Henry Arundell | |
Birth Date: | 8 November 2002 |
Birth Place: | Dhekelia, British Overseas Territories |
Height: | 1.830NaN0 |
Weight: | 980NaN0 |
School: | Beechen Cliff School Harrow School |
Position: | Fullback, Wing |
Currentclub: | Racing 92 |
Years1: | 2021–2023 |
Clubs1: | London Irish |
Apps1: | 23 |
Points1: | 50 |
Years2: | 2023– |
Clubs2: | Racing 92 |
Apps2: | 8 |
Points2: | 35 |
Repyears1: | 2022 |
Repteam1: | England U20 |
Repcaps1: | 3 |
Reppoints1: | 20 |
Repyears2: | 2022– |
Repteam2: | England |
Repcaps2: | 10 |
Reppoints2: | 35 |
Clubupdate: | 18 January 2024 |
Repupdate: | 27 October 2023 |
Henry Arundell (born 8 November 2002) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a fullback for Top 14 club Racing 92 and the England national team.[1] [2]
Arundell was born on Cyprus in 2002, at the then Royal Air Force base in Dhekelia; a Sovereign Base Area and British Overseas Territory. He spent the first two years of his life on Cyprus before moving back to the United Kingdom.[3]
His father, Ralph Arundell, was an army officer in The Rifles (formerly The Light Infantry) for thirty years, completing tours in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.[4] [5] His mother, Jane Arundell, is a nurse and health visitor working for the NHS.
Arundell started his sporting career at a young age, excelling at various sports while a pupil at Holt VC Primary School.[6] He subsequently attended Beechen Cliff School in nearby Bath. After his father joined the staff of Harrow School, Arundell enrolled at the all-boys London boarding school, putting him in the catchment area for London Irish's academy, which he joined aged fourteen.[7]
In the Premiership Rugby Cup in 2022, a number of Arundell's performances drew attention, including two tries against Leicester Tigers in a semi-final;[8] a 20-minute substitute appearance against Wasps, scoring a try and being named Man of the Match,[9] and a try that started on his own goal-line against Toulon.[10] [11] [12]
His performances for London Irish saw him named as Premiership Rugby's young player of the season for 2021–22.[13] On 10 June 2022, Arundell signed a new "long term" contract with London Irish.
After London Irish collapsed into administration in June 2023, Arundell joined Grand Paris-based French side Racing 92.[14] [15] After the Rugby World Cup, he played his first game for the Sky Blue and Whites at Toulon on 12 November and scored a hat-trick in a 31–26 narrow loss.[16]
On 12 December, Racing 92 announced his contract extension until 2026,[17] despite outside interest from Premiership Rugby clubs like Bath or Gloucester as well as National Rugby League teams.[18] [19]
Arundell was highlighted as "one to watch" in the 2022 Six Nations Under 20s Championship,[20] and was the competition's joint-top try scorer, scoring four.[21]
Arundell was named as an "apprentice player" in 's squad for their 2022 tour of Australia.[22] He scored a try, from his first touch, on his debut on 2 July 2022, coming on from the bench.[23] As of July 2023, he has 7 international caps.[24] Arundell was named in England's 2023 Rugby World Cup squad on 7 August 2023, scoring a joint England record 5 tries on his World Cup debut against Chile on 23 September 2023 in a 71–0 win.[25]
As of 23 September 2023[26]
Try | Opposing team | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Perth, Australia | Optus Stadium | 2022 England rugby union tour of Australia | 2 July 2022 | Loss | 30 - 28 | |
2 | London, England | Twickenham Stadium | 2023 Six Nations | 12 February 2023 | Win | 31–14 | |
3 | Lille, France | Stade Pierre-Mauroy | 2023 Rugby World Cup | 23 September 2023 | Win | 71–0 | |
4 | |||||||
5 | |||||||
6 | |||||||
7 |