Anthony Watson (rugby union)

Anthony Kenneth Chisom Watson (born 26 February 1994) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for the England national team.[1][2][3]

For other people named Anthony Watson, see Anthony Watson (disambiguation).

Anthony Watson
Watson representing Bath during the Aviva Premiership
Full nameAnthony Kenneth Chisom Watson
Date of birth (1994-02-26) 26 February 1994
Place of birthAshford, England
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight93 kg (205 lb; 14 st 9 lb)
SchoolSt. George's College
UniversityNorthumbria University
University of Bath
Notable relative(s)Marcus Watson (brother), Callum Watson (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Fullback
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2013 London Irish 22 (20)
2013–2022 Bath 126 (160)
2022–2023 Leicester Tigers 16 (30)
Correct as of 28 August 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2013 England U20 21 (25)
2014 England A 1 (5)
2014– England 56 (115)
2017–2021 British & Irish Lions 5 (0)
Correct as of 28 August 2023

Early life

Watson attended St George's College, Weybridge in Surrey, where he was vice-captain of the rugby team.[3] His brother is Benetton winger Marcus Watson.[4]

Club career

In September 2011 Watson made his professional debut against Newcastle Falcons and became the youngest player to ever appear for London Irish in a Premiership match.[5] He scored his first tries for the club in their victory over Stade Montois on 20 October 2012.[6][7]

On 25 April 2013 it was announced that Watson would join Bath for the following season.[8] In his first campaign at the club he scored a try in the final of the EPCR Challenge Cup as Bath finished runners up to Northampton Saints at Cardiff Arms Park.[9] The next season saw Watson start in their Premiership final defeat to Saracens.[10]

On 12 May 2022 Watson signed for Leicester Tigers.[11] He made his debut for Leicester in a 51-18 loss to Saracens on 1 October 2022. On 18 August 2023 it was confirmed that Watson had left Leicester after failing to agree a new contract. Instead he became employed by the Rugby Football Union.[2]

International career

England

Watson scored a try for the England U20 team as they defeated Ireland in the final round of the 2012 Six Nations Under 20s Championship to win the tournament.[12] He was also a member of the side that retained the 2013 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[13] Later that year Watson was selected for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship scoring a try in their semi-final victory over New Zealand and started in the final as England defeated Wales to become world junior champions for the first time.[14][15]

At the age of nineteen, after a string of impressive performances for Bath at full-back, Watson was called into the senior England squad by coach Stuart Lancaster to train with them during their autumn international series in November 2013.[16][17] In January 2014 he again trained with the squad during the 2014 Six Nations Championship and later that month scored a try for the England A team in a defeat against Ireland Wolfhounds.[18][19]

Watson was included in the senior squad for their 2014 tour of New Zealand and scored a try on his England debut in a non-cap tour match against Crusaders.[20][21] On 8 November 2014, Watson made his official test debut for England, from the bench, losing to New Zealand 21-24 as part of their 2014 Autumn Internationals.[4][22]

Watson scored his first tries for England against Wales and France during the 2015 Six Nations.[23][24] He was included in the squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and scored in warm-up fixtures against France and Ireland.[25][26] He was selected to start in all four of England's pool games at the tournament, scoring tries against Australia and Uruguay as the hosts failed to reach the knockout phase.[27][28]

Watson was selected by new coach Eddie Jones for the 2016 Six Nations Championship and recorded tries against Ireland and Wales.[29][30] He also scored in the final round as England beat France to achieve their first Grand Slam in over a decade.[31] Later that year he scored a try against Wales and then started in all three victories on their 2016 tour of Australia.[32][33] The following year saw Watson score a try in the penultimate round of the 2017 Six Nations against Scotland and then start in the final game of the competition as England missed out on a consecutive grand slam with defeat away to Ireland which also brought an end to a record equalling eighteen successive Test victories.[34][35]

Watson was included in the squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and scored a try in a warm-up game against Italy at St James' Park.[36] He scored the last try of the quarter-final against Australia and also played in the semi-final victory over New Zealand.[37][38] He started in the final as England were defeated by South Africa to finish runners up.[39]

