Tom Parsons (rugby union)

Tom Parsons (born 25 June 1990) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a lock for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition.[1]

Tom Parsons
Full nameThomas Ian Parsons
Date of birth (1990-06-25) 25 June 1990
Place of birthTakapau, New Zealand
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight113 kg (17 st 11 lb; 249 lb)
SchoolLindisfarne College
Notable relative(s)James Parsons (cousin)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Hawke's Bay, Hurricanes
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2014 Hawke's Bay 15 (0)
2015–2017 Manawatu 29 (0)
2018– Hawke's Bay 68 (60)
2020 Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo 4 (0)
2022 Hurricanes 2 (0)
Correct as of 21 October 2023

Early career and personal life

Parsons attended Lindisfarne College (2004-2008) and is a former player and captain of the college's 1st XV team. He's the son of former Hawke's Bay loose forward Rod Parsons (1988-1989, 18 games). His brother Ben Parsons also played 3 games at lock for the Magpies in 2017.[2][3] Former All Blacks and Blues hooker James Parsons is his cousin.

Senior career

Parsons was – for the first time – named in the Hawke's Bay squad ahead of the 2012 ITM Cup season.[4] He made his NPC debut for the Magpies on 21 September 2012, via the reserves bench, in a tight 42–41 win over Bay of Plenty.[5] In his first three seasons, he played 15 games for the province.

In 2015, Parsons signed with Manawatu.[6] He debuted for the Turbos on 16 August 2015 against Counties Manukau.[7] He played 29 games for Manawatū in three seasons.

Parsons returned to Hawke's Bay and was named in the Magpies squad for the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup season.[8] That season turned out to become his breakout season, in which he became a regular starter for Hawke's Bay. On 23 October 2018, Parsons won the Magpies Player of the Year award and Forward of the Year award at the team's end-of-season awards function.[9]

On 27 November 2019, Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus announced the signing of Parsons on a six-month contract for their 2020 Top League season.[10][2] He made his debut for the club on 18 January 2020 in a game against NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes. He played only four games for the side because the 2020 Top League season was cancelled after round 6 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11][12]

He returned to Hawke's Bay for the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup season, which turned out to be a successful one. The Magpies won the Ranfurly Shield,[13] successfully defended the Shield three times and won the Mitre 10 Cup Championship, thus securing a well-deserved promotion to the Premiership division.[14] The Magpies held on to the Shield during the entire 2021 Bunnings NPC season, winning all six Ranfurly Shield defences.[15] Parsons captained the team in the last few rounds of the season, after long-term captain Ash Dixon had left to play in Japan.

Over the years, Parsons turned out for the Hurricanes Development team on a regular basis,[16][17] but despite several strong seasons for Hawke's Bay, he wasn't offered a Super Rugby contract. During the 2021 Super Rugby season, he was called into the Highlanders squad as short-term injury cover, but didn't get any game time.[18]

While not being named in the initial Hurricanes squad for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season, Parsons was eventually offered a contract and joined the franchise during preseason.[19] He made his Super Rugby debut for the Hurricanes – off the bench – on 25 March 2022 against Moana Pasifika.[20] His starting debut followed in the return game against Moana Pasifika on 12 April 2022.[21]

Reference list
  1. "2023 Magpies squad release". Hawke's Bay Rugby Union. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  2. "Toshiba lure Tom Parsons to Japan for Top League season". Hawke's Bay Today. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  3. "Plenty of depth in Magpies Mitre 10 Cup rugby squad". Hawke's Bay App. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  4. "2012 Magpies ITM Cup Squad announced". Hawke's Bay Rugby Union (Press release). 10 August 2012. Archived from the original on 3 November 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  5. "ITM Cup: Win for crowd Magpie catchcry". Hawke's Bay Today. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  6. "Tall timber Tom Parsons signs with Manawatu". Stuff NZ. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  7. "Preview: Counties Manukau v Manawatu". itmcup.co.nz. 14 August 2015. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  8. "2018 Magpies Squad Announced". Hawke's Bay Rugby Union (Press release). 8 August 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  9. "Tom Parsons soars to Hawke's Bay Magpies supreme award". Hawke's Bay Today. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  10. "2019年度新加入選手（追加）の紹介". Toshiba Brave Lupus (Press release) (in Japanese). 27 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  11. "Tom Parsons Top League player profile". Top League. 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  12. "Japan Rugby Top League 2020 Notice of Cancellation". Japan Rugby Top League (Press release). 23 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  13. "Ranfurly Shield roundabout continues". Provincial Rugby. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  14. "Magpies crowned kings of the Championship". Provincial Rugby. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  15. "NPC: Hawke's Bay lock away Ranfurly Shield for summer after seeing off Waikato". Stuff NZ. 23 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  16. "Second run for Hurricanes Development". Hurricanes (Press release). 18 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  17. "Hurricanes Hunters named to face Japan A in Tokyo". Hurricanes (Press release). 19 April 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  18. "In-form Magpie warns of Turbos danger". Hawke's Bay App. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  19. "Rookie Justin Sangster ready for his debut season". Hurricanes (Press release). 17 January 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  20. "Four debutants headline Hurricanes side to take on Moana Pasifika". Hurricanes (Press release). 23 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  21. "Hurricanes team named for Moana Pasifika clash at Sky Stadium". Hurricanes (Press release). 11 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
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