Freddie Steward

Freddie Nicholas Overbury Steward (born 5 December 2000) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a fullback for Premiership Rugby club Leicester Tigers and the England national team.[1][2]

Freddie Steward
Full nameFreddie Nicholas Overbury Steward
Date of birth (2000-12-05) 5 December 2000
Place of birthEast Dereham, England
Height1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight107 kg (236 lb; 16 st 12 lb)
SchoolNorwich School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback, Wing
Current team Leicester Tigers
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019– Leicester Tigers 72 (78)
2019 Ampthill 1 (0)
Correct as of 28 August 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020 England U20 3 (5)
2021– England 29 (40)
Correct as of 28 August 2023

Early life

Steward started playing rugby at Swaffham RFC, but at ten years old he moved to Holt RFC as Swaffham's age group folded. He initially played fly half, before moving to inside centre at Norwich School and settling at full back at 16.[3] Steward came through the Leicester Tigers academy.[4]

Club career

Steward made his senior debut as a replacement on 26 January 2019 in a 47–20 defeat to Northampton Saints at Franklin's Gardens in the Premiership Rugby Cup.[5] Two weeks later Steward was back playing for Leicester's under-18 side as they won a second successive league title.[6][7]

Steward was a late call-up to the bench on 8 March 2019 to make his Premiership Rugby debut as a replacement in a 32–5 defeat to Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium.[8] His first appearance at Welford Road was in a Premiership Rugby Cup on 27 September 2019 against Exeter Chiefs.[9] Steward scored his first try for Leicester in a 2019-20 European Rugby Challenge Cup against Calvisano.[10]

Steward was highlighted as one of the potential breakout players in the 2019-20 Premiership Rugby season by Rugbypass.[11]

He started the 2022 Premiership Rugby final as Tigers beat Saracens 15–12.[12] On his first match for Leicester of the 2022-23 Premiership Rugby season, Steward scored a hat-trick in the 250th East Midlands derby as Leicester beat Northampton 41–21.[13] On 28 September 2022, Steward extended his contract at Leicester.[14]

International career

On 3 January 2020 Steward was named in the England under 20 squad for the 2020 Six Nations Championship.[15] Steward made his full England debut on 4 July 2021 when he started at full back against the United States at Twickenham.[16] He scored his first England try on 13 November 2021, after taking a pass from Marcus Smith he rounded full-back Kurtley Beale for a first half score as England beat Australia 32–15.[17]

In May 2022 Steward was named as the Rugby Players' Association Player's Young player of the year and England men's player of the season,[18] as well as being named in their inaugural under-23 team of the season.[19]

Steward was selected for the 2022 England rugby union tour of Australia, starting at full back in all three tests as England won the series 2–1.

On 21 November 2022, Steward was named in World Rugby's team of the year as the best full back.[20] On 17 May 2023, Steward was named for the second year in succession as the Rugby Players' Association England men's player of the season.[21]

On 7 August 2023, Steward was named in England's squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[22]

Steward sometimes kicks penalties from long range.[23]

Career statistics

List of international tries

{{updated|19 November 2023 [24]

TryOpposing teamLocationVenueCompetitionDateResultScore
1 AustraliaLondon, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2021 Autumn Nations Series13 November 2021Win32 – 15
2  South Africa London, England Twickenham Stadium 2021 Autumn Nations Series 20 November 2021 Win 27 – 26
3  France Saint-Denis, France Stade de France 2022 Six Nations 19 March 2022 Loss 25 – 13
4  Australia Sydney, Australia Sydney Cricket Ground 2022 England rugby union tour of Australia 16 July 2022 Win 17 – 21
5  Japan London, England Twickenham Stadium 2022 Autumn Nations Series 12 November 2022 Win 52 – 13
6  New Zealand London, England Twickenham Stadium 2022 Autumn Nations Series 19 November 2022 Draw 25 – 25
7  France London, England Twickenham Stadium 2023 Six Nations 11 March 2023 Loss 8 - 34
8  Japan Nice, France Stade de Nice 2023 Rugby World Cup 17 September 2023 Win 34 - 12

References
  1. "Freddie Steward ESPN profile". ESPN. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  2. "Leicester Tigers profile". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  3. Westerby, John (26 November 2022). "How safe-hands Freddie Steward became the world's best". The Times. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  4. "Freddie keen to 'repay trust' at 15".
  5. "Youth and experience will blend well together, says Leicester Tigers' Tom Hardwick". Leicester Mercury. reach group. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  6. "Seven Leicester Tigers academy players target a second Finals Day success when they meet Gloucester". Leicester Mercury. reach group. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  7. "Leicester Tigers cubs are learning the tough lessons of Premiership rugby - Tom Youngs". Leicester Mercury. reach group. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  8. "Match report - Tigers suffer defeat at Sale". Leicester Tigers. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  9. "'Incredible' - Freddie Steward on his Leicester Tigers home debut". Leicester Mercury. reach group. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  10. "Calvisano 13-20 Leicester Tigers: English side keep control of European Challenge Cup pool". BBC Sport. BBC. 14 December 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  11. "Premiership breakout players 2019/20". Rugbypass. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  12. "Premiership final: Leicester Tigers 15-12 Saracens - Freddie Burns drop-goal clinches title". BBC Sport. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  13. Wiffen, John; Clamp, Ethan; Bridge, Bobby (24 September 2022). "Leicester Tigers player ratings vs Northampton Saints as Dan Cole a 'match-winner', Steward & Nadolo shine". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  14. "Leicester Tigers: Freddie Steward, George Martin and Jack van Poortvliet sign new deals". BBC Sport. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  15. "Alan Dickens names first squad as England U20 head coach". The Rugby Paper. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  16. Bobby Bridge (5 July 2021). "Freddie Steward's England debut - how the national media rated the Leicester Tigers ace". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  17. Joe Harvey (19 November 2021). ""You could tell quickly that he was destined for big things" - Freddie Steward, England's rising star". Talking Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  18. Godwin, Hugh (26 May 2022). "Freddie Steward: From Young Player of the Year to Brexit essays, how England full back balances rugby with uni". i newspaper. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  19. "Five Cubs included in RPA U23 Team of the Season". Leicester Tigers. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  20. "GENGE AND STEWARD NAMED IN WORLD RUGBY DREAM TEAM OF THE YEAR". Premiership Rugby. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  21. Lowe, Alex (17 May 2023). "Freddie Steward voted England's player of the year for second season". The Times. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  22. "England World Cup squad: Henry Slade & Alex Dombrandt miss out, Joe Marchant & Theo Dan in". BBC Sport. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  23. "Freddie keen to 'repay trust' at 15".
  24. "Freddie Steward". ESPN. 20 November 2021.
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