Watson scored a try against Wales during the 2020 Six Nations and then started the final round victory in Italy which meant England won the tournament.[40][41] Later that year he started in the final of the Autumn Nations Cup as England defeated France in extra time to win the competition.[42] Watson scored tries against Italy and Wales during the 2021 Six Nations.[43][44] Later in the tournament he scored a try against France on his fiftieth appearance for England.[45]

British & Irish Lions

Watson was named as one of the 41 British & Irish Lions players that toured New Zealand in 2017.[46] He started in all three tests as the series ended all square.[47]

Watson was also selected by coach Warren Gatland for the 2021 Lions tour of South Africa.[48] He started the first two tests; winning the first and losing the second.[49][50] He was dropped for the final match which saw the Lions lose the series 2-1.[51][52]

Career statistics

List of international tries
As of 25 February 2023[1]
TryOpposing teamLocationVenueCompetitionDateResultScore
1 WalesCardiff, WalesMillennium Stadium2015 Six Nations6 February 2015Win21 – 16[23]
2 FranceLondon, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2015 Six Nations23 March 2015Win55 – 35[24]
3  France London, England Twickenham Stadium 2015 Rugby World Cup Warm-Up 15 August 2015 Win 19 – 14[25]
4
5 IrelandLondon, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2015 Rugby World Cup Warm-Up5 September 2015Win21 – 13[26]
6 AustraliaLondon, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2015 Rugby World Cup3 October 2015Loss13 – 33[27]
7  Uruguay Manchester, England City of Manchester Stadium 2015 Rugby World Cup 10 October 2015 Win 60 – 3[28]
8
9 IrelandLondon, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2016 Six Nations27 February 2016Win21 – 10[29]
10 WalesLondon, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2016 Six Nations12 March 2016Win25 – 21[30]
11 FranceParis, FranceStade de France2016 Six Nations19 March 2016Win31 – 21[31]
12 WalesLondon, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2016 Summer Tour Warm-Up29 May 2016Win27 – 13[32]
13 ScotlandLondon, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2017 Six Nations11 March 2017Win61 – 21[34]
14  Italy Rome, Italy Stadio Olimpico 2018 Six Nations 4 February 2018 Win 46 – 15
15
16 ItalyNewcastle, EnglandSt James' Park2019 Rugby World Cup Warm-Up6 September 2019Win37 – 0[36]
17 AustraliaŌita, JapanŌita Bank Dome2019 Rugby World Cup19 October 2019Win40 – 16[37]
18 WalesLondon, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2020 Six Nations7 March 2020Win33 – 30[40]
19  Italy London, England Twickenham Stadium 2021 Six Nations 13 February 2021 Win 41 – 18[43]
20
21 WalesCardiff, WalesMillennium Stadium2021 Six Nations27 February 2021Loss24 – 40[44]
22 FranceLondon, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2021 Six Nations13 March 2021Win23 – 20[45]
23  Wales Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium 2023 Six Nations 25 February 2023 Win 20 – 10

Honours
England
Bath

References
  1. "ESPN profile". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  2. Kitson, Rob (18 August 2023). "Anthony Watson: 'My desire has always been to play for England for as long as I can". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  3. "Anthony Watson". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  4. Rendell, Sarah (8 April 2021). "Who is Anthony Watson: Ten things you should know about the England wing". Rugby World. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  5. Manicom, Alan (21 October 2011). "Watson to make his first start for London Irish". Berkshire Live. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  6. "Home - London Irish". Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  7. "Amlin Challenge Cup: London Irish 69-26 Mont de Marsan". BBC Sport. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  8. "Bath get London Irish duo Anthony Watson and David Sisi". BBC Sport. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  9. Osborne, Chris (22 May 2014). "Amlin Challenge Cup final: Bath 16-30 Northampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  10. Hassan, Nabil (30 May 2015). "Premiership final: Bath 16-28 Saracens". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  11. "Leicester Tigers: Bath wing Anthony Watson & Wasps' Jimmy Gopperth among five new signings". BBC Sport. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  12. "Ireland beaten all ends up". The Irish Times. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  13. "Six Nations 2013: Wales U20 15-28 England U20". BBC Sport. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
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  15. Standley, James (23 June 2013). "Junior World Championship: Wales U20 15-23 England U20". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
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  18. "George Ford replaces Toby Flood in England Six Nations squad". BBC Sport. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
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  42. Henson, Mike (6 December 2020). "Autumn Nations Cup: England beat France in sudden death". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
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