigan 12-4 Warrington – as it happened". Guardian. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  9. "Ten new additions in England Knights squad". loverugbyleague. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  10. "Papua New Guinea vs England Knights". WWOS. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  11. "Papua New Guinea v England Knights". WWOS. 3 November 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
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