Nic Dolly

Nic Dolly (born 11 June 1999)[1] is a professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby.[2]

Nic Dolly
Birth nameNicholas Dolly
Date of birth (1999-06-11) 11 June 1999
Place of birthSydney, Australia
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight103 kg (227 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Current team Leicester Tigers
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–2020 Sale Sharks 4 (0)
2017–2018 → Rotherham Titans 6 (0)
2017–2019 → Sale F.C. 22 (15)
2019–2020 → Jersey Reds 11 (15)
2021 Coventry 3 (15)
2021– Leicester Tigers 29 (60)
Correct as of 22 October 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017 England U18 5 (0)
2019 England U20 9 (0)
2021 England 1 (0)
Correct as of 20 November 2021

Born in Australia, Dolly is English qualified though his mother,[3] represented the England under 20 side at the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship[2][4] and made his debut for the senior England team in 2021.

Early life

Dolly grew up in Sydney, Australia and initially played rugby union for Eastwood Rugby Club and New South Wales Waratahs junior age sides.[2][5] His maternal grandparents lived in Denton, Greater Manchester and while on an extended visit he was spotted by Sale Sharks. He subsequently joined their under 18s.[6]

Career

In 2017 Dolly signed a five-year contract with Sale Sharks,[7] before spending time on duel-registration with Rotherham Titans in the RFU Championship,[8] and Sale F.C. in National League 2 North. In 2017 he also represented the England under-18 team.[8][9] On 28 August 2019 Jersey Reds announced the signing of Dolly of a year long loan.[10] He represented England under-20 in the 2019 Six Nations Under 20s Championship[11] and was also a member of the squad that finished fifth at the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[12]

In February 2021 Dolly joined Coventry for the delayed 2021 RFU Championship season,[13] and scored three tries in as many matches. On 26 March 2021 he joined local rivals Leicester Tigers on what was reported as a multi-year deal.[4][14]

Dolly made his first Premiership start against Exeter Chiefs on 18 September 2021, Dolly scored two tries, the first forward to do so on his Premiership debut for over 20 years.[15] The following week he scored again in a win versus Gloucester and was named as BT Sports' man of the match.[16]

He scored further tries against London Irish and Worcester Warriors, after which Dolly was called up to the senior England squad in October 2021 for Tests against Tonga, Australia and South Africa.[17]

Dolly made his international debut for England against South Africa on 20 November 2021.[18][19] Dolly was selected in the squad for the 2022 Six Nations Championship but did not feature in the matches, his form for Leicester earned him a call up to an England training camp in May 2022 but on 21 May 2022 Dolly suffered a significant knee injury following an illegal crocodile roll by Adam Brocklebank as Leicester beat Newcastle 27-5.[20]

References
  1. "Nic Dolly profile". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  2. "Nic Dolly Leicester Tigers profile". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  3. Coles, Ben (18 October 2021). "The rapid rise of Nic Dolly: From Championship rugby to England call-up in a matter of months". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  4. "Nic Dolly: Leicester Tigers sign Coventry hooker". BBC Sport. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  5. "NATIONAL LEAGUE 2S YOUNG GUNS: Nic Dolly". The Rugby Paper. 10 February 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  6. Phillips, Sam (19 October 2021). "The Sydney junior set to play for Eddie's England against Wallabies". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  7. "SALE SHARKS ANNOUNCE GROUNDBREAKING FIVE YEAR DEALS FOR ACADEMY GRADUATES". Sale Sharks. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  8. Rickett, Paul (11 January 2018). "England U18 starlet back with Titans". Rotherham Advertiser. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  9. Diamond, Sam (12 March 2017). "England under-18s see off Scottish counterparts in Preston". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  10. Fox, Jason (28 August 2019). "Hooker Dolly arrives as Maddison flies for Falcons". Jersey Evening Post. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  11. "Under-20s Six Nations: Wales 11-10 England". BBC Sport. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  12. "World Rugby U20 Championship: England U20 45-26 Wales U20". BBC Sport. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  13. "Coventry bolsters squad with new faces". Coventry Rugby. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  14. Bridge, Bobby (26 March 2021). "Leicester Tigers sign prolific try-scoring hooker". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  15. Bridge, Bobby (19 September 2021). "OPINION: 'Harlem Globe-Tigers' try for the ages set tone for epic Leicester victory". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  16. Bridge, Bobby (25 September 2021). "Leicester Tigers send alarm bells ringing across Gallagher Premiership after perfect start". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  17. McLaughlin, Luke (18 October 2021). "Jones backs Farrell for England as Saracens trio and Ford sidelined". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  18. Henson, Mike (20 November 2021). "England clinch dramatic 27-26 win over South Africa at Twickenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  19. Bech, Duncan (22 November 2021). "Eddie Jones delighted by instant impact of England's rising stars". The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  20. Ross Hepenstall (21 May 2022). "Leicester cruise past Newcastle despite Nic Dolly's serious knee injury". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
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