Joe Gray (rugby union)

Joe Gray (born 5 August 1988) is a rugby union coach for London Scottish in the RFU Championship and a retired player. He played for Harlequins in Premiership Rugby across two spells. He is the only player in history to have won every trophy available to players in the top two tiers of English rugby, including both European trophies. He played as a hooker, and previously played for Northampton Saints and Saracens.

Joe Gray
Date of birth (1988-08-05) 5 August 1988
Place of birthNottingham, England
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight108 kg (17 st 0 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007–2010 Northampton Saints 18 (0)
2010–2018 Harlequins 151 (35)
2018–2020 Saracens 18 (0)
2020–2022 Harlequins 28 (5)
2007–2022 Total 215 (40)
Correct as of 30 June 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011 England Saxons ? (?)
2014 England 1 (0)
Correct as of 26 November 2018
Coaching career
Years Team
2022– London Scottish

Career

Gray started his Rugby career at Nottingham, he was part of the Nottinghamshire County Schools Rugby Club and also played with Notts, Lincs & Derby County side. Gray took part in a tour of Australia with Three Counties at the age of 15. He played for England under16's A and played for the England under 18's the following year while he was still only 16.

Gray won the Churchill Cup with the England Saxons after starting the Challenge Cup final for Harlequins that they won in 2011.

He started for Harlequins in their 2011–12 Premiership final victory over Leicester Tigers.[1] Following his 80 minutes in the final he toured with England that summer to South Africa and played in the two midweek uncapped games against the Barbarians.

On 27 January 2019, Gray faced his old club Harlequins in a Premiership Rugby Cup match, against Saracens. An away win for Saracens, in which Gray came on in the second half as hooker.[2] He was a replacement as Saracens won the 2019 European Rugby Champions Cup Final.[3] He returned to Harlequins on loan in January 2020 before signing full time with the club.[4][5]

Gray won his second Premiership title, this time as a replacement, as Harlequins won the game 40–38 in the highest scoring Premiership final ever on 26 June 2021.[6]

Gray got his first taste of club coaching with KCS Old Boys RFC in the 2015–16 season before going on to become the Director of Rugby at Barnes RFC.

Following his retirement from playing at the end of the 2021–22 season. He became head coach at London Scottish.[7]

International career

Gray was called up again to the England training squad by coach Stuart Lancaster in May 2014 and flew out with the squad for the Barbarians' fixtures.[8] He made his England debut during the tour, coming off the bench in the 20–15 loss to New Zealand.[9]

References
  1. "Harlequins 30-23 Leicester". BBC Sport. 26 May 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  2. "Match Report: Harlequins 12-32 Saracens". Premiership Rugby. 26 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  3. "Leinster 10-20 Saracens: English side win third Champions Cup in Newcastle". BBC. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  4. "Joe Gray: Harlequins re-sign Saracens hooker on loan". BBC. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  5. "Joe Gray: Harlequins to sign Saracens hooker on permanent deal". BBC Sport. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  6. "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 38-40 Harlequins - Louis Lynagh's late double clinches title". BBC. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  7. "Welcome Joe Gray". London Scottish Rugby. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  8. "Mike Brown: Harlequins full-back one of 21 added by England". BBC Sport. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  9. "New Zealand beat England 20-15 through late Conrad Smith try". BBC Sport. 7 June 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2016.


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