David Tait

David Tait (5 July 1987 – 12 December 2012)[2] was a professional rugby union player for Sale Sharks in the Guinness Premiership.

For other people named David Tait, see David Tait (disambiguation).

David Tait
Birth nameDavid Andrews Tait
Date of birth(1987-07-05)5 July 1987
Place of birthSale, Greater Manchester
Date of death12 December 2012(2012-12-12) (aged 25)
Place of deathKowloon, Hong Kong
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight105 kg (16 st 7 lb)
SchoolSale Grammar School[1]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number Eight, Flanker
Youth career
Broughton Park Rugby Union F.C
– Altrincham Kersal
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005–2010 Sale Sharks 28 (0)
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2009–2010 Scotland Dubai

Career

Tait played as a Number 8, although he could also operate as a Flanker. He also represented Scotland at rugby sevens. Tait made his Sale debut in a Powergen Cup match against Llanelli Scarlets.[3] He "left the club in 2010 after suffering persistent injuries, having made just 40 appearances".[2]

Tait represented the England Under 20 team.[4] He was called up to the England sevens training squad for the 2008–09 IRB Sevens World Series.[5] However, Tait did not represent England and later competed for Scotland at the 2009 Dubai Sevens.[6]

In November 2011, Tait started a career at KPMG Hong Kong in the Corporate Finance team. While there, he also became captain for the Kowloon RFC first fifteen.[7] He went on to lead the first team to their first Hong Kong Premiership League title in 30 years, during the 2011–2012 season.

Personal life

Tait was born in Sale, Greater Manchester, England, where he attended Sale Grammar School.[1] Later he attended Sedbergh School and took a history degree at Manchester University. He was of Scottish descent on his father's side.[8] His father Campbell Tait, a judge, hanged himself in 2004.[9][10]

Death

Tait died in an apparent suicide after falling from the roof of the Harbourview Horizon apartment block in Hung Hom, Hong Kong, on 12 December 2012.[7][11] The Hong Kong national rugby union team wore black armbands during the 2012 Cup of Nations in his memory.[7]

References
  1. Dixon, Jenny (4 July 2008). "Kiwis tutor Tait". The Advertiser. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  2. "Former Sale Sharks rugby player David Tait dies in fall". BBC News. 16 January 2012. Archived from the original on 13 December 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  3. "Scarlets 24–23 Sale". BBC News. 2 December 2005. Archived from the original on 24 May 2006. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  4. "Tait and smile as England Under-20s rack up five-try win". Rugby Football Union. 2 February 2007. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  5. "England 7s begin route to Rugby World Cup". ESPN Scrum. 2 October 2008. Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  6. "Scotland Sevens strong for Dubai". International Rugby Board. 26 November 2009. Archived from the original on 30 November 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  7. Sallay, Alvin; Lo, Clifford (14 December 2012). "Second death in 4 days hits Hong Kong's rugby community". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  8. Leigh, Neil (13 January 2010). "Sevens heaven for Tait". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  9. Scheerhout, John (30 July 2004). "Judge death riddle". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  10. "Rugby world mourns after David Tait falls to his death in Hong Kong". The Telegraph. 13 December 2012. Archived from the original on 16 December 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  11. Jennifer Williams (13 December 2012). "Former Sale Sharks star David Tait dies in Hong Kong apartment plunge". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
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