Detysha Harper

Detysha Harper (born 23 October 1998, Salford) is an English rugby union player. She represents England women's national rugby union team internationally and plays for Sale Sharks at club level.[1][2]

Detysha Harper
Date of birth (1998-10-23) 23 October 1998
Place of birthSalford, England
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Current team Sale Sharks
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2017 Eccles ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–2019 Firwood Waterloo ()
2019–2023 Loughborough Lightning ()
2023– Sale Sharks ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018 England U20s
2020– England 5 (0)

International career

Harper got her first call-up to the England squad in November 2019, after playing for the Under 20s. She made her international debut playing for England in February 2020. She was called up as a replacement against Ireland at the 2020 Women's Six Nations Championship.[1][3] England won the championship in late 2020 after delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She was again called up to the England team during the 2021 Women's Six Nations Championships. She played in the final versus France, helping England to take the win and make her a two-time Six Nations champion.[4][5] Not originally named in the squad for the COVID-delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup, Harper was called up after the first two pool games to replace the injured Laura Keates.[6]

Club career

She first played rugby at 15, joining her local club Eccles RFC. She went on to play in the Premier 15s for Loughborough Lightning.[1] Following 4 years at Loughborough Harper signed for Sale Sharks Women on a two-year contract ahead of the 2023-24 Premiership Women's Rugby season.[7]

Early and personal life

Harper was born in Salford, Manchester. There was no rugby at her school, so she played rounders, netball and football. So it wasn't until she was 15 that she first played, after asking why only her two brothers played rugby and not her: she joined Eccles RFC which had Under 15s and Under 18s girls' teams.[8]

She is studying for a degree in Psychology at Loughborough University.[1]

Harper is known in the England women's rugby team for plaiting other players' hair before matches.[9]

References
  1. "RFU". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  2. "Detysha Harper". www.ultimaterugby.com. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  3. "Middleton makes trio of changes as England Women host Ireland". Six Nations Rugby. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  4. ""Why can't I play?" - Six Nations success for Salford born Detysha Harper". Salford Now. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  5. "England's Cleall replaces captain Hunter". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  6. "Rugby World Cup: Laura Keates withdrawn from England squad through injury". BBC Sport.
  7. Diamond, Sam (9 May 2023). "BACK TO HER ROOTS: England Rose Detysha Harper signs at Sale Sharks". Sale Sharks. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  8. "Hotshot: Loughborough Lightning and England U20 prop Detysha Harper -". Rugby World. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  9. "Wasted chances, fantasy rugby and good hair". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
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