Jordan Crane (rugby union)

Jordan Stephen Crane (born 3 June 1986 in Bromsgrove) is a former professional rugby union player, who recently played for Bristol Bears in the Premiership Rugby. Crane has also played internationally for England.

Jordan Crane
Birth nameJordan Stephen Crane
Date of birth (1986-06-03) 3 June 1986
Place of birthBromsgrove, Worcestershire
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight109 kg (17 st 2 lb) [1]
SchoolSouth Bromsgrove High School
Colston's School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number eight / Flanker / Lock
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2004–2006 Leeds Tykes 29 (25)
2006–2016 Leicester Tigers 223 (150)
2016–2020 Bristol Bears 57 (40)
2004–2020 Total 309 (215)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007–2011 England Saxons 4 (5)
2008–2009 England 3 (0)
Coaching career
Years Team
2020– Bristol Bears (academy)

Crane is renowned for his impressive physique and powerful runs from the base of the scrum. He consistently ranks as one of the most frequent carriers of the ball in English club rugby.[2]

He switched to playing rugby union relatively late after playing football for a number of professional clubs' junior sides.[3]

Club career

Crane made his debut for his former club, Leeds Tykes, in the nine-all draw at FC Grenoble in the European Challenge Cup in October 2004 aged just 18.[4] He went on to make 29 appearances for the Tykes in all competitions scoring five tries, including a hat trick against Valladolid RAC in the European Challenge Cup.[5]

After Leeds were relegated in the 2005–06 season, Crane left the club to sign for the Leicester Tigers.[6]

In the Heineken Cup semi-final match against Cardiff Blues on 3 May 2009, Crane scored the winning kick in the penalty shootout after the game had finished level after extra time.[7] It was the first time a Heineken Cup tie had been decided in a shootout. Crane started in the subsequent 2009 Heineken Cup Final.[8] Crane scored the only try in the final of the 2008–09 Guinness Premiership as Leicester defeated London Irish.[9] He also started as Leicester won the 2010 and 2013 Premiership finals.[10][11] Crane spent the whole of the 2011–12 Aviva Premiership campaign injured.

After 10 years playing with Leicester, Crane announced his signing with Bristol Bears on a three-year contract from the 2016–17 season.[12]

International career

Crane made his U21 debut in February 2006 scoring a try against Wales at Worcester,[13] and he was an ever-present in their successful U21 Grand Slam campaign.[14] This was his second successive age group Grand Slam, as he had captained England's U19 side to success the season before.[15] Crane has also captained England at U18 level and took over the leadership role when his new teammate, Matt Cornwell, was injured during the 2006 IRB U21 World Cup in France,[16] fulfilling the promise shown when competing for Colston's School in the final of the Daily Mail U18 Cup competition at Twickenham.

Crane was selected in the England Saxons squad for the 2006–07 season,[17] and went on to compete at the 2007 Churchill Cup.[18] Crane also played in the 2008 Churchill Cup, winning the tournament's Most Valuable Player award.[19]

On 1 June 2008 he was named in Martin Johnson's Elite Player Squad and made his debut as a replacement against South Africa.[20] He was returned to the Saxons squad when Johnson chose to retain Nick Easter for the 2009 Six Nations.[21] Crane won his second cap against Argentina at Old Trafford.[22]

References
  1. "Aviva Premiership Rugby - Gloucester Rugby". web page. Premier Rugby. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  2. "Opta stats – carries". Guinness Premiership. 16 May 2009. Archived from the original on 5 August 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  3. Crane, Jordan. "The path from cobblers blues and baggies to rugby". Living Rugby. Archived from the original on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  4. "Grenoble 9 – 9 Leeds Tykes". ERC Rugby. 23 October 2004. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  5. "121–0!". Yorkshire Evening Post. 6 December 2004. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  6. "Tigers capture Crane from Leeds". BBC. 6 May 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  7. "Cardiff Blues 26–26 Leicester (aet)". BBC. 3 May 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  8. "Leicester 16–19 Leinster". BBC. 23 May 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  9. "Leicester 10–9 London Irish". BBC. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  10. "Leicester 33-27 Saracens". BBC. 29 May 2010. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  11. "Aviva Premiership final: Leicester 37-17 Northampton". BBC. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  12. "Bristol sign former England number eight Jordan Crane". Sky Sports. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  13. "England U21 26–18 Wales U21". BBC. 4 February 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  14. "England U21s take Grand Slam". BBC. 17 March 2006. Archived from the original on 23 November 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  15. "Eight-try England take historic U19 Grand Slam victory in style". Rugby Football Union. 11 March 2005. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  16. "England U21 team for tough New Zealand test". Rugby Football Union. 12 June 2006. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  17. "Voyce dropped from England elite". BBC. 1 August 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  18. "England Saxons 17–13 NZ Maori". BBC. 2 June 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  19. "England Saxons put Scots to sword to retain Barclays Churchill Cup". Rugby Football Union. 21 June 2008. Archived from the original on 16 November 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  20. "England 6–42 South Africa". BBC. 22 November 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
  21. "BBC report on changes to elite player squad". BBC. 14 January 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
  22. "England 37–15 Argentina". BBC. 6 June 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2009.


